Combat Aircraft Monthly 2016-08

EUROPEAN DEBUT SUPER TUCANO
FOR DUTCH F-35S COLOMBIA’S MEAN MACHINES

Volume 17 • Number 8 AMERICA’S BEST-SELLING MILITARY AVIATION MAGAZINE
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ne
ft.
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irc
ta
ba
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co
TYPHOON
CENTURION
TAKING THE
Eurofighter
TO THE NEXT
GENERATION
EXERCISE
REPORTS:
hawgsmoke
ANATOLIAN
EAGLE
viggen
REMEMBERING
THE SWEDISH
SUPERSTAR
South TeCarsrolina’s
SAM-BUS
AUGUST 2016 UK £4.50
TIGER MEET ‘flanker’

STARS IN STRIPES VARIANT GUIDE
MDBA.indd 1 22/06/2016 16:55
August 2016 • Vol 17 • No 8
08 The USAF is showing increasing signs that it might run a

competition to replace the A-10.
52
IN THE NEWS 76 HAWGSMOKE 2016
Every two years, A-10 squadrons from around the
US Air Force come together for several days of
06 Headline News exercise drills. Norman Graf went to Arizona for
Canada eyes interim Super Hornet deal and ‘Hawgsmoke’
F-35 tours the Netherlands
80 THOR’S THUNDERBOLT
08 US News Sweden’s Saab Viggen was always a distinctive and
What will the USAF do in its A-10 dilemma? charismatic aircraft. Jan Jørgensen reveals that it
Plus, Navy Osprey trials and all the latest possessed capabilities like few other jets
unit and deployment news
80 90 DUTCH PIONEERS
16 World News ‘Archers, welcome home!’ The words of the
News from Europe and around the globe Dutch minister of defense to welcome two Royal
including details of forthcoming Typhoon Netherlands Air Force F-35As as they arrived in
E-Scan radar testing, plus all the latest Dutch airspace for the first time. Frank Crébas had
military losses exclusive access to this textbook public relations
campaign for the new Dutch fighter
38 IBERIAN TIGERS 96 CUTTING EDGE

Combat Aircraft’s column reporting from the front
Derek Bower heads to the 2016 Tiger Meet —
line of aerospace technology, by David Axe
the largest gathering of Tiger Squadrons for
many years, and the first to be hosted by 28
Ala 15 of the Spanish Air Force at Zaragoza CENTURION RISING
The Eurofighter Typhoon has received its fair share of criticism regarding the protracted realization of
its capabilities. However, with impetus from the UK stemming from the need to retire its Tornado GR4
44 SWAMP FOXES fleet, the Typhoon is at last showing its full promise, as Jamie Hunter describes
The South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th
Fighter Wing is an impressive unit. Jamie
Hunter talks to its personnel, who are hugely
experienced custodians of some of the most
valuable skills to be found in the wider US Air
Force. Photos by Jim Haseltine
52 COLOMBIA’S MEAN
MACHINES
Neil Dunridge and Paul Filmer visit the
Escuadrón de Combate 211 (211th Combat
Squadron), part of the Grupo de Combate 21
(21st Fighter Group) at its base at Apiay. They
found a unit on a high level of alert, despite
recent peace talks
60 INDIAN SEA HARRIERS

BOW OUT
The Indian Navy’s final Sea Harriers were
withdrawn during an official ceremony
in May. Angad Singh bids farewell to the
last first-generation ‘jump jets’ in service
anywhere in the world
66 THE ‘FLANKER’ FAMILY

PLUS SUBSCRIBE AND
SAVE
Sukhoi’s Su-27 has proven to be such a good
platform that its upgraded fighter variants
will remain the most numerous Russian A special report on the Pakistan Air Force
combat aircraft for several decades to come. and a combat report from Iraq
In the first part of an in-depth briefing,
Piotr Butowski presents the latest fighter ON THE COVER: Subscribe to Combat
‘Flankers’, starting with the two-seat Su-30 US edition: The USAF is looking at options for Aircraft Monthly and
either retaining or replacing the A-10 — in this
issue, we examine the choices. Jamie Hunter
make great savings
74 IRON EAGLES on cover price.
Derek Bower reports from the latest UK edition: A trio of RAF Lossiemouth-based
‘Anatolian Eagle’ exercise, which attracted the Typhoon FGR4s, heralding our look at the latest See pages
usual mix of local fighters and support assets developments for the Eurofighter. Jamie Hunter 42 and 43 for details.
plus some rare visitors to central Turkey
COMBAT EDGE | FIND US ON
One of the two Dutch

F-35As that deployed to
the Netherlands in late
May photographed over
a quintessentially Dutch
landscape. Frank Crébas
SMART THINKING
I
4
T’S GREAT TO see how the United States, scheduled maintenance,

Royal Netherlands Air Force continuation training, and homeland
approached June’s pioneering air policing, the Netherlands is going to
deployment of F-35s to Europe. need to increase its F-35 buy if it is to
Realizing that public hearts and maintain an international presence in
minds are important and can anything like the same way as it does
help influence politicians, the Dutch with its current F-16s.
military well and truly bought the It is clear that the only way to go
Lightning II to the people. about this is to get public support
A series of public relations flights that behind the new fighters. While that
allowed locals the chance to see the may not be a vote-swinger for the
F-35 either up-close or flying included politicians, it may just be a step in the
a tour of the country, noise trials and, right direction for the RNLAF.
to top it all off, an airshow appearance. To keep track of the latest breaking
This isn’t just a case of justifying news and analysis in the world of
the Dutch government’s current F-35 military air power, you can visit our
plans and dispelling preconceived social media sites and our website:
ideas of the new fighter; this was all www.combataircraft.net.
about gaining greater public support You can also sign up for our free
for military spending. With the current e-mail newsletter by going to
program of record calling for just 37 www.combataircraft.net to register.
F-35s for the Netherlands, there is
clearly a realization that this is far from
being a sufficient force to support
future Dutch aspirations.
The 37-aircraft F-35 plan provides the
Dutch with an available expeditionary Jamie Hunter,
force of just four Lightning IIs. Given Editor
its policy of overseas training in the E-mail: jamie.hunter@keypublishing.com
www.combataircraft.net August 2016

AUGUST 2016 | COMBAT EDGE
REMEMBERING ROBERT F. DORR
I
t is with great sadness that waited with great excitement to
we have learned that our receive his manuscript, bang on
great friend and long-time the due date, every month — it
contributor to Combat Aircraft was always an engaging read, and
Robert F. Dorr passed away in June, a highlight of each issue. Bob cared
having bravely fought cancer. deeply about aviation and the
Bob was a valued contributor military, and regularly wrote about
to Combat Aircraft and the wider the need to maintain standards
aviation publishing community, and levels of capability within the
in recent years writing his regular budget-constrained armed forces.
monthly column Front Line for this He was a visionary writer with a
magazine. Air Force veteran (1957-60) and a huge talent, a true professional, and
Since 1955, Bob had published 80 retired senior American diplomat our thoughts and sympathy go out
books, 6,000 magazine articles and (1964-89). to his family and friends.
3,000 newspaper columns, mostly Bob’s Front Line column was Godspeed, Bob. You will be
about the US Air Force. He was an always of huge interest. We all sadly missed.
August 2016 www.combataircraft.net

[NEWS] HEADLINES
Richard VanderMeulen
F35 VISITS THE NETHERLANDS

NOISE TESTING AND PUBLIC DISPLAYS HERALD DEBUT
T
6
HE INITIAL TWO Received by almost 2,000 guests at the Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-35As for the Royal
Netherlands Air Force
(RNLAF) arrived
at the Frisian air base, pilots Col Bert
‘Vidal’ de Smit and Maj Pascal ‘Smiley’
Smaal conducted a flyby before
Open Days at Leeuwarden on June
10-11. This made the RNLAF the first
air force in Europe to display the Joint
T50A
for the first time at
Leeuwarden air base
on May 23. The aircraft had taken
off from Edwards AFB, California,
touching down, when they were
greeted by Netherlands Minister of
Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.
AN-1 and AN-2 (RNLAF serials F-001
Strike Fighter. The Netherlands plans
to receive a total of 37 aircraft. Local
basing will start with Leeuwarden
in 2019 and then Volkel in 2021.
FLIES
ON JUNE 2 Lockheed Martin
on May 21 and landed at NAS and F-002 respectively) spent three During the visit to Europe, fit checks conducted the initial test
Patuxent River, Maryland. They then weeks in the Netherlands, during were undertaken in the hardened flight of the T-50A-configured
launched over the Atlantic with two which they conducted aerial and aircraft shelters at the two bases. The aircraft that it will offer for
RNLAF KDC-10 tankers and a NATO ground environmental noise tests, F-35s conducted 20 local sorties that the US Air Force’s Advanced
C-17A with equipment and spares performed flights over the North Sea totaled 32 flying hours. Pilot Training competition.
providing support. range, and then appeared and flew Thomas Newdick Based on the T-50 Golden
Eagle, developed by Korean
Aerospace Industries (KAI) with
the assistance of Lockheed
Martin, the aircraft conducted
its first flight from KAI’s facility
in Sacheon, South Korea. It
is the first of two production
T-50s being modified to the T-X
configuration. Lockheed Martin
plans to set up a T-50A final
assembly and check-out site
in Greenville, South Carolina,
and claims it could begin
T-50A deliveries from there
as early as 2017. Both aircraft
will be delivered to Greenville
by the end of 2016 to support
Frank Crébas customer demonstrations.

HEADLINES [NEWS]
CANADA EYES ‘INTERIM’ SUPER HORNET

F35 PURCHASE ON HOLD AS F/A18E/F OPTION IS STUDIED
W
ITH THE make a formal decision. Currently, by the previous administration, on Super Hornets would allow the
LIBERAL the RCAF has a fleet of fewer than cost grounds. Without providing a government to buy time on the F-35
Party 80 CF-188s, and the previous timeline for the purchase of a new conundrum until the late 2020s.
having Conservative government unveiled a fighter, Sajjan indicated that the Canada’s Defence Acquisition
made a $400-million upgrade to keep these Lightning II is still in the running for Guide published this year calls for
pre- Hornets flying until 2025. the bid. Canada remains an official the definition phase of the Future
election promise not to proceed In recent weeks, Canada’s defense partner in the F-35 program, but Fighter Capability program to be
with plans to buy the Lockheed ministry has moved to make Sajjan said this would not influence launched in 2017. A request for
Martin F-35 as a CF-188 replacement of the country’s CF-188 the government’s approach to the proposals (RFP) will follow in 2017-19
replacement, Canada’s government fleet a top priority. Admitting that procurement process. and contract award will occur in
has expressed its aspiration to new fighters were needed ‘now’, The RCAF is understood to favor 2018-20. The CF-188 fleet is due to
acquire the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan the F-35, and exclusion of the be withdrawn in 2025. However, the
Hornet as an ‘interim’ fighter for recently identified a forthcoming Lockheed Martin product from current government will publish a
the Royal Canadian Air Force. The capability gap. any future fighter competition new defense policy statement in
National Post reports that Prime In the country’s last election, the would likely be problematic, early 2017, which means the above
Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet Liberal Party said it would not buy leading to a legal battle. The plan timeline should be considered
has discussed the issue, but is yet to the Lockheed Martin F-35 earmarked to buy an undisclosed number of provisional. Thomas Newdick
ADIR UNVEILED
ALSO THIS MONTH...
A-10 dilemma
Will the USAF be able to replace
T
the A-10? See US News
HE ISRAELI AIR Hebrew — the Israeli Lightning II said Liberman. ‘It is clear and obvious Denmark confirms F-35 choice 7
Force marked an is a slightly modified F-35A that to us and to the entire region that Government approves Lightning II
buy. See World News
important step in will incorporate various items of the new F-35, the Adir, will create
the evolution of its indigenous technology, including real deterrence and enhance our
capabilities with elements of the electronic warfare capabilities for a long time.’ this is a target that Brig Gen Kelman
the unveiling of suite, and local weaponry. Israeli Israel’s program of record covers hopes to see realized.
the first F-35I Adir for the air arm. contributions to the wider Joint 33 F-35A conventional take-off and The first two Israeli F-35Is are
The aircraft, AS-1, was rolled out in Strike Fighter program include F-35A landing (CTOL) aircraft, ordered due to arrive at Nevatim air base in
a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s wings produced by Israel Aerospace through the US government’s December. The first group of four
Fort Worth, Texas, production Industries, work on the Generation Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Israeli Air Force F-35A pilots will
facility on June 22. Dignitaries at III helmet-mounted display system program. These will be delivered by begin training to fly the Lightning
the event included Israeli Minister by Elbit Systems, and center fuselage 2021. Liberman recently announced II at Luke AFB, Arizona in July. The
of Defense Avigdor Liberman and composite components production plans to purchase an additional pilots will complete simulator and
the Israeli Air Force chief of staff by Elbit Systems-Cyclone. 17 F-35s, a decision that still ground-based training at Luke
Brig Gen Tal Kelman. ‘The F-35 is the best aircraft in requires governmental approval. before returning to Israel where
Known as the F-35I and named the world and the choice of all our Washington has already authorized actual flight training will be carried
Adir — meaning ‘mighty one’ in military leadership at its highest level’, the sale of 75 F-35s to Israel, and out. Thomas Newdick
Lockheed Martin/Beth Steel

[NEWS] UNITED STATES
THE A10 DILEMMA

WILL THE USAF LOOK TO REPLACE THE ‘WARTHOG’?
I
T’S THE DEBATE that refuses portion of the mission in many useful
to go away, but one in relation ways, but most agree that an F-35
to which the US Air Force is represents a big hammer to crack
showing signs of solidifying its smaller nuts in low-end conflicts.
position. USAF Chief of Staff Furthermore, the F-35 is unlikely to
nominee Gen David Goldfein be getting ‘down in the weeds’ like a
told the Senate Armed Services ‘Warthog’ when the need arises. A new
Committee during his nomination CAS platform to operate in permissive
hearing on June 16 that the service environments may well be required.
should not retire the A-10 ‘in the We’ve been here before, with the
near term’. Reflecting the tone of Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance
recent features in Combat Aircraft, (LAAR) and Light Air Support (LAS)
the new USAF ‘boss’ said that he was programs. The USAF launched LAAR
more concerned about the close back in 2009, initially to acquire 100
air support (CAS) community than new light attack platforms, before this
he was about the future of the A-10 effort was subsumed into the LAS
specifically. Goldfein, who took the project and wound up with just 20 A-29
helm of the USAF in July, also said Super Tucanos for the Afghan Air Force.
that he would maintain dialogue with In April, a draft requirement
the A-10 community as they are the document doing the rounds in
‘CAS doctors’ and ensure that they Washington argued the USAF’s need
have what they need for the future of for a new attack aircraft optimized
that mission. for CAS. Lt Gen James Holmes, USAF
Despite specific studies examining deputy chief of staff for strategic
08 the F-35 in the CAS role to help plans and requirements, said the
justify retirement of the A-10, the document was the first step toward
USAF is moving away from insisting possibly replacing the A-10. It gave
The USAF
that the Lightning II is an ideal A-10 rise to the A-X moniker for a future could choose
replacement. The Air Force has also CAS platform to enter the five-year to replace the
stressed that other types can pick up forward planning cycle from Fiscal A-10 with a
dedicated A-X
the slack if and when the A-10 goes. Years 2018-22. Holmes said of the platform.
The F-35 can certainly conduct a proposal document in April: ‘We’ll Jamie Hunter
BRIMSTONE FOR THE F15E?

THE USAF HAS begun assessing weapon, the value of the study
the feasibility of integrating MBDA’s contract suggests a very low level
dual-mode seeker (DMS) Brimstone of activity, far from being a clear
air-to-surface missile onto the sign that Brimstone will end up on
F-15E. The contractor received a the F-15E.
$140,000 study contract from Air The USAF has already integrated
Force Materiel Command on June Boeing’s GBU-39 Small Diameter
10. The missile is currently fielded Bomb (SDB) on the F-15E, although
by Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s it has been used seldom in
KING STALLION and it will be in service on RAF

Eurofighter Typhoons by the end
operations, and Raytheon’s GBU-53
SDB II is waiting in the wings.
TESTING CONTINUES
Following initial external load trials in April, Sikorsky’s CH-53K King
of 2018. The DMS Brimstone is
fitted with a millimeter-wave radar
and semi-active laser guidance
The US Air Force and Raytheon
conducted live-fire flight tests of the
SDB II on the Strike Eagle in early
Stallion completed its first external-load flight test with a 20,000lb system to allow the weapon to be 2014, which qualified the weapon
(9,071kg) load at the company’s development flight center in West
employed in a number of ways. It for USAF to make a Milestone C
Palm Beach, Florida, on May 26. A pair of King Stallions subsequently
conducted external-load flight tests on June 7. During that sortie, has seen huge success in striking decision on production. This will
each CH-53K carried a 12,000lb (5,443kg) load. While one of the small, mobile targets. ultimately lead to SDB II entering
helicopters was conducting flight expansion tests, the second carried While on the surface this news low-rate initial production (LRIP). It is
out a training flight in preparation for operational test. Both aircraft
will support incremental flight expansion tests up until the CH-53K’s represents a useful development expected to be fielded on the F-15E
27,000lb (12,247kg) external payload is achieved. Sikorsky in the US market for this popular in January 2017.

UNITED STATES [NEWS]
compare that to what we have now and would allow the USAF Clearly the current ‘Inherent Resolve’
APACHES BACK IN
available, compare it to keeping to continue with plans to retire operation in Syria and Iraq has driven
the A-10, and compare it to what it the A-10 by 2022. Alternatively, it the need to retain the ‘Warthog’ for IRAQ ACTION
would take to replace [the A-10] with may elect to string out the A-10’s the time being. US ARMY AH64 Apache attack
another airplane.’ retirement yet further, giving it time The fact remains that the F-35 helicopters have re-entered
So, what is the USAF looking for to develop T-X. However, the primary is overly expensive for CAS in the fight against the so-
and what are its options? T-X requirement is to replace the uncontested airspace. That is the called Islamic State (IS) under
A new CAS platform would need to worn-out T-38 Talons, and even this conundrum. The A-10 is vulnerable Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’.
be ‘overhead all the time’, according has been delayed. Therefore, it would when there are radar threats on the Apaches struck against IS in
to outgoing USAF chief Gen Mark likely be post-2030 before a light- battlefield, it is old and expensive support of Iraqi Security Forces
Welsh. It would need to fulfill the attack AT-X derivative could be ready to maintain, and the pilot’s operating in the Tigris River
concept of being a ‘flying Coke to replace the A-10. situational awareness tools pale into Valley near Qayyarah, Iraq on
machine’, he added, able to bring Holmes says you need to hit the insignificance when compared to June 12. It marked the first
‘capability/affordability line about the sensor-fused F-35. The stealthy time that US Army Apaches
right’. Some Air Force funding has F-35 can operate with impunity had hit IS targets since October
reportedly been earmarked for a in any environment, sitting on 2014, US Secretary of Defense
study of a light attack derivative of high, surveying the battlefield and Ashton Carter announced.
the USAF’s next-generation trainer, delivering pinpoint strikes. It is less While Apaches have been
any desired effects to and in addition a brand-new A-X likely to get down in the weeds to in combat action in Iraq since
bear. Welsh acknowledged that the aircraft is being looked at. The latter strafe a ‘danger close’ enemy. Having October 2014, they have
CAS role is as important as ever and may not yield the savings sought by either the F-35 or the new CAS remained in theater to help
that the CAS platform doesn’t really retiring the A-10. Alternatively, the platform in the ‘golf bag’ is clearly the protect Baghdad. In the latest
need to be stealthy. This was another light attack version of the T-X may most desirable option. operations, Apaches employed
nod to the fact that the F-35 is both sway the USAF’s decision on which The USAF put forward the A-10 Hellfire missiles to destroy
in demand to make up USAF fighter way to jump in that competition. retirement as a cost-saving measure. a vehicle-borne improvised
numbers in more traditional fighter Aircraft such as the Alenia Aermacchi The current mission has obviously explosive device (VBIED)
roles, and a little too ‘heavy-handed’ M-346 (T-100) Master have already changed the rhetoric about a direct near al-Qayyarah. This area
for the CAS role. Goldfein underlined flown light attack evaluations and replacement platform for the A-10, is en route to the next main
the need for the CAS platform are making huge strides in service but it will all come down to money. offensive toward Mosul, 60km
to be able to ‘fire 30mm rounds, in the lead-in fighter training role. The Air Force has solidified its to the north.
use precision-guided rounds and The ‘clean-sheet’ solutions for T-X are position, in that it knows it needs
technology to help pilots distinguish far less advanced — possibly, even, an A-10 replacement aircraft. It 09
between friend and foe and perform
collateral damage assessments.’
without a complete prototype!
At one time last year the USAF was
wants that new aircraft to have
an operating cost of around one
RAYTHEON
The solution points to two possible
solutions: either revisiting the A-29
adamant that the A-10 was being
replaced by the F-35. It conducted
quarter of that of the A-10, and, as
Gen Welsh acknowledges, it needs
TESTS NEW
Super Tucano or AT-6 Wolverine,
or a CAS derivative of the new T-X
direct comparison studies between
the two. Gen Welsh acknowledges
to be ‘optimized for the low to
medium-threat environment, not a
SENSOR
trainer. The first two are available that things have changed since then. high-threat environment.’ RAYTHEON PLANS TO conduct
the first flight tests of an
extremely high frequency (EHF)
BLUE ANGELS
through-weather targeting
sensor later this year. The system
was developed under the
TRIBUTE
VMFA-312 ‘Checkerboards’ has paid tribute to former
Defense Advanced Research
Project Agency (DARPA)’s Video
Synthetic Aperture Radar
squadron member Capt Jeff ‘Kooch’ Kuss, who was killed (ViSAR) program and is intended
on June 2 in a crash while assigned to the Blue Angels for operation aboard Air Force
Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (see Losses).
Special Operations Command’s
Three ‘Checkerboards’ F/A-18Cs participated in a flypast
during the pilot’s funeral in his hometown of Durango, AC-130 Hercules gunships.
Colorado. Carl Richards The ViSAR system is essentially
a synthetic aperture radar that
generates imagery at high
frame rates, enabling an aircraft
to engage stationary and
moving targets through clouds.
Current electro-optical/infra-
red (EO/IR) imaging sensors are
not able to penetrate through
clouds, forcing platforms to
operate below the weather
in order to detect, locate and
engage such targets.

OSPREY WORKS UP COD MISSION PATROL FORCE

REORGANIZATION
PROVING OPERATIONS ON USS VINSON AND USS MOUNT WHITNEY PLANS RELEASED
A
AS FIELDING OF the P-8A
N MV-22B Poseidon picks up speed, the US
OPERATED Navy has released information
by Marine regarding changes to the patrol
Operational Test and reconnaissance force at
and Evaluation Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe
Squadron (VMX) Bay, Hawaii. As part of those
1 ‘Argonauts’ supported testing changes, Patrol Squadron (VP) 4,
aboard the aircraft carrier USS which is currently deployed, was
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) off the coast An MV-22B flares to land on the reassigned from Commander
of southern California on June flight deck of the aircraft carrier Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing
12, when it carried out a series of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on June Two (CPRW-2) to Commander
12. US Navy/MC3 Matthew Brown
landings and take-offs. The events Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing
allowed flight crew and flight deck Ten (CPRW-10) at Naval Air Station
personnel to become familiar familiarization exercise for the well as the Navy’s COD version. The Whidbey Island on May 1, 2016. It
with tilt-rotor operations aboard ship’s crew and for VMM-263. rolling take-offs and run-on landings will move to the Washington base
the carrier. The US Navy is moving Speaking about the USS Vinson will allow the Osprey to take off and when it concludes its upcoming
forward with plans to replace its trial, Lt Col Brett Hart, VMX-1 land at a higher gross weight due to deployment in October. VP-47
fixed-wing C-2A Greyhound carrier executive officer, said: ‘These the aerodynamic advantage known will be reassigned to CPRW‑10
on-board delivery (COD) aircraft operations present an opportunity as translational lift. on September 1, 2016, and
with a new variant of the Osprey. for our flight crews to gain In related news, the Bell Boeing VP-9 and Special Projects Patrol
An MV-22B operated by the experience landing on an aircraft Joint Project Office has begun Squadron (VPU) 2 will follow suit
‘Thunder Chickens’ of Marine carrier as opposed to landing on development of an aerial refueling on May 1, 2017. CPRW-2 will be
Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) an amphibious ship. It allows us to system for the MV-22B after disestablished the same day.
263 conducted the type’s first become accustomed to a different receiving a $58.8-million contract Relocation dates for the latter
landings and take-offs from the US set of operating procedures, and from Naval Air Systems Command. two squadrons have not yet been
Navy’s 6th Fleet flagship, the USS additionally allows air department The work includes engineering released. The Commander Patrol
10 Mount Whitney (LCC 20), on May sailors on board Carl Vinson to and logistics services in support of and Reconnaissance Group Pacific,
23. The Osprey completed four become accustomed to landing the development and integration which maintains administrative
starboard and three port landings and handling tilt-rotor aircraft.’ of the system, and is expected control over the Pacific Fleet patrol
and hot refueling on board the ship The US Navy plans to tap into to be completed in June 2019. squadrons, will transfer from
before returning to Morón air base, the Marine Corps’ MV-22 program A prototype system was first Kaneohe Bay to Whidbey Island on
Spain. The squadron is currently for its new COD requirement, demonstrated aboard the Osprey February 1, 2017.
deployed to the Spanish base and which involves a planned fleet in August 2013. The MV-22 air
serves as the Air Combat Element of of 44 aircraft. The new CMV-22 refueling capability is intended
Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground is expected to incorporate an to provide Marine Expeditionary
UPGRADED
Task Force Crisis Response — Africa. extended-range fuel system, high- Units on amphibious ships with an HORNETS DELIVERED
Forward-deployed to Gaeta, Italy, frequency radio, and public address organic capability. BOEING RECENTLY DELIVERED
the Mount Whitney evolutions were system onto the existing MV-22- The Marines are meanwhile the first upgraded F/A-18C+ to the
planned as a shipboard flight-deck standard aircraft. making plans to develop a US Marine Corps. The contractor
Production is expected to begin new communications suite for is currently upgrading 30 ‘legacy’
in Fiscal Year 2018 with deliveries the MV-22B that will allow the F/A-18Cs that had been stored with
following in 2020. Flight-testing tilt-rotor to collect data from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance
and carrier trials will support an numerous sources and distribute and Regeneration Group at
expansion of the flight envelope for it to other platforms, acting as a Davis-Monthan Air Force Base,
both MV-22B and CV-22B variants, as communication gateway. Arizona, under a contract awarded
in 2014. Two Marine fighter attack
squadrons will ultimately operate
the updated strike fighters. Boeing
is carrying out the work at its Cecil
Field facility near Jacksonville,
Florida. The contractor has already
delivered two of the upgraded
fighters to the Marines.
In addition to upgraded avionics,
the aircraft are receiving structural
upgrades to extend their service
life from 6,000 hours to 8,000 hours.
An MV-22B operated by VMM-263 takes off from the flight deck of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) on May 23,
the first time that the Osprey had conducted flight operations from the amphibious command ship. The upgrade requires around nine
US Navy/MCS Alyssa Weeks to 18 months to accomplish.

DEPLOYMENT NEWS USAF FIELDS

PRECISION-
Carrier latest
Aircraft operating from the deck ‘RED DEVILS’ DEPLOY GUIDED ROCKETS
of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. A-10C serial 80-0196 departs Selfridge ANGB, Michigan, on June 9 A-10Cs AND F-16Cs operating in Iraq
as the Michigan ANG’s 127th Wing deployed to Lielvārde, Latvia, for and Afghanistan are now capable
Truman (CVN 74) carried out the Exercise ‘Saber Strike’. Michigan National Guard/SSgt Samara Taylor
first strikes against the so-called of firing laser-guided 2.75in (70mm)
Islamic State group from the eastern Advanced Precision Kill Weapon
Mediterranean Sea on June 3, System (APKWS) rockets. BAE Systems
2016. The Carrier Strike Group had confirmed on June 8 that the aircraft
begun its journey home to the US have fielded the mid-body guidance
at the conclusion of a seven-month kits that give the normally unguided
deployment and exited the Suez rockets a precision attack capability.
Canal when the latest round of US Marine Corps AV-8Bs also recently
combat strikes began. Since arriving fielded the weapons. Employment
in theater during December 2015, event meant that the US Navy had squadron, which is a component of by the F-16 and A-10 marks the first
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 had carried two aircraft carriers in the 6th Fleet the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, time the weapons have been sent
out 1,407 sorties and delivered area of operations. replaced the 6th Squadron, 6th into combat zones by the USAF. The
1,110 weapons. Numerous strikes Cavalry, which returned to Fort guidance kit, which is already used
were carried out in Iraq and Syria. Boxer Harriers take on IS Drum, New York, on May 31. The by US Navy, Marine Corps and Army
On May 2, the ship’s seven-month Marine Corps AV-8Bs operating latter unit will begin preparing helicopters, was first tested on the
deployment was extended for from the multipurpose amphibious for its transition to a new role as a AV-8B, F-16C and A-10C during flight
an additional 30 days. Truman assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), heavy cavalry squadron. Under its demonstrations in May 2013.
departed from its home port in which is operating in the Persian new mission the unit will operate
Norfolk, Virginia, on November Gulf, began conducting combat AH-64 Apache attack helicopters E-3G DRAGON FLIES
16, 2015. Operating from the operations against IS on June and unmanned RQ-7B Shadows. BOEING RECENTLY CONDUCTED
Mediterranean was planned as a 16, 2016. The event marked the the first flight of a USAF E-3G
strategic demonstration that the first time that naval aviation Growlers deployed to Philippines Airborne Warning and Control
US can launch anti-IS strikes from combat strike missions in support Four US Navy E/A-18Gs operated System (AWACS) aircraft
the west as well as the south-east, of Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ by Electronic Attack Squadron upgraded under the Diminishing
but also adjusts the US carrier had been launched from US (VAQ) 138 arrived at Clark Air Manufacturing Sources
deployment profiles by spending Navy warships in two different Base, Philippines on June 15. The Replacement of Avionics for 11
more time with the 6th Fleet. operational theaters. The Harriers expeditionary Growler squadron Global Operations and Navigation
Meanwhile, the USS Dwight D. are assigned to Marine Medium will support routine operations (DRAGON) program. The cockpit
Eisenhower (CVN 69) left Norfolk, Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 166, intended to assure international modernization was originally
Virginia, at the start of a planned which serves as the Aviation access to the air and maritime areas developed for the NATO AWACS
deployment on June 1. The carrier Combat Element for the 13th in accordance with international fleet to ensure compliance
strike group is expected to relieve Marine Expeditionary Unit, and is law, and will help the Philippines with the latest global air traffic
the Truman strike group and embarked in the Boxer Amphibious patrol its sea borders amid management (GATM) standards.
conduct maritime security co- Ready Group. heightened tensions over territorial The program will reduce the
operation operations in the US 5th rights in the South China Sea. This flight crew from three to two
and 6th Fleet areas of operations Final Kiowa Warrior deployment detachment is part of a US Air by eliminating the need for a
and support air strikes against IS. Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, Contingent that was established in navigator. The upgrade adds five
CVN 69 passed through the Strait 17th Cavalry Regiment have begun April to promote interoperability multi-function displays that can
of Gibraltar and arrived in the a nine-month deployment to and security co-operation with the display navigation, engine and
Mediterranean Sea on June 13. The Camp Humphries, South Korea. The Philippines. radar data.
CBP RECEIVES 13TH UPGRADED ORION

US CUSTOMS AND Border Protection’s in July 2013. Lockheed Martin is
P-3B N480SK (ex-BuNo 154580) at Cecil Field
Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 20. currently carrying out work on
received its 13th upgraded P-3B Lockheed Martin delivered the aircraft three days one more Orion for CBP and it is
aircraft from Lockheed Martin on earlier. Tom Kaminski scheduled for completion in July
May 17 at the contractor’s Greenville, 2016. The delivery of the 14th
South Carolina, facility. The newly- Orion to AMO will complete the
delivered P-3B is one of two Orions CBP program of record. During
removed from storage with the Fiscal Year 2015, AMO’s Orion
309th Aerospace Maintenance fleet contributed to 198 seizure,
and Regeneration Group at Davis- disruption or interdiction events in
Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona and the narcotics transit zone between
converted to ‘Slick’ long-range tracker plan (SLEP) overhaul, the aircraft registration N480SK, P-3B BuNo North and South America, resulting
(LRT) configuration. In addition to received the modifications required 154580 spent more than nine years in the seizure of more than 200,000lb
undergoing a service life extension for the LRT mission. Assigned the in storage until it was regenerated (90,718kg) of cocaine.

MULTIYEAR C130J CONTRACT

TERMS AGREED ON SECOND MYP FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN
T
HE AIR FORCE Life of the contract, which will provide
Cycle Management new aircraft to replace older C-130H
Center’s Mobility models and add to the J-models
Directorate and currently in the USAF fleet.
Lockheed Martin The contract also funds an
have completed an affordability program in which
agreement on the terms of a multi- Lockheed Martin receives $35
year contract under which the US million up front and agrees to $65
services will procure 78 C-130Js. The million in labor reductions over
five-year contract includes options the life of the contract, which,
allowing the US services to purchase according to Fountain, will allow
up to 83 aircraft. This is the second the company to assemble the
multi-year contract associated with including the Marine Corps, Coast contract officer with the Mobility aircraft more efficiently.
the Super Hercules. Guard, Air Force Special Operations Directorate and lead negotiator on In related news, Lockheed Martin
‘This contract is significant Command, and Air Force Mobility the contract with Lockheed. delivered a new HC-130J to the
because it provides the taxpayer Command, to save money and Acquisition teams from the 347th Rescue Group’s 71st Rescue
with the best bang for their use it for other requirements’, said Mobility Directorate negotiated for Squadron on June 9 when the
buck and allows our customers, Joseph Fountain, a supervisory three years to finalize the details aircraft was ferried to Moody Air
CAGBIRD CORNER
12
Elements of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 began work-ups for their next cruise aboard the USS George H. W. Bush by deploying to Naval Air Station
Fallon, Nevada, from May 9 to 27 to conduct a Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program (SFARP). Among the CAG-birds seen here are F/A-18E
BuNo 166776/AJ-100 from VFA-31 ‘Tomcatters’ and F/A-18E BuNo 168910/AJ-300 from VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’. The entire air wing will return to
Fallon from NAS Oceana, Virginia, for a four-week CVW deployment later in 2016. Jim Dunn
KC46 PEGASUS PROBLEMS FORCE LOWRATE PRODUCTION DELAY

ON MAY 27 the USAF announced hardware fix will be required. The pods, which are required in RAA milestone. Deliveries to the New
that the planned delivery date of modified boom was to enter flight- order for the aircraft to meet Hampshire Air National Guard are still
the first production KC-46A tanker testing in July. The company will full contractual required assets scheduled to begin in spring 2018.
has shifted from March to August install a hydraulic relief valve system available (RAA) requirements, will Boeing now has five aircraft
2017. The announcement follows the designed to alleviate higher than be delivered in October 2018. undergoing testing and 15 are in
decision to postpone planned low- expected axial loads that prevented Under the revised plans the USAF various stages of construction. The
rate initial production (LRIP) approval the KC-46A from refueling the C-17A now expects delivery of the first contractor is self-funding efforts
from June to August 2016. The delays airlifter during testing. KC-46As to Altus Air Force Base, associated with the production
have been partially caused by testing Once the program receives a Oklahoma, and McConnell AFB, aircraft.
problems with the aircraft’s refueling Milestone C decision the Air Force Kansas in late summer or early fall Boeing is developing the KC-
boom and certification delays for its plans to ‘immediately award’ a 2017. Previous plans had the aircraft 46A under a fixed-price contract.
centerline drogue refueling system contract for the LRIP Lots 1 and 2. arriving in the spring. Deliveries of Because of cost over-runs and
and underwing aerial refueling Lot 3 will follow in January 2017. the initial 18 aircraft, which had been delays it has already reported $1.5
pods. Although Boeing had hoped Although the initial production scheduled for August 2017, will now billion in pre-tax charges. The USAF
to correct an issue with the KC-46A’s aircraft will be equipped with the be completed in January 2018. The is currently considering what type
aerial refueling boom with a software refueling boom and centerline delivery of the last of the 18 certified of penalty will be imposed as a
update, it now appears that a drogue system, the first refueling tanker aircraft is required to meet the result of the latest hold-ups.

Force Base, Georgia. The following

day, a crew from the 27th Special
Operations Wing’s 522nd Special
Operations Squadron departed
Marietta, Georgia en route to
Cannon AFB, New Mexico, with a
new MC-130J.
Left: HC-130J serial 13-5790 leaves

Dobbins ARB, Georgia, en route to
Moody AFB, Georgia, on June 9.
Lockheed Martin/Mandie Mills
Right: Lockheed Martin recently

installed the wings on the first of
14 C-130Js that will be delivered
to the 374th Airlift Wing’s 36th
Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air
Base, Japan. The Hercules is
expected to leave the contractor’s
Marietta, Georgia, facility
adjacent to Dobbins Air Reserve
Base by the end of the year. The
36th is the last active-duty USAF
unit to fly the C-130H version
of the airlifter, which has been
stationed at Yokota since 1974.
Lockheed Martin
UNIT REVIEW
13
Alamo Wing receives Super Galaxy ‘Argonauts’ redesignated ‘Red Dogs’ reorganize LA Coast Guard station closed
The first C-5M for the 433rd Airlift Marine Operational Test and Marine Light Attack Helicopter The US Coast Guard formally
Wing arrived at Joint Base San Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22 Squadron HMLA-773(-) began its decommissioned Air Station Los
Antonio-Lackland, Texas on June 17 was redesignated as VMX-1 during move from Robins Air Force Base, Angeles, California, on May 20. The
when serial 87-0027 touched down ceremonies at Marine Corps Air Georgia, to Joint Base McGuire-Dix- air station had been located at Los
at Kelly Field. The Super Galaxy is the Station Yuma, Arizona, on May 13. Lakehurst, New Jersey, where it will Angeles International Airport since
first of eight that will be assigned to VMX-22 originally stood up in August be consolidated with HMLA‑773 1962 and its closure was the result
the Air Force Reserve Command unit. 2003 as a test and evaluation unit for Detachment B. Seven AH-1W of expansion. The service has shifted
The wing’s initial C-5M carries the the MV-22B tilt-rotor but since that and three UH-1Y helicopters will operations north to Naval Base
name City of San Antonio. The 433rd time its duties have been expanded relocate from Robins to McGuire Ventura County in Oxnard, where it
currently operates the Air Force’s last to include operational testing for by the end of September. The established Forward Operating Base
C-5As, which will be progressively each of the US Marine Corps fixed- initial pair of AH-1Ws departed (FOB) Point Mugu on May 18. The
retired as the updated C-5Ms are wing, tilt-rotor and rotary-wing prior to ceremonies that were held facility will support MH-65Ds and
delivered. aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, on June 16. Another detachment personnel detached from Air Station
command and control systems, of HMLA‑773 will remain based San Francisco, California. Three of the
‘Hercs’ leave Pope and assistance in the creation of at Naval Air Station New Orleans MH-65Ds that had been assigned
The first of 11 C-130Hs operated aviation tactics, techniques and Joint Reserve Base, Louisiana. to Los Angeles were reassigned to
by Air Force Reserve Command’s procedures. The unit conducts its HMLA‑773(-) had been stationed at San Francisco, and the fourth was
440th Airlift Wing recently left Pope operations under the authority of the Robins since leaving Dobbins Air transferred to Air Station Humboldt
Army Airfield in North Carolina commander, Operational Test and Reserve Base, Georgia, in 2012. Bay along with 16 crew.
for new homes. Two of the aircraft Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR)
were delivered to the Arkansas Air and the director, Marine Corps MH-65D serial 6570 is one of three Dolphins assigned to FOB Point
Operational Test and Evaluation Mugu, California. The Coast Guard plans to build a permanent air
National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing
station there by 2021. USCG
at Little Rock Air Force Base, and Activity (MCOTEA) depending on
one was transferred to the Reserve’s the program undergoing tests.
94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air In addition to the main body of
Reserve Base, Georgia. The bulk of the squadron at Yuma, VMX-1 has
the remaining eight airlifters will detachments at MCAS New River,
also transfer to the 189th. The 440th North Carolina, Edwards Air Force
Airlift Wing will be deactivated at Base, California, and at Sikorsky
the end of the current fiscal year in Aircraft’s Development Flight Center
September. in West Palm Beach, Florida.

SPECIAL REPORT | PAKISTAN AIR POWER
ON PARADE
The Armed Forces of Pakistan held their Joint Services Parade
in Islamabad on the occasion of Pakistan Day on March 23.
report: Waseem Abbas
T
14 An impressive HE VENUE FOR the Joint Z-10 Fierce Thunderbolt attack helicopter. The majority of the 15 PAA helicopters that
close-up of
Services (JS) Parade The Pakistan Army Aviation Corps (PAA) joined the parade were from the 101st
a formation
of Saab 2000 was the Shakarparian received three Z-10s from China in a semi- Army Aviation Group, together with some
Erieye leading Parade Ground in the knocked-down condition in 2015. These units from the 404th Army Aviation Group
a ZDK-03
capital, Islamabad. The examples were provided free of charge for based at Multan. The flypast of helicopter
Karakoram
Eagle airborne date, March 23, 2016, trials and evaluation. formations was led by a pair of Z-10s from
early warning commemorated the 76th anniversary of Keeping up the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) No 35 Squadron ‘Air Mustangs’, believed
and control
the passing of the Pakistan Resolution tradition of ‘leading from the front’, Chief to be responsible for the type’s evaluation.
(AEW&C) aircraft
en route to the in Lahore. After Defense Day, which is of the Air Staff ACM Sohail Aman led the After them came three-ships of Bell AH-1
parade venue. celebrated on September 6, the day of the flypast himself. Immediately after his Cobras, Eurocopter AS550C3 Fennecs, Bell
PAF via author
JS Parade is arguably the busiest for the appearance, fighters from different PAF 412EPs, IAR-330SM Pumas, Mil Mi-17s and,
Armed Forces of Pakistan. squadrons appeared in four-ship diamond representing PN Aviation, Harbin Z-9EC
This year’s event saw the participation formations. First up were two F-16As and Haitun aircraft from No 222 Squadron
of a remarkable 57 aircraft of 16 different two F-16Bs from the PAF’s No 9 Squadron ‘Stingrays’.
types from all three branches of the armed ‘Griffins’. Following this were formations Following up were two formations
forces. As well as four solo displays, a total of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) of jets from the PAF Academy. In the
of 15 formation flights were conducted by JF-17 Thunders, Chengdu F-7PG Skybolts first were three ‘Tweets’, still in Turkish
the aircraft involved. and upgraded Dassault Mirage ROSE jets Air Force colors, piloted by instructors
to represent the strike element of the of the Academy’s aerobatic team, the
Participating bases PAF. Next was a group of veteran F-7Ps Sherdils. In the second formation the
The majority of the participating jets from the Kamra-based No 14 Squadron Sherdils performed an aerobatics display
took off from their respective bases. ‘Shaheens’, in their final days of service. in a six-ship formation, consisting of
Meanwhile, the Qasim Army Aviation Besides the fighters, the PAF’s airborne K-8 Karakoram jet trainers from the
Base (AAB) at Dhamial Rawalpindi, home surveillance platforms participated in Academy’s Advanced Jet Training Wing.
to the 101st Army Aviation Group, hosted the flypast too. Leading them in was the Providing a fitting end to proceedings
the bulk of the rotary-wing aircraft Saab 2000 Erieye, followed by a ZDK-03 was a solo JF-17 from No 26 Squadron
involved. Karakoram Eagle. A pair of Lockheed P-3C ‘Black Spiders’ based at PAF Base
The parade saw the public debut of Orions from the Karachi-based No 28 Peshawar that performed an aerobatic
the Cessna T-37 ‘Tweet’, 34 of which were Squadron ‘Flying Destroyers’ represented sequence in the hands of Sqn Ldr Syed
gifted by the Turkish Air Force last year. Pakistan Naval Aviation. Jawad Gilani, followed by an F-16 from
Also making its debut was the Changhe The rotary-wing flypasts comprised 18 No 9 Squadron, in the hands of Wg Cdr
Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) helicopters from the PAA and PN Aviation. Asim Raja.

Eurofighter.indd 1 26/04/2016 17:19
[NEWS] WORLD
‘VIPER’ NEWS
16
served with 350 Squadron

in 1944. The national insignia on the
port side of the fin are post-May 1942
RAF national markings, while those on
the starboard side are 1945-48-style
IQAF F-16C serial
1621/13-0016 conducts a Belgian markings. The text ‘Fortissimi
test flight from Lockheed since 1941’ is based on 350 Squadron’s
Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas motto ‘Belgae Gallorum fortissimi’ as
facility on May 6.
Keith Snyder written by Julius Caesar. The unit’s
badge is a Gallic warrior’s head.
Second Iraqi ‘Viper’ batch support worth an estimated $2.3 ‘Fortissimi since 1941’ Jos Schoofs
begins tests billion was requested by the Iraqi Formed at RAF Valley on November
The first two Lockheed Martin government on December 12, 2011. 12, 1941, the Belgian Air Component’s Turkey may upgrade more
F-16C/D Fighting Falcons from the Initially, it was planned for the first 350 Squadron marks its 75th PAF ‘Vipers’
second batch purchased by Iraq F-16s to arrive at their Iraqi base in anniversary this year. It has adorned Pakistan is reportedly in talks with
have commenced flight tests. The September 2014, but the advances the vertical fin of F-16AM FA-129 Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)
two aircraft comprise F-16D serial made by so-called Islamic State (IS) with a 1940s-era Spitfire camouflage with a view to upgrading additional
1619/13-0032 and F-16C serial militants across the country saw scheme for the occasion. The Pakistan Air Force F-16s. The PAF is
1621/13-0016. In October 2012, 18 this transfer suspended. squadron code MN-B was carried by looking to upgrade around 74 F-16s,
of the type were ordered for delivery On July 9, 2015 two F-16Cs (serials Spitfire LFIX MH434 — still airworthy including 14 aircraft that it is receiving
between 2017 and 2018, to equip a 1607 and 1610) and two F-16Ds with the Old Flying Machine from Jordan. Previously, TAI was
second Iraqi Air Force squadron. The (1601 and 1604) took off from Tucson Company at Duxford, UK — when it contracted to upgrade 41 PAF F-16s.
initial transaction called for a batch of and landed at Lajes in the Azores the
12 F-16Cs and six F-16Ds, but it seems same day. They arrived at Balad Air
likely that a pair of two-seaters and 16 Base on July 13, joining the new 9th
single-seaters will now be delivered. Fighter Squadron.
A first batch of 18 F-16C/D On September 6, 2015 the Iraqi
Block 52 fighters (12 single-seat Ministry of Defense announced
F-16Cs and six two-seat F-16Ds) that the F-16 had begun combat
and associated equipment, parts, operations four days previously. Specially-marked 350
Squadron F-16A FA-129. Benoît Denet
weapons, training and logistical Arnaud Delalande

WORLD [NEWS]
A
FTER A 30- F/A-18F Super Hornet ‘in [terms
DAY review, of ] strategic, military, economic
the Danish and industrial conditions. In all
parliament four evaluation areas the F-35A is
approved the rated higher than the other fighter
government’s aircraft.’
recommendation to acquire 27 Denmark plans to phase out
Lockheed Martin F-35As on May 9. its last F-16 by the end of 2024.
The move came after the committee Introduction of the Joint Strike
of defense had questioned the Fighter is expected to take place
selection of the Lightning II as between 2021 and 2026. ‘In the
Denmark’s next-generation fighter. period from 2022-24 there will be
DENMARK
Danish opposition politicians, no international operations’, the
meanwhile, are concerned by a Ministry of Defense admits.
looming ‘fighter gap’ from 2022- While the cost of the F-35A
CONFIRMS
24, which is scheduled to occur during the phase-in period is
between withdrawal of the current placed at around $3.04 billion, the
F-16s and the arrival of the first overall costs are unclear. Denmark
F-35s. retains the option of scaling back
F-35 CHOICE
According to a statement from its order to 21 aircraft, removing
the Danish Ministry of Defense, the last six jets ‘if the first aircraft
the New Fighter Program Office is not delivered in time and at the
considered the F-35A superior to expected price which underlie this
the Eurofighter Typhoon and the agreement.’
GOVERNMENT APPROVES Left: Lockheed Martin recorded the first flight of Royal Norwegian Air
LIGHTNING II BUY Force F-35A AM-04 at Fort Worth, Texas on June 9. The aircraft is the
third Norwegian Lightning II to fly. Carl Richards
MAIDEN FLIGHT FOR HTT-40

LATEST SAUDI HAWK THE HINDUSTAN TURBO Trainer developed with company funds. 17
DELIVERIES (HTT) 40 made its maiden flight on

the morning of May 31. Developed
Ultimately, the IAF has a requirement
for another 106 basic trainers, and
by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will likely choose between the Swiss
(HAL), the basic trainer completed PC-7 and the indigenous HTT-40.
high-speed taxi trials the previous In the meantime, another 38 PC-7s
week. The Indian Air Force has not have been ordered to fill gaps in the
fully committed to the HTT-40, training fleet. HAL plans to build the
criticizing it for excessive weight, first two series production HTT-40s
cost, and inability to meet its in 2018, followed by eight in 2019,
requirements. Instead, the IAF before building 20 per year from
has acquired 75 Pilatus PC-7 MkII 2020 for both domestic and export
trainers, while the HTT-40 has been operators.
BAE SYSTEMS HAWK Mk165s serials June 8, routing via Nice, France and
ZB103 (2104) and ZB105 (2105) are then Paphos, Cyprus. The aircraft
the latest examples to be delivered comprise the second batch of RSAF
to the Royal Saudi Air Force. Delivery Hawks. Riyadh ordered an initial
flights from BAE Warton were batch of 22 Hawk AJTs in 2012 and
attempted on June 7, only for one of an order for a further 22 aircraft was HAL’s first HTT-40 prototype at Bengaluru on May 31. Test pilots Gp Capt
the jets to return with an electrical confirmed earlier this year. (ret) Subramaniam and Gp Capt (ret) Venugopal were at the controls for
the first flight, which lasted around 30 minutes. The chase aircraft was
fault. The pair finally departed on Peter R. Foster
an HJT-16 Kiran MkIA. An ‘official’ first flight took place with the same
crew on June 17. Sanjay Simha
GERMANY EXAMINES CH-53K BUY

GERMANY HAS APPROACHED helicopters as it seeks to decide (ER), as a potential replacement for 66 sign a deal in 2018, and receive the
the US government with a letter of upon a new heavy-lift helicopter. The CH-53GS/GAs now operated by the first new helicopters in 2022. A total of
request for pricing and availability CH-53K is in the running, along with Luftwaffe. Germany hopes to issue a between 40 and 60 could ultimately
of 41 Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion with Boeing CH-47F Extended Range formal request for proposals next year, be required under a €3-billion deal.

[NEWS] WORLD
18 FIGHTER FOCUS
Gripen introduces MS20 software Botswana media suggest that a deal allows them to reach the Falkland of the bombers were handed over
The Swedish Defense Materiel was agreed to buy 16 Gripens at a Islands. to the Ministry of Defense of the
Agency (FMV) has revealed details cost of between $1.4-1.6 billion. Russian Federation according to
of the latest MS20 software version The Botswana Defence Forces F414 selected for KF-X the 2016 State Defense Order.
for the Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen (BDF) currently operates Canadair South Korea’s Defense Acquisition The aircraft took off from the V. P.
fighter. This spring, MS20 hardware CF-5C/D fighters and the country Program Administration (DAPA) has Chkalov Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant’s
and software changes have been has previously discussed buying the chosen the General Electric F414- airfield and arrived at Khurba air
introduced across the Swedish Air Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) GE-400 engine as the powerplant base. The aircraft appear to be the
Force Gripen C/D fleet. T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle. for the $15.3-billion Korea first four examples for the 277th
The MS20 standard includes the Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X Bomber Aviation Regiment —
MBDA Meteor long-range air-to- Argentina looks to France fighter project. As preferred bidder, currently a Su-24M operator — and
air missile, fully integrated with for Mirages GE was selected in favor of Eurojet comprise Bort numbers ‘01’ to ‘04’.
the fighter’s sensors and support Reports in the Argentine media (with the EJ200) to provide engines
systems. Version 20 also integrates have revealed that Buenos Aires for the forthcoming twin-engine Bulgaria approves fighter buy
the precision-guided Small has begun negotiations with France fighter, 120 examples of which Sofia’s parliamentary committees
Diameter Bomb (SDB), improved with a view to acquiring 12 former are planned to enter service from on defense have approved the
CBRN (chemical, biological, French Air Force Dassault Mirage 2026. GE was selected over Eurojet purchase of a planned 16 new
radiological and nuclear) protection F1 fighters. It is reported that on the basis of factors including fighters. The deal, which had
for both pilot and ground crew, and the defense ministers of the two engine performance, cost, offset previously been passed by the
the Ground Collision Avoidance countries met recently to discuss program and technology transfer. Bulgarian cabinet in March, is part
System. a potential deal, which may also DAPA plans to finalize the basic of a €1-billion package that also
include Mirage 2000s. Argentina is design for the KF-X by September includes two new naval patrol
Botswana lines up Gripen also in talks with France to acquire 2017, leading to a detailed design vessels and armored vehicles.
Botswana is in talks to acquire Saab new Safran Astazou turboprop by January 2019. The fighter acquisition is likely
Gripen fighters. Sweden’s Defense engines to equip around 20 FMA to take the form of an inter-state
Materiel Administration (FMV) has IA-58 Pucará counter-insurgency Latest ‘Fullback’ deliveries agreement, and the options under
confirmed that it is negotiating with aircraft that are currently grounded. Sukhoi has delivered a new batch study by the Defense Ministry
Botswana on the supply of around Transfer of the Mirages could be of Su-34 bombers to the Russian comprise second-hand Tranche
eight surplus Swedish Air Force opposed by the United Kingdom, Air Force, the company reported 1 Eurofighter Typhoons, second-
JAS 39C/D Gripens. Reports in the since their refueling capability on May 30. An undisclosed number hand Lockheed Martin F-16s from

WORLD [NEWS]
MORE A400M
CONCERNS
GERMANY CONSIDERS HERCULES POOLING PLAN
A
S THE GERMAN to receive nine in 2016, from a total France this year. MSN33 is the first to
Defense Ministry of 53 ordered. A pooled European have tactical capabilities, including
weighs up Hercules fleet might include France, the ability to drop paratroopers and
options in the the Netherlands and/or the US. supplies, a self-protection suite, the
face of delays Another option under study is ability to operate on semi-prepared
to the Airbus an outright buy of C-130s, which landing strips and the ability to refuel
A400M airlifter, one solution being would likely comprise 10 C-130Js, or aircraft in flight. Two similar aircraft
considered is a pooled European otherwise a leasing scheme to make are to be delivered before the end of
fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130s. The up for the Luftwaffe’s shortfall in airlift the year, and three of those currently
A400M currently offers only limited capability. in service will be retrofitted to the
deployment capabilities, and has In other A400M news, Airbus same capability standards as MSN33.
suffered from delivery delays. To date delivered a ninth aircraft (MSN33) to Airbus also recently delivered a third
the Luftwaffe has received just three the French Ministry of Defense on A400M to Malaysia, from a total of
A400Ms, but it had been scheduled June 9, marking the fifth delivery to four on order.
MSN44, the first Airbus A400M destined for the Spanish Air Force, recently finished its painting process and
was rolled out at the final assembly line in Seville. It will now undergo ground tests in preparation for its
maiden flight in mid-July. Airbus Defence and Space
19
Portugal, and new-build Saab 2018 and 2021. Another eight (‘Letzte Rekrutenschule für die squadrons: three militia-manned
JAS 39C/D Gripens. According to aircraft are to be acquired F-5E/F’). This was the last occasion Fliegerstaffeln (6, 8 and 19) and
the Sofia News Agency, the F-16 between 2022 and 2023. on which Lehrverband Flieger 31 three operational squadrons (11,
deal would involve nine Excess will recruit militia members on the 17 and 18) and the disbanded
Defense Article (EDA) jets made End of an era for Swiss Tigers Tiger II, bringing to an end a 35-year Fliegerstaffel 1. Today, 26 F-5s
available by the US and then Swiss Air Force F-5E Tiger II serial history. The first Rekrutenschule remain in Swiss service with
modernized by Portugal. J-3074 of Flugplatzkommando 13 at was established at Payerne air base Fliegerstaffel 6 (Payerne),
Bulgaria aims to sign a contract Meiringen air base was painted in in summer 1981. Fliegerstaffel 8 (Meiringen), and
for eight aircraft by the end of special colors on the occasion of the In total, 110 F-5E/Fs entered Fliegerstaffel 19 (Sion).
2016, with deliveries between final recruit school for the F-5E/F Swiss Air Force service in seven Bernd Kienle
Specially marked F-5E Tiger II serial J-3074 at the anniversary airshow marking 75 years of
Meiringen air base on June 17. Bernd Kienle

[NEWS] WORLD
EUROFIGHTER IPA8 TAKES SHAPE

E-SCAN TESTBED ON THE PRODUCTION LINE AT MANCHING
20
S
Above: E-Scan Eurofighter testbed IPA8 on the final assembly line at Manching. Dr Andreas Zeitler
EEN ON DISPLAY at completion and static testing, the for the Euroradar CAPTOR-E active E-Scan, there is a ‘firm commitment’. It
Airbus Defence and aircraft will ultimately wear the electronically scanned array (AESA) may end up that Kuwait becomes the
Space at Manching, German military serial 98+08. A first radar, with more than 200 flights first Typhoon operator to field aircraft
Germany, is Eurofighter flight is planned in the third quarter scheduled in the 2016-21 timeframe. with the new radar.
GT0026, Instrumented of 2016, with testing commencing in In June, Airbus said that whilst there For more on the Typhoon’s upgrade
Production Aircraft the fourth quarter of the year. IPA8 is still no formal contract from the plans, see the ‘Centurion Rising’
(IPA) 8. Now in the final stages of will primarily serve as a testbed European Eurofighter partners on the feature in this issue.
SEAHAWKS Mi-38 DELIVERIES SENEGALESE ‘HIND’ UPGRADE REVEALED

ARRIVE IN DENMARK IN 2018
THE US NAVY has delivered the
RUSSIA’S TASS NEWS agency has
first three Lockheed Martin MH-60R
reported that serial deliveries of the
Seahawk helicopters to Denmark.
Mil Mi-38 medium helicopter to the
The delivery was marked during a
Russian Army will begin in 2018.
June 6 ceremony in Copenhagen
The agency quoted Igor Bugakov,
harbor. The event commenced with
deputy director general of the
a MH-60R Seahawk landing aboard
Kazan Helicopter Plant. The basic
a Danish frigate of the Iver Huitfeldt
military version of the helicopter Controp
class. The Seahawks will be stationed
is a transport model, which ‘will be
at Karup and assigned to Eskadrille THIS RECENTLY-RELEASED to upgrade ‘a United Nations Mi-17,
almost 100 per cent manufactured
723. Denmark signed a letter of PHOTOGRAPH reveals that at least one a Mi‑24, a Bell 407, and a Eurocopter
with Russian components’.
agreement in 2012 to procure nine of Senegal’s two Mil Mi-35P assault EC145’ with the equipment, which
According to Bugakov, the Kazan
MH-60Rs via the Foreign Military helicopters has been upgraded with a includes a high-definition day camera,
Helicopter Plant will require around
Sales (FMS) program to replace its new electro-optical (EO) system. The a daylight spotter channel or optional
two years to achieve supplemental
fleet of Westland Lynx helicopters. package is the DSP-HD EO system from long-range shortwave infra-red (SWIR)
type certification (STC) for the
The ninth Seahawk will be delivered the Israeli Controp company. According camera, and a laser range-finder or
military Mi-38.
in 2018. to Controp, it has been contracted optional laser pointer.

WORLD [NEWS]
IN BRIEF TRAGIC MONTH

Sweden retains Hercules,
Portugal modernizes
latest four Falcon 50MS Surmar
platforms were previously used
FOR DEMO TEAMS
AN F/A18C HORNET, BuNo 163755, US Secret Service during President
Sweden has decided to retain the for government transportation operated by the US Navy Flight Obama’s visit to the Air Force
Lockheed Martin C-130H transport missions before being converted Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Academy. He was subsequently
aircraft in service until at least 2030. at Dassault’s Mérignac facility, Angels, crashed shortly after take- flown to Peterson AFB and had a
A service life extension program where they received a search off while practicing for the Great brief meeting with the President.
is under way on the six remaining radar, an optronic system, a Tennessee Air Show near Nashville Although the fighter remained
aircraft, locally designated TP 84. new cockpit, and observation on June 2. The aircraft was flown by relatively intact following the crash it
This will last until 2021. Previous windows. An initial batch of four Marine Corps Capt Jeff Kuss, who suffered substantial damage and will
plans to field a replacement will Falcon 50MIs was delivered in the was the team’s opposing solo pilot almost certainly be stricken.
now be put on hold until at least 2000s. and flew aircraft number 6 in the The last Thunderbirds crash
the end of the following decade. formation. It apparently impacted occurred on August 20, 2005, over
In related news, Portugal’s RecceLite for Italian Predators power lines and came down in an Lake Michigan during the Chicago
Defense Ministry has announced General Atomics Aeronautical open field near a tourist site around Air and Water Show.
plans to modernize five Portuguese Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has two miles (3.2km) from the departure Two F-5Es flown by the Swiss Air
Air Force C-130H. The package announced plans to integrate the end of Runway 14 at Smyrna/ Force display team, the Patrouille
will include measures to bring Rafael RecceLite reconnaissance Rutherford County Airport at around Suisse, were involved in a mid-air
the airlifters in line with the pod onto Italian Air Force MQ-9 15.01hrs local time. collision near Leeuwarden air base,
requirements of the European Predator B unmanned aerial The Blue Angels last experienced a the Netherlands on June 9. The pilot
Single Sky regulations. The vehicles (UAVs). The modification crash in April 2007, when LCDR Kevin of serial J-3086 ejected safely before
€29-million program is due to be will be the first time a ‘sovereign’ Davis was killed during an airshow the Tiger II crashed near a pond in
completed in 2023. payload has been mounted on a performance at MCAS Beaufort, the village of Beetgum around 93
customer-operated Predator. South Carolina. Formed in 1946, the miles (150km) north of Amsterdam.
Y-20 enters service A combined Italian Air Force, Blue Angels are marking their 70th Serial J-3088 recovered safely to
The first two series production GA-ASI, and Rafael team is currently anniversary in 2016. Leeuwarden despite the loss of
Xia’an Y-20 airlifters were handed testing integration hardware. The Around 45 minutes before a large section of its starboard
over to the People’s Liberation team will execute developmental the Tennessee mishap, an horizontal stabilizer. The display
Army Air Force in a ceremony on and operational flight tests under F-16C operated by the USAF Air team was conducting a rehearsal
June 15 and have received the Italian Air Force leadership at Demonstration Squadron, the in preparation for the Royal 21
serials 11051 and 11053. These Amendola air base in early 2017, Thunderbirds, crashed south of Netherlands Air Force Open Days. It
identities indicate assignment with system fielding to occur Colorado Springs, Colorado, on June was the first accident to befall the
to the 12th Regiment of the 4th shortly thereafter. 2 after an apparent engine failure. team in its 52-year history.
Division Transport at Chengdu/ The team had just completed a The pilot of a Russian Air Force
Qionglai, previously a Xia’an Thailand looks at P-1, US-2 flyover of the Air Force Academy as Su-27 was killed when it crashed
Y-7 unit. Reports from Japan suggest that part of a graduation ceremony and in a wooded area of the Pushkino
Thailand may be looking to buy was returning to Peterson AFB at the district on June 8. The fighter,
Saab wins AEW&C order the Kawasaki P-1 patrol aircraft and time. The pilot, Maj Alex Turner, who operated by the Russian Knights
Saab has announced receipt of an the ShinMaywa Industries US-2 also served as the team’s opposing team, was returning to Kubinka after
order ‘within the airborne early large amphibious rescue aircraft. solo pilot and flies aircraft number 6 a display during the dedication of
warning and control (AEW&C) Such a deal would see Japan and in the formation, ejected safely from a monument to Russian aviators in
segment’, valued at around SEK 1.1 Thailand becoming limited defense the fighter before it impacted the the village of Ashukino. The crash
billion. Deliveries of the aircraft and partners, through technological ground in an open field around 5nm site was located near the village of
systems in question will be made co-operation. The proposal was (9.25km) from Peterson, at around Muranovo, around 20 miles (32.2km)
to the unidentified customer from discussed in a recent meeting 13.15hrs local time. He was recovered north-east of Moscow. The pilot,
2016 until 2018. between the Japanese and Thai by the crew of a US Army UH-60 Maj Sergey Eremenko, flew in the
According to the company, the defense ministers. helicopter that was supporting the number 6 position.
AEW&C system will be ‘used for
border surveillance, search and
rescue operations and for tackling
terrorism and organized crime.’ LATEST LEBANESE COMBAT CARAVAN
This is the latest Lebanese Air Force Cessna AC-208B Combat Caravan in an armed ISR
configuration. The aircraft was ordered last year and mission equipment includes a Wescam
Final Falcon 50 Surmar for MX-15D EO turrent, hardpoints for AGM-114s, AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser and
Aéronavale Terma aircraft survivability equipment (ASE). Serial L-403 was seen outside the
Orbital ATK facility at Meacham Airport, Texas. Michael Keaveney
The French Navy has received its
eighth and final Dassault Falcon
50 Surmar maritime surveillance
aircraft. Dassault Aviation
delivered the aircraft — the last of
four Falcon 50MS aircraft from the
latest batch — during a ceremony
at Lann-Bihoué air base. The

[NEWS] WORLD
LOSSES
• SA342L (SOKO HN-45M) serial flight on May 31. The prototype,
12941 (c/n 161) operated by the which is based on Piaggio’s P180
Montenegrin Air Force was heavily twin-turboprop, was operating
damaged when it made a hard from Vincenzo Florio Airport in
Compiled by Tom Kaminski landing in Podgorica, on June 10. Trapani, Sicily. Serial CPX621 went
Two crew aboard the Gazelle suffered down near Mare di Levanzo about
• C212-400 serial 8983 (c/n 482), Myanmar, killing three personnel on serious injuries when it came down five miles (8km) north of Isola di
operated by the Vietnam Coast June 14. The helicopter went down near the Komanski Bridge. Levanzo.
Guard, crashed during a search in the jungle near Daik U town in • An unmanned MQ-9A operated • US Navy F/A-18F BuNos 166807
mission off the Vietnamese coast on Bago division, around 93 miles by the US Air Force’s 432nd Wing and 166813, assigned to Strike
June 16. Nine crew and passengers (150km) north-east of Yangon. crashed during a training flight at Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211
were killed when the aircraft, which • A Vietnamese Air Force the Nevada Test and Training Range ‘Fighting Checkmates’, crashed
had been searching for the pilot of Su-30MK2 crashed on June 14. The 45 miles (72km) north-west of Las following a mid-air collision on May
a Vietnamese Air Force Su-30MK2 fighter had been conducting a Vegas, on June 8. 26. Four crew aboard the two Super
that crashed earlier on June 14, training mission off the coast of the • Two US Air Force F-16Cs operated Hornets ejected safely and were
went down. Wreckage of the CASA central province of Ngh An near Đ by the South Carolina Air National recovered by a commercial fishing
was located in the Gulf of Tonkin o M t Island, 25 miles (40km) from Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing boat. They were subsequently
around 13.5 miles (22km) south- Vinh City, when it disappeared. crashed following an apparent hoisted aboard a pair of MH-60T
west of Bach Long Vi Island. Although both crew ejected, only mid-air collision on June 7. Both helicopters from Coast Guard
• A Spanish Air Force SA330J one was recovered. pilots ejected safely following the Air Station Elizabeth City, North
helicopter was heavily damaged • Both crew aboard a NorthStar incident, which occurred during Carolina, and flown to a local
after rolling over at Casablanca Aviation (NSA) 407MRH operated a night training mission over hospital. The mishap occurred
Mohamed V Airport in Morocco by the United Arab Emirates the Townsend Range in eastern around 25 miles (40km) east of
on June 14. The search and rescue Air Force were killed when the Georgia’s Jefferson County. The two Oregon Inlet near Nags Head, North
helicopter was assigned to 801 helicopter crashed in Yemen on fighters came down in separate Carolina.
Escuadrón at Son San Juan air base June 14. The modified Bell 407 wooded areas within the Bulldog • A Bell 206 of the Sri Lanka Air
in Palma de Mallorca, Spain and was multi-role helicopter had been Military Operations Area. Force crashed during take-off at
making a stop-over in Casablanca conducting operations as part of • A PC-7 trainer operated by the Hingurakgoda Air Base on May 25.
en route to the Canary Islands. the Saudi-led coalition backing Islamic Republic of Iran Air The pilot was not injured.
• Three crew aboard a US Navy government forces in Yemen. Force was heavily damaged in an • A MiG-29UB operated by the
MH-60S were rescued by a police • Both pilots aboard an AH-64D emergency landing that occurred Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
boat after the rotorcraft came down operated by the United Arab on June 5 between the cities of crashed on landing at Noje air base
22
in the James River in Newport Emirates Air Force were killed Naeen and Ardestan. The Pilatus in Hamedan on May 24. Both pilots
News, Virginia, on June 14. The when the rotorcraft crashed into the came down alongside a road near were injured and one later died
Seahawk, which had been assigned Persian Gulf in international waters the village of Zafarqand, in Isfahan from his injuries.
to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron on June 12. province. Neither pilot was injured • MB339CM serial M34-20 operated
(HSC) 2, was apparently hovering • MiG-27MU serial TU657 operated in the mishap. by the Royal Malaysian Air Force
when it hit the water near the by the Indian Air Force crashed • The prototype Piaggio P1HH crashed during a training flight
James River Bridge. into a building near Jodhpur, unmanned air vehicle crashed into at Nenasi on May 17. Both crew
• A Myanmar Air Force Mi-2 Rajasthan on June 12. The pilot the sea after losing contact with ejected safely before the trainer
crashed in the jungle in northern ejected safely. the ground station during a test went down in a rice paddy.
LIBYAN MIRAGE RETURNED TO SERVICE… AND LOST

IN APRIL 2016, serial 502, one of with experience on the Mirage F1 for
two Dassault Mirage F1EDs of the full-time jobs in Africa. The final client
Government of National Accord was in fact Fajr Libya via the Caravana
(GNA) Air Force (formerly the Middle East company, based in Jordan
Libya Dawn Air Force, LDAF), was and directed by a US-Jordanian, Rami
returned to service after successfully Ghanem Najm (who was arrested in
undergoing a test flight. December 2015 in Greece following
Mirage F1ED serial numbers 502 and an international arrest warrant and
Mirage F1ED serial 502 at
508 are the two aircraft that defected extradited to the United States for Misurata in October 2015.
to Malta in February 2011 during the arms trafficking). The first two foreign via Arnaud Delalande
Libyan uprising. The jets returned to pilots started flying from Misurata in
Okba Ben Nafi air base near Tripoli in June 2015. One of them refused to serial 502 carried out numerous On June 3 it was reported that the
February 2012. bomb Libyan National Army (LNA) air strikes in Abu Grein to repel IS sole operational GNA AF Mirage
From February 2015, the Ukrainian troops and had to leave. The other militants. The maintenance of the had crashed west of the city of Sirte
Glissada company, specializing in the performed several air strikes against two Mirages is complicated by the due to a fuel pump failure. The pilot
supply of spare parts for aircraft and LNA forces, and then the so-called fact that most of the F1 equipment ejected safely. The GNA AF now has
helicopters of various nations, and Islamic State (IS) in the Sirte region. left by the Libyan Arab Air Force is at only two MiG-23MLDs, one J-21 and
the Amber Tiger Company began To date, only one foreign pilot has al-Watiya airfield, captured by the LNA a few G-2s and L-39s operational.
looking for pilots and technicians flown for the ex-LDAF. In May, Mirage in summer 2014. Arnaud Delalande

SAAB F_P.indd 1 08/06/2016 14:09
COMBAT REPORT | IRAQ
‘BREAKING
Top right: F-16C
serial 1614 of
the 9th Fighter
Squadron
loaded with four
500lb (227kg)
GBU-12 laser-
guided bombs
and an AN/
AAQ-33 Sniper
TERRORISM’
targeting pod
AIR WAR OVER under the right

wing, ready to
take off from
FALLUJAH Balad AB on
May 22.
report: Arnaud Delalande Middle right:
Su-25s 2506
After a hard-fought battle, the Iraqi Security Forces finally recaptured the strategically and 2520 of the
109th Attack
important city of Fallujah, lost to militants of the so-called Islamic State back in early 2014. Squadron on
the runway at
As ever, a critical role was played by air power, with both Iraqi and coalition aircraft in action. al-Rashid AB on
O
May 23. Serial
2506 is loaded
N JANUARY 4, 2014, 21. It killed the top IS commander in of components for improvised explosive with two locally-
the Iraqi Army lost southern Fallujah, along with six of devices (IEDs) was destroyed with one made 250kg
control of the city his assistants. On the 28th, US aircraft Paveway IV guided bomb, and a terrorist (551lb) bombs
and a fuel tank
of Fallujah to forces carried out three more strikes on IS strongpoint with a second. under the
of the so-called headquarters in the al-Rofah area, right wing.
Islamic State (IS) north of the al-Karma district, killing 15 Operation ‘Breaking
Bottom right:
after a five-day battle. Following the IS terrorists including three leaders. A Terrorism’ A 28th Attack
recapture of Ramadi in February 2016, vehicle carrying machine guns was also On May 22, in the first hours after the Squadron pilot
Iraqi forces began to surround most destroyed. new offensive began, Iraqi F-16s of the beside his
Mi-28NE ‘Night
of the cities to the west of Fallujah. On On May 9, Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) F-16 9th Fighter Squadron launched multiple Hunter’ toting
February 2 this year, the Iraqi Army Fighting Falcons bombarded two IS strikes on the city, destroying an IED an Ataka anti-
completely besieged Fallujah, leaving an buildings, two weapons caches, and 60 manufacturing plant, part of a factory tank guided
24 missile launcher
estimated tens of thousands of civilians rocket launchers in the areas of Albu for armoring vehicles, the so-called IS on its right
trapped in the city. While the Iraqi Army Shehab and Amiriyah Fallujah. Eight IS economic headquarters, and the so-called stub wing.
launched an offensive in Al-Karmah, militants were killed and two more were Islamic tribunal. Su-25s of the IQAF’s 109th
Below: A
north-east of Fallujah, many local Sunni wounded on the 11th, as US aircraft Attack Squadron — among them serial Mi-28NE at an
tribesmen revolted against IS, burning performed two more air strikes against a numbers 2502, 2503, 2506 and 2520 — improvised base
the insurgents’ Al-Hisbah headquarters, booby-trapped vehicle near the villages bombed ammunition and explosives close to the
front lines. It
but the revolt began to die down once of Fallahat and Halabisah. The 15th stores north of Qarrayah. Meanwhile, carries a B-13L
IS militants began mass arrests. Thirty IS saw a pair of Royal Air Force Typhoons RAF Tornado GR4s hit a tunnel complex rocket launcher
fighters were killed in the Karama sub- destroying a bunker and an engineering in which weapons and ammunition and a single
empty Ataka
district of eastern Fallujah on February vehicle north-west of Fallujah. On the were stored. On the night of May 22-23, anti-tank guided
24 by a coalition air strike. 21st, while Iraqi ground forces prepared four French Air Force Mirage 2000Ds missile launcher
US warplanes conducted an air strike to launch their offensive to liberate the equipped with SCALP cruise missiles hit on its right stub
wing. All photos
on an IS gathering in the Ahsi area near city, RAF Typhoons provided close air and destroyed a weapons and explosive via Arnaud
Amiriyah, south of Fallujah, on April support around the outskirts. A stockpile production site in the Fallujah area. Delalande

IRAQ | COMBAT REPORT
By the 23rd, the IQAF and Iraqi Army

Aviation (IAA) were fully engaged in the
battle. AC-208 Combat Caravans of the
IQAF’s 3rd Attack and Reconnaissance
Squadron targeted a house, an IS
gathering and vehicles, while F-16s
bombed a truck carrying an anti-aircraft
gun. An IAA CH-4B unmanned aerial
vehicle monitored IS activity in the city of
Fallujah and used HJ-10 guided missiles
to destroy a parked suicide vehicle-borne
improvised explosive device (SVBIED)
ready to be used by IS against Iraqi forces.
In the first hours of the day, the anti-IS
Badr Brigades militia began shelling
Fallujah. The anti-IS Popular Mobilization
Forces captured al-Karmah, north-east
of Fallujah. Iraqi forces then attacked
the cement factory east of the city and
captured it on the 24th, thereby cutting
off al-Karmah from Fallujah.
The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) had
cleared villages and districts on the
eastern outskirts of Fallujah of insurgents
by May 25. The same day, RAF Typhoons
continued operations west of Fallujah,
patrolling the area leading to Habbaniyah
and on to the outskirts of Ramadi. They
conducted a series of Paveway IV attacks,
accounting for two IS positions, including
a heavy machine gun team, as well as an 25
artillery piece and a bunker. Typhoons
returned to the same area the following
day, hitting an ammunition cache that had
been spotted near the destroyed bunker.
They then struck a building north-east of
Fallujah where a large group of terrorists
had been reported as massing for a
counter-attack. On the 27th, a Typhoon
flight destroyed a light anti-aircraft gun
that was firing on Iraqi personnel near Hit,
while a pair of Tornados used a Brimstone
missile to destroy a truck-bomb in the
same area. An RAF Reaper was active over
the Euphrates, using a Hellfire missile to

COMBAT REPORT | IRAQ
A CH-4B UAV of day after coalition warplanes bombed IS

the 84th Attack
Squadron, command centers and tunnel networks
armed with two in Fallujah, killing dozens of militants. On
HG-10 anti-tank the 5th, four air strikes hit two separate
guided missiles,
takes off from tactical units and destroyed seven fighting
al-Kut AB. positions and two VBIEDs. RAF Tornados
patrolled over Fallujah, destroying a VBIED
factory and hitting two anti-tank guns. On
the 6th, another VBIED factory was struck.
On June 8, the ISF took full control of the
al-Shuhada al-Thaniya district.
That same day, RAF Tornado GR4s
conducted three attacks to support Iraqi
ground forces engaged in firefights with
terrorists inside Fallujah. Pilots were able
to deliver simultaneous attacks with
Paveway IVs against two strongpoints
housing IS machine gun and artillery
teams. They then struck a further machine
destroy a vehicle-mounted terrorist team, The second Tornado flight successfully gun position when it opened fire on
armed with rocket-propelled grenades, on silenced a heavy machine gun positioned the Iraqis. Typhoons contributed to the
the outskirts of Fallujah. at a third IS strongpoint after it opened fire Fallujah operations using Paveway IVs
On the 30th, IAA commander Gen on the advancing Iraqi troops. against two groups of IS militants armed
Hamid al-Maliki confirmed the encircling On June 2, four strikes conducted by with a light machine gun and rocket-
of Fallujah from all axes by Army Aviation. US-led coalition aircraft struck two separate propelled grenades. On the 9th, Tornados
In the process it had inflicted heavy losses IS tactical units and destroyed 11 fighting continued to provide close air support to
in terms of enemy lives and equipment, as positions, three recoilless rifles, five heavy Iraqi ground forces. One Tornado flight
well as the destruction of a large number machine guns, two weapons caches, and made successful attacks using Paveway IVs
of VBIEDs. To this date, the IAA had carried two staging areas. RAF Tornados and against four IS-held buildings from which
out 240 combat sorties and 320 sorties, Typhoons again provided close air support militants were directing machine gun fire
26 with participation by the Bell 407, CH-4B, over Fallujah, striking eight targets. The day at Iraqi forces. A second Tornado sortie
EC635, Mi-28NE and Mi-35 both day and after, four more strikes destroyed similar used a Paveway IV to destroy a building
night. Iraqi forces now began entering the targets. RAF Typhoons conducted further west of the city.
city from three directions. strikes in the Fallujah area, supporting Iraqi Iraqi Counter-Terrorism (ICT) forces
efforts to liberate the city. moved to within 3km (1.8 miles) of central
Renewed resistance RAF Reapers worked very closely with Fallujah on the 10th. The following day, 50
The Iraqi forces’ advance was stopped Iraqi ground forces around Fallujah on members of the ISF and Shia militias were
on June 1 by fierce resistance from IS June 4, delivering five attacks themselves killed in an attack on a military barracks
militants. Concerns now turned to the and facilitating five more by coalition east of Fallujah by IS, which in turn lost 12
fate of tens of thousands of civilians still aircraft which struck a large tactical unit of its fighters, killed by Iraqi helicopters.
trapped inside the city. Two Tornado and destroyed eight fighting positions, a RAF Typhoons used one Paveway IV
missions provided reconnaissance and heavy machine gun, a recoilless rifle, and against a machine gun position during
close air support to Iraqi forces around two tunnels. The ISF recaptured the key A Mi-28NE of the 12th, while Tornados delivered five
Fallujah. One pair of Tornados used small town of Saqlawiya while coalition the 28th Attack very precise attacks in highly demanding
Squadron in
Paveway IVs to conduct simultaneous warplanes carried out an air strike on IS circumstances, with Iraqi troops extremely
flight over the
attacks on two IS-held buildings close to a militants as they were trying to escape Iraqi desert, close to the terrorist targets. Paveway IVs
canal to the south of the city; one building by raft on the Euphrates River, south of equipped with were used to destroy a rocket team, an
an S-8 rocket
housed a terrorist sniper team, the other the city. The capture of Saqlawiya, 10km anti-tank gun, a heavily armed pick-up
launcher on the
a recoilless anti-tank artillery piece. (6.2 miles) north-west of Fallujah, came a left stub wing. truck and a heavy machine gun team,
while a Brimstone missile silenced a light
machine gun. On the 13th, an RAF Reaper
tracked the arrival of a truck-bomb, which
was destroyed by a coalition aircraft. The
next day, Iraqi forces took full control of
the Fallujah Barrage and the Abbas Jamil
Bridge. The government HQ in the city
was captured on June 17. ISF commanders
reported on the 20th that 80 per cent of
the city was back in Iraqi hands.

Gulfstream.indd 1 16/06/2016 10:28
B
FEATURE | EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON
Y THE CLOSE of 2018, dedicated teams whose goal is to build

the UK’s Royal Air on the formidable and proven air-to-air
Force expects to be prowess of the Typhoon and forge a
in possession of a suitable replacement for the Tornado GR4.
Eurofighter Typhoon ‘These are no longer fiberglass mock-up
fleet that is able to weapons’, says Flynn as he walks around
effectively replace the service’s trusty a fully-configured ‘Centurion’
Tornado GR4s — and then some. It’s a Typhoon in the flight test hangar at
milestone that BAE Systems is currently BAE’s Warton test site.
working towards as part of the so-called So, what is ‘Centurion’? The Typhoon
Project ‘Centurion’ — a UK ‘Air Capability’ is already multi-role — as evidenced by
drive towards a Typhoon that offers the ongoing Operation ‘Shader’ mission
specific capabilities that will enable it over Iraq and Syria — but this is about
to fulfill the Tornado’s strike missions, adding those specialist strike attributes
as well as form the basis with which from the Tornado that have earned it such
to meet the wider needs of the UK’s a fearsome reputation, not to mention
‘combat air’ future. the world’s most advanced beyond visual
Of course, an overall capability is range (BVR) air-to-air missile in the shape
not just about the equipment. It also of MBDA’s enviable Meteor, which is
involves having sufficient trained pilots already earning global praise.
and maintainers, and appropriately- By 2019, the RAF expects to have
configured simulators, plus robust supply embodied both the Phase 2 and Phase 3
chains and support infrastructure. Enhancements (P2E/P3E) on its Tranche
For Andy Flynn, head of capability 2/3 Typhoons, which will include the
delivery programs for combat air at ability to employ MBDA Meteor air-to-air
BAE Systems, ‘Centurion’ is his baby. The missiles, the Storm Shadow stand-off
complex flow-charts on his office wall cruise missile, and the dual-mode seeker
knit together a host of diverse trials and (DMS) Brimstone air-to-ground weapon
test points that are necessary to bring this that has proven so effective on the
project to fruition. Scratching away the Tornado.
28 surface and digging down into the detail In a single platform, the Typhoon will
of Project ‘Centurion’ reveals the work of embody everything: a deadly close-in
Fighting fit — a
trio of Typhoon
FGR4s from RAF
Lossiemouth’s Nos
1(F), II(AC) and
6 Squadrons in
action this June.
Jamie Hunter
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 28 24/06/2016 17:35

EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON | FEATURE
CENTURION
RISING
29
The Eurofighter Typhoon

has received its fair share of
criticism over the protracted
realization of capabilities.
However, with impetus from
the UK stemming from the
need to retire its Tornado
GR4 fleet, the Typhoon is at
last showing its full promise.
report: Jamie Hunter
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 29 24/06/2016 17:35

30
fighter, a quick reaction alert (QRA)

thoroughbred, a BVR air-to-air slayer,
a precision air-to-ground striker, and
a long-range stand-off cruise missile
penetrator. It’s a lot for a single platform,
let alone a single pilot to keep on top
of and remain potent at. But that’s
the aim.
Above: A pair
Typhoon — of ‘Lossie’
combat air cornerstone Typhoons down
Original plans for the RAF involved low over the
Western Isles
purchasing 232 Typhoons to equip of northern
seven operational squadrons, giving Scotland during
a front-line inventory of 137 available quick reaction
alert intercept
fighters. Despite cutting back on training against
its Tranche 3 commitment by only low and fast
ordering 40 aircraft in this batch, the targets. establishment of the two additional cornerstone, the heavyweight, of our
Jamie Hunter
RAF is now expected to operate these units within the Typhoon force — likely combat air mix even when the F-35
alongside 67 Tranche 2 and ‘around Right: The quick to be directed toward air defense. comes into town. This is why we are
30’ original Tranche 1 Typhoons. The reaction alert Speaking to Combat Aircraft earlier spending so much time harnessing our
tasking to
RAF has decided to increase the size of protect the UK this year during his tenure as Air Officer fourth- and fifth-generation capabilities
the overall Typhoon force by retaining remains one of Commanding No 1 Group, the senior — working with the US F-22 Raptors
the early Tranche 1 aircraft, which it the RAF’s core officer overseeing the RAF’s combat when we have Typhoons deployed to
missions for the
once planned to retire by 2020. These Typhoon. aircraft fleet, AVM Gary Waterfall, said: the US, and increasingly working with
will now be retained to enable the Jamie Hunter ‘[The] Typhoon is going to be the the F-35 as that continues to develop.
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 30 24/06/2016 17:36

No XV (Reserve) Squadron is the

last Tornado GR4 unit at RAF
Lossiemouth. It is completing
the final pilot training and
qualified weapons instructor
(QWI) courses on the type.
Jamie Hunter
‘We are going to retain our Tranche 1 Typhoon is going to be formidable in all
Typhoons out into the 2030s; however, we roles by the end of the decade’, comments
are not going to turn those aircraft into the Waterfall. ‘Our force of seven squadrons
real multi-role assets that our Tranche 2 will see the Tranche 1s predominantly
and 3 aircraft are becoming. We are going focused on the air-to-air and air
to have an enduring need for QRA in the policing role, with the Tranche 2/3 bulk
UK, in the Falkland Islands and in other concentrating on multi-role operations.’
countries, as we have demonstrated with The challenge now for the RAF and
our commitment to the Baltic Air Policing for industry will be to ensure that the
mission. Retaining sufficient Tranche 1 jets Typhoon’s capabilities are all available on
to equip two front-line squadrons will give time and that the squadrons are similarly
us that ability. Meanwhile, in recognition equipped and ready. Waterfall says: ‘We
of the worth of our Tranche 2 and 3 are in contact in Operation ‘Shader’ and
aircraft, the out-of-service date for those everything we read says this is rightfully
aircraft has moved right to 2040, ensuring going to be a long affair in order for us to
we get the maximum return from our achieve the aims we need. So, when the
investment in those aircraft.’ Tornado leaves the service the Typhoon 31
When it bows out in 2019, the Tornado needs to take over the full mantle. We
will have completed an impressive 37 need to balance the Tornado out-of-
years in operational service. Those are service with the incremental growth of the
big shoes for the Typhoon to fill. ‘[The] Typhoon force. That means we need to
Lossiemouth-based squadrons pioneered the so-

called P1E (Phase 1 Enhancement) standard of the
Typhoon, essentially bringing about the seamless
integration of the Litening targeting pod and the
Raytheon Paveway IV. Jamie Hunter
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 31 24/06/2016 17:36

32
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 32 24/06/2016 17:36

Left: The RAF

should see the
latest Phase 2
Enhancement
with MBDA
Meteor and
Storm Shadow
in service by the
end of 2017.
Jamie Hunter
Right: The
current
Operation
‘Shader’ mission
has pressed
the latest
operational
standard of
Typhoon into
combat action set up those Typhoon squadrons toward Gp Capt Paul Godfrey is the station
with reportedly
excellent results. the back end of this decade to have them commander at RAF Lossiemouth, the
ADF established. Where we are with Project RAF’s Typhoon main operating base in
‘Centurion’ is at the right pace because we northern Scotland. ‘RAF Lossiemouth is
Bottom left to
right: This year have a Typhoon squadron operationally incredibly busy at the moment’, he says.
has seen an deployed, plus we have air defense of the ‘We have our core QRA mission up here
intensive flight- UK and the Falklands Islands to cover, plus and that never stops — it’s a ‘24/7’, 365
testing period
to clear both [the] Baltic Air Policing mission.’ days-a-year commitment and it’s always a
the Meteor and priority here at Lossiemouth. We have got
Storm Shadow Operation ‘Shader’ personnel deployed around the world on
for operational
evaluation. British operations against the so-called operations.’
BAE Systems Islamic State terrorists have pressed the Gp Capt Godfrey adds: ‘Since December
well-publicized Phase 1 Enhancement last year and the vote in Parliament, the
BAE Systems
test pilot Nat (P1EB)-standard Typhoons into their Typhoon force alone has dropped over
Makepeace gets first combat operations. Syria marks a 400 Paveway IVs in a huge overall effort
airborne in IPA6 significant step forward for the Typhoon that has made a massive difference.
for a Meteor test
33
flight. force and an improved situation for RAF Having come back to the Typhoon from
BAE Systems/ ‘combat air’, as AVM Waterfall explains: the F-35 project, it’s really good to see how
Jamie Hunter ‘Cast your mind back to Operation ‘Ellamy’ advanced the P1EB-standard Typhoon is
Italy’s IPA2 over Libya in 2011. Back then we had a and how it’s performing so well.’
taxies in Typhoon force that had ‘hibernated’ its
at Warton air-to-surface capability. The Tranche 1 jets ‘Centurion’ Typhoon
following a
range trial with had a very capable yet rudimentary air-to- At the Farnborough International
an instrumented surface capability with the Litening II laser Airshow in 2014 Eurofighter GmbH made
Storm Shadow. designator pod [LDP] married to the EPW2 a number of notable announcements,
BAE Systems/
Jamie Hunter [Enhanced Paveway 2 GPS/laser-guided all of which were crucial to the future
bomb]. Now we have a fully functioning growth of the aircraft. The show saw
multi-role fighter in the Tranche 2 Typhoon. the signing of an integration contract
It harnesses the HMSS [Helmet-Mounted for the MBDA Storm Shadow stand-off
Sighting System], the Litening pod, the cruise missile under ‘Contract 4’, which
Paveway IV bomb plus other sensors. In involves BAE Systems, Airbus Defence
addition, we have trained really well in and Space and Leonardo-Finmeccanica
this environment with P1EB and we have collaborating to integrate the weapon
deployed one of our squadrons to Exercise onto the aircraft as part of the P2E
‘Red Flag’ to flex our air-to-surface skills in a enhancement package. The MBDA
contested and degraded environment.’ Meteor BVRAAM is also part of the
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 33 24/06/2016 17:37

P2E flight test campaign, being run by The new Striker II helmet
BAE Systems and forms part of a NATO has completed five test
Eurofighter and Tornado Management flights and brings a world-
leading capability with
Agency (NETMA) contract to integrate night vision and helmet
the Meteor onto the Typhoon by the end sighting combined.
of this year. BAE Systems/
Jamie Hunter
P2E test work has been building
throughout this year. This involves
the full integration of both the Storm
Shadow cruise missile and Meteor,
enabling the P2E-standard Typhoon
to be fielded before the end of 2017.
Speaking to Combat Aircraft in June,
Andy Flynn said: ‘The Storm Shadow
avionics design is now locked down’.
Both BAE Systems and Leonardo-
Finmeccanica have completed two
Storm Shadow jettisons, and a last
‘powered release’ was due to be
completed before the Farnborough
International Airshow this July, thus
finishing the developmental flight
test phase for that weapon. Alenia’s
Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) 2,
serial MMX614, has spent a considerable
amount of time at Warton in recent
months and been heavily engaged in
34
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 34 24/06/2016 17:37

Typhoon T3 IPA1 (ZJ699) in the new Phase 3 Enhancement (P3E) fit,

which adds MBDA Brimstone carriage. This configuration started
flight trials in June. BAE Systems
35
Left: With an all of the P2E weapons release work as the UK works toward the end of 2017
instrumented
MBDA Storm alongside BAE’s IPA6 (serial ZJ938 — the as its target for the entry into service of
Shadow on the company’s P2E test aircraft), utilizing the the P2E-standard jets.
right wing, an UK’s sea ranges. Flynn said that the sixth BAE Systems is also moving ahead
Alenia test crew
gets airborne Meteor firing had been accomplished with P3EA for the UK and integration of
from Warton. (F6) and that two more were imminent the MBDA Brimstone 2 air-to-ground
BAE Systems/ to complete the Meteor test firing precision weapon on the Typhoon. It
Jamie Hunter
program. Completion of these last test first announced in 2014 what it called
Above: Typhoon points will see a progression to P2E an ‘effective route to Brimstone 2
FGR4s from
Nos II(AC) and ‘customer flight trials’, initially at Warton, integration (under the P3E initiative) for
6 Squadrons fly from the late fall of this year. These will the RAF by 2018’. BAE Systems says that
over Urquhart involve Storm Shadow and Meteor it will start Brimstone carriage on the
Castle on Loch
Ness. operational evaluation with the RAF’s No Typhoon this summer with both IPA6
Jamie Hunter 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), and RAF Tranche 3 aircraft c/n BS117.
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 35 24/06/2016 17:37

36
It expects to conduct Brimstone firings Looking at things from an RAF and Storm Shadow essentially means
from the second quarter of 2017, all of perspective, Gp Capt Godfrey says: the transformation of the type of
which keeps it on course to meet the ‘Project ‘Centurion’ is hugely exciting weapons we can carry on [the] Typhoon.
‘Centurion’ milestone. Of course, this is for the Typhoon force. It’s the next step The dual-mode seeker [of the Brimstone]
a UK-only project, as Britain is the only up for us, and with the draw-down makes it unique over land or sea. There’s
partner nation to employ the Brimstone. of the Tornado force we are able to growth potential in there too and it’s
However, it will pave the way for P3EB, use their expertise in terms of Storm impressive.’
which will be the aircraft standard for Shadow and Brimstone to bring that Summing up the RAF’s future with the
new export customer Kuwait. into the Typhoon [community] before Typhoon, Gp Capt Godfrey comments:
Kuwait, meanwhile, is a customer we actually get the capability. I’m also ‘I first came to the Typhoon from an
for the long-awaited ‘E-Scan’ radar. extremely excited about Meteor. I exchange tour in the US on the F-16CJ.
The UK Strategic Defence and Security first came across this weapon in 2003 I arrived at No 3(F) Squadron as a flight
Review (SDSR) of 2015 specifically when I was a requirements manager, commander and straight away you
mentioned support for the Typhoon so its immense capability means a very could tell that the Typhoon is a world-
capability upgrade afforded by the exciting future for [the] Typhoon. beater just by the raw performance. You
E-Scan radar, although this sits outside ‘When I first arrived here everything add to that the weapons, the radar, the
the current Project ‘Centurion’ initiative. was P1EB, with a lot of contingency infra-red search and track (IRST), the
Farnborough 2014 saw the public air-to-surface training work going on. helmet-mounted sighting system that
unveiling of the prototype Euroradar With Operation ‘Shader’ we ended up every pilot flies with now. It’s a fantastic
CAPTOR-E active electronically-scanned using that capability. So, today with the platform. I was lucky in my previous tour
array (AESA) radar fitted to BAE Systems’ Paveway IV and Litening II targeting pod before coming here to be part of the F-35
IPA5, serial ZJ700. A second aircraft, I’d like to think that the old story about program — that’s going to be a game-
IPA8, is in final assembly at Manching in the single-role Typhoon is long gone. changer in terms of how we’re going to Mean team —
Lossiemouth-
Germany and it is a new-build Tranche It’s a continuous upgrade path in much use it with the Typhoon for fourth- to based Typhoon
3 twin-seater that is also slated to join the same way as the F-35. [The] Typhoon fifth-generation fighter integration. FGR4s up in
the E-Scan test program. BAE says it will wouldn’t be value for money unless we Together, they provide a huge leap their natural
environment,
be able to comment further on E-Scan were continuously looking to enhance forward for a generational step up in RAF high and fast.
progress later this year. the aeroplane. The advent of Brimstone capability.’ Jamie Hunter
28-36 Typhoon C.indd 36 24/06/2016 17:37

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EXERCISE REPORT | TIGER MEET 2016
B
LESSED WITH TYPICALLY The event saw another squadron
good Spanish weather, becoming a full NTA member when the
the 2016 Tiger Meet Luftwaffe’s ‘Bavarian Tigers’ of Taktisches
saw participation by 18 Luftwaffengeschwader 74 were
of the 24 NATO Tiger accepted into the group during the first
Association member week of the fortnight-long event. The
squadrons, a total of 78 airframes Eurofighter operator had first become
arriving for the event at Zaragoza, an honorary member in 2012, when it
northern Spain. A number of air forces took over the former 1. Staffel of the
made considerable effort to portray disbanded Jagdbombergeschwader 32
the tiger theme, and several aircraft at Lechfeld.
38 arrived with full tiger schemes. Most Disappointingly, the only aircraft not
contingents showcased a least one to bear tiger markings of any description
aircraft with special markings on the was the Royal Air Force Puma HC2 from
tail. Those that did not bring special No 230 Squadron. No doubt the crews
schemes tended to have at least one themselves would have chosen to mark
aircraft carrying drop tanks painted with the aircraft given the choice, but at least
tiger markings. this year they were allowed to attend.
This image: ‘We are back!’ The

Spanish Air Force’s 142 Escuadrón
is now re-established as a
Eurofighter squadron and once
again playing a full role in the
NTM. Derek Bower
Left top to bottom: The Turkish

Air Force’s 192 Filo sent this
eye-catching F-16C in a full tiger
scheme. Katsuhiko Tokunaga/DACT
The Swiss Air Force once again

presented F/A-18C serial J-5011
from Fliegerstaffel 11 with tiger
markings painted on the Hornet’s
tail fins. Jens Schymura

TIGER MEET 2016 | EXERCISE REPORT
39
Hosted for the first time by

Ala 15 of the Spanish Air
Force at Zaragoza, the 2016
Tiger Meet was set to be the
largest gathering of NATO Tiger
Squadrons for many years, and
it fulfilled its promise in style.
report: Derek Bower

EXERCISE REPORT | TIGER MEET 2016
This image: One of

the more imaginative
liveries at the 2016
Tiger Meet was that
worn by French
Air Force Escadron
de Chasse 1/30
Mirage 2000D serial
627/30‑JO, seen here
with its tribute to the
host nation’s flag.
Derek Bower
Below: Belgian F-16AM
serial FA-77 from 31
Smaldeel in dazzling
overall tiger markings.
Jens Schymura
Bottom: One of the
external participants
at Zaragoza, the
French Navy E-2C from
Flottille 4F was for
many the best scheme
of the Tiger Meet.
Derek Bower
40

TIGER MEET 2016 | EXERCISE REPORT
TIGER TAILS
Photos Derek Bower and Jens Schymura
41
Spanish Air Force EF‑18
C.15-41/15-28 wore
special tail markings
and appropriately
painted drop tanks.
Jens Schymura
TIGER SQUADRONS AT ZARAGOZA, 2016

Operator Unit Home base Aircraft
Belgian Air Component 31 Smaldeel Kleine-Brogel F-16AM/BM x 8
Czech Air Force 221. letka bitevních Náměšt’ Mi-17 x 1, Mi-35 x 2
vrtulníku
Czech Air Force 211. taktická letka Čáslav JAS 39C/D Gripen x 4
French Air Force Escadron de Chasse 1/30 Mont-de- Mirage 2000D x 4
Marsan
French Navy Flottille 11F Landivisiau Rafale M x 6
Hellenic Air Force 335 Mira Araxos F-16C/D x 4
Hungarian Air Force 1. Vadászrepülő Század Kecskemét JAS 39C/D Gripen x 5
Italian Air Force 21° Gruppo Grazzanise AB212ICO x 2
Luftwaffe Taktisches Neuburg EF2000 x 8
Luftwaffengeschwader
74
NATO Airborne Early Warning & Geilenkirchen E-3A x 1
Control Force
Polish Air Force 6. eskadra lotnictwa Poznań F-16C/D x 6
taktycznego
Royal Air Force No 230 Squadron Benson Puma HC2 x 1
Royal Netherlands Air Force 313 Squadron Volkel F-16AM/BM x 2
Royal Norwegian Air Force 338 Skvadron Ørland F-16AM/BM x 6
Spanish Air Force 142 Escuadrón Albacete Typhoon x 6
Spanish Air Force Ala 15 Zaragoza EF-18 x 6
Swiss Air Force Fliegerstaffel 11 Meiringen F/A-18C/D x 5
Turkish Air Force 192 Filo Balıkesir F-16C/D x 5

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UNIT REVIEW | 169TH FIGHTER WING
SWAMP FOXES The South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing is an impressive unit. As
with all Guard squadrons, its personnel are hugely experienced custodians of some of
the most valuable skills to be found in the wider US Air Force.
report: Jamie Hunter photos: Jim Haseltine
44
Decked out in its sharp

new dark gray ‘UHG’
paint, this ‘Swamp Fox’
F-16CJ is in a sleek air-
to-air configuration.

169TH FIGHTER WING | UNIT REVIEW
45
W
E ARE THE most Operation ‘Desert Storm’ in 1991 and
experienced transitioned to its current F-16CJ mounts
‘ SEAD squadron in 1994. Today, the squadron continues to
in the US Air fly these very same Block 52 ‘Vipers’.
Force’. So ‘Historically, our unit has been a
says Col Nick single-seat fighter squadron since 1946
Gentile, the incoming commander of when we started flying F/P-51s here in
the 169th Fighter Wing (FW), South South Carolina, and we were the first Air
Carolina Air National Guard, at McEntire National Guard unit to receive F-16As’,
Joint National Guard Base. Nicknamed adds Gentile. ‘The Guard of the 1980s was
the ‘Swamp Foxes’, Col Gentile’s wing a very different entity to what it is today.
takes the suppression of enemy air In 1989, back when we used to have
defenses (SEAD) mission very seriously. exercises such as ‘Gunsmoke’, which was
In common with other ANG fighter the Olympic Games of fighter pilots, the
squadrons, there are pilots, maintainers ‘Swamp Foxes’ went out to Nellis with our
and operational support staff here who F-16s to prove their capabilities. Our pilots
have worked with the wing’s F-16CJs day and maintainers had trained non-stop
in, day out, for the last 22 years. and it all came together in Vegas. This
The South Carolina Air National Guard unit was the first Reserve squadron to win
(SCANG) received its first Block 15 ‘Gunsmoke’ and changed the Air Force’s
F-16As in 1983. The wing’s 157th Fighter calculus on how it viewed the Guard. As
Squadron (FS) played a major role in a result of that exercise, two years later

we were invited to take on a major role in

Operation ‘Desert Storm’.
‘The Air Force realized it wasn’t a fluke.
In Operation ‘Desert Storm’ we were
flying some of the oldest F-16s in the
campaign but we flew into some of the
most heavily-defended areas of Iraq
and did some of the best work of the air
campaign.’
Having distinguished themselves in
the skies above Iraq, the ‘Swamp Foxes’
were earmarked to receive the new Block
52 F-16CJs, optimized for the SEAD role
and ultimately replacing the previous
generation of ‘Wild Weasels’. Gentile
says: ‘We have continued to distinguish
ourselves, through Operation ‘Enduring
Freedom’ in early 2002 and then ‘Iraqi
Freedom’ in 2003. In 2009 we were tasked
with going over to Jordan to win the
‘Falcon Air Meet’ after other units had not
fared so well. The Chief of Staff back then
called us up and told us that we had to
go and win the event — which we did…
soundly!’
Quality over quantity

The wider aviation media is all too aware
of the USAF’s fighter fleet problems.
Senior officers talk openly about how the
46 Combat Air Force (CAF) has dwindled from
135 fighter squadrons back in 1990 to
just 55 today. To compound the ‘problem’,
many of these squadrons fly old aircraft —
the ‘Swamp Foxes’, for example, use ‘Vipers’
August 2016
that were built in 1993, and these are Left page top to F-35As down at Eglin AFB, Florida, and time. As a result, he understands them
some of the newer ‘legacy’ mounts. bottom: Many the F-22 Raptors from both Tyndall and inside-out. ‘We still refer to our jets as
of the 169th’s
The key to success in this challenging ‘Viper’ drivers Langley AFBs. F-16CJs despite the CCIP project’, he
era is ‘integration’, says Gentile. He talks are either With the USAF’s active-duty F-16CJ says. The maintenance boss means the 47
of working not only with the newer fifth- instructors or SEAD specialist wing just down the road Common Configuration Implementation
Weapons School
generation platforms, but also other air graduates, who at Shaw AFB, the ‘Swamp Fox’ boss is all Program (CCIP, pronounced ‘C-sip’) that
arms and international partners. ‘We’ve collectively too aware of the challenges that face took the USAF’s Block 40/42/50/52 F-16C/
just come back from ‘Red Flag 16-1’ at bring a wealth his unit’s active-duty brothers. ‘We have Ds to a common standard. Unofficially,
of experience to
Nellis and [were] previously up at Fallon, the wing. extensive experience compared with these jets are collectively referred to as
working with Navy [carrier air wing] similar active-duty wings. They have a F-16CMs, but the SEAD squadrons still
CVW-1 and its EA-18Gs’. Combined efforts Pre-flighting higher deployment rate with increased call them ‘CJs’ — itself another unofficial
the AIM-120
with other SEAD specialists such as the AMRAAM. pilot turnover. designation. ‘The Block 40/42 can fly with
Growlers help Gentile’s pilots stay at the ‘We’ve flown the Block 52 F-16s since the HTS pod, but it’s the CJ squadrons
leading edge of this demanding and Pilots strapped 1994 and they came to us direct from that are the experienced SEAD experts.’
in and preparing
constantly evolving mission. The wing is to taxi at the factory. We actually received the As well as a smart new dark gray paint
heavily engaged in exercises like ‘Sentry McEntire. jets before the Shaw wing, but they scheme, the jets on the ‘Swamp Fox’
Savannah’, which is all about integrating started the SEAD mission before we did flightline are receiving regular ‘slugs’ of
Above: Post-
with the F-35 Lightning II community at flight doesn’t because they were first to receive the new technology through the operational
nearby MCAS Beaufort, the US Air Force mean it’s the HTS [AGM‑88 HARM Targeting System] flight program (OFP) upgrade project.
end of the day. pods. Here at the 157th FS we have 24 ‘Our jets are at Tape 6.2 standard right
Pilots head back
to the squadron PAA [primary assigned aircraft] and an now’, says Bridgers. ‘We are already
for a thorough incredible total of 50 pilots. Most of the capable of employing the [GBU-39] Small
and lengthy guys here are instructors, flight leads Diameter Bomb [SDB], but for the DEAD
debrief.
and Weapons School patch-wearers. [destruction of enemy air defenses]
Left: Col Nick This is one seriously experienced fighter mission we prefer GBU-31 or GBU-38
Gentile, the squadron.’ JDAM [Joint Direct Attack Munitions]. We
commander of
the 169th FW. will shortly be going to Tape 7.1, and this
USAF Modern ‘Vipers’ will provide us with a common cockpit
Col Scott Bridgers, the 169th with a new tactical display. It also paves
Maintenance Group commander, talks the way for the new [Raytheon] Center
proudly about the jets on the flightline Display Unit [CDU]’, a large multi-function
at McEntire. Bridgers has over 4,000 display that sits between the pilot’s
hours logged in the F-16, and like his knees.
maintainers here he has grown up with SMSgt Bowen, phase flight chief for
these ‘Vipers’ as they have matured over the 169th Maintenance Group adds: ‘Our

jets look really sharp in the new UHG This image:

Despite its
[Upgraded ‘Have Glass’] dark gray paint’.
age, the ‘Viper’
This is the latest development in coatings still sets the
for the F-16, the new dark gray essentially bar when it
comes to raw
coming from the F-35 program and
performance,
proving far more durable than the particularly
previous ‘Have Glass’ silver coating. when in a clean
configuration.
Nothing stands still for long on a
fighter squadron, and the ‘Swamp Fox’ Right top to
commanders are already preparing for bottom: For the
SEAD pilot, the
the next series of enhancements for their
JHMCS helmet
F-16s. The F-16CJ is expected to carry is equally
on right out to the 2035-38 timeframe, important in the
air-to-ground
and the airframes will need some TLC to
role as it is for
nurse them through to this ambitious air-to-air.
out-of-service date. ‘The SLEP [service
An impressive
life extension program] is starting now,
load of five
and this will take the jets from 8,000 AIM‑120
flight hours right out to 12,000 hours’, AMRAAMs
and a single
says Bridgers. He adds that the 169th FW
AIM-9X — air-
expects to induct its first aircraft into the to-air combat
SLEP during Fiscal Year 2021. is definitely on
the menu today
Bridgers believes the Air Force’s project
for this SCANG
for the modernization of 300 F-16s will pilot.
move ahead. This ambitious program
combines a new radar, avionics
and advance improvements.
Senior ANG officers are adamant
that their F-16s need this upgrade
and have continued their calls for a
48 new active electronically-scanned array
(AESA) radar for the F-16 fleet. Rather
than Lockheed Martin providing its
preferred radar, the USAF is currently
re-competing the radar selection via a
fly-off between Northrop Grumman’s

‘Most of the guys here are AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar
(SABR) and Raytheon’s Advanced
is going to be doing a lot of what we do
right now’, he says, referring to the SEAD
instructors, flight leads Combat Radar (RACR). The competition is

expected to be completed by 2017, and
mission. ‘We also bring the value of being
a stand-alone ANG base. Our current jets
and Weapons School fielding is predicted within two years of
selection.
will be ready to move to their next unit if
we are selected to become an F-35 wing.’
patch-wearers. This is ‘We are fortunate to have a Joint Base
Future focus here’, adds Bridgers. ‘We have the Army
one seriously experienced The daily running of the 157th FS is a National Guard here at McEntire with their
fighter squadron’
delicate ‘plate-spinning’ exercise. Gentile Apaches [and] Black Hawks, and we work
comments: ‘The squadron is extremely with them on the CAS [close air support]
busy. We are supporting biannual major mission. Plus we don’t have significant
COL NICK GENTILE, COMMANDER, 169th FW deployments plus our domestic alert land-encroachment issues here, we aren’t
mission. We are headed out this summer connected to an urban metropolitan
for a Theater Support Package [TSP] airport, and we have very few issues with
in the Pacific, and every two years we noise. That’s clearly a huge plus for the
are on schedule to be mobilized to the future of potential F-35 operations at
east or west as an Expeditionary Fighter McEntire.’
Squadron [EFS]’. At the same time, the Summing up the current F-16 operation
unit must cope with a reduced active- and how that leaves his wing prepared for
duty association due to the lack of the future, Col Gentile says: ‘We know we
maintainer coverage for the F-35 program are well positioned for a strong future as
coupled with the retention of the A-10 the Air Force recognizes our value. The Air
Thunderbolt II. The knock-on effect is just National Guard is relatively cheap and very
seven assigned active-duty pilots and 73 efficient in comparison to other branches
maintainers for Gentile to call upon. of the Air Force. The ANG, as a Total Force
Like his colleagues at other ANG F-16 partner, is well positioned to continue
units, Gentile is keenly aware of the to take a leadership role in the Combat
forthcoming basing decisions on the Air Forces. Our unit, combined with our
F-35. ‘Looking to the future in around active association, breadth of combat and
2021-22 we will have ‘Ops’ 5 and 6 bed- exercise experience, deployment history, 49
downs for the F-35’. Both of these will exceptional maintenance knowledge, a
be ANG squadrons, with ‘Ops’ 7 being stand-alone base and our ‘Swamp Fox’
an Air Force Reserve Command spirit, all combine to make the 169th
(AFRC) slot. ‘I believe we are well- FW a world-class organization and a
positioned’, says Gentile. ‘The F-35 phenomenal place to work.’
50

51
169th FW F-16CJs in classic

SEAD fit, each with a pair of
AGM-88 High-speed Anti-
Radiation Missiles (HARMs),
ready to knock out any
threatening surface-to-air
missile systems. Jim Haseltine

FEATURE | COLOMBIAN SUPER TUCANOS
COLOMBIA’S
MEAN MACHINES
DRUG-BUSTING A-29S OF APIAY
Combat Aircraft visited the Escuadrón de
Combate 211 (211th Combat Squadron), part
of the Grupo de Combate 21 (21st Fighter
Group), and found a unit on a high level of
alert, despite recent peace talks.
report: Neil Dunridge and Paul Filmer

photos: Neil Dunridge
52

COLOMBIAN SUPER TUCANOS | FEATURE
A
T THE TIME of communism, and this continued until Schweizer SA2-37B, Cessna 208 Grand
Combat Aircraft’s 1964 when Colombian Communist Party Caravan, Douglas AC-47T Fantasma,
visit, the Colombian (PCC) member Manuel Marulanda joined Sikorsky AH-60L Arpía III (an attack-
government forces with Jacobo Arenas to form the configured Black Hawk) and the UH-60
was engaged in FARC. Ángel for combat search and rescue
peace talks with Since 1964 the FAC has continued (CSAR).
the leaders of the FARC (Fuerzas to support the Colombian Army in air Operating the A-29B, the motto of the
Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, operations against the FARC and in 2007 Escuadrón de Combate 211 is ‘Tactics
Revolutionary Armed Forces of it received the first of 25 Embraer A-29B and Precision’. This was adopted to reflect
Colombia). Although the Escuadrón de Super Tucano aircraft. At the time, it was the FAC’s concept of precision weapons
Combate 211 ‘Grifos’ has experienced not known how influential the A-29B delivery, which was initiated with the
a dramatic reduction in combat flying would be in helping bring an end to introduction of the A-29B in 2007.
operations, the squadron and the hostilities against the guerrillas. The Comandante de Escuadrón 211
Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea (squadron commander of the 211th
Colombiana, FAC) at large were still at a Tactics and precision Combat Squadron) is Capitán Monsalve
high level of readiness to respond to any The air base named after Capitán Luis Montoya Juan Esteban — call sign
isolated incidents. Fernando Gómez Niño, also known as ‘Minos’. He was able to explain how
The history of regional guerrilla Base Aérea de Apiay, is located 55 miles the Super Tucano had made such a
movements in Colombia began with the (88km) south-west of the country’s big impact on efforts to take on the
The A-29B has
proven superbly peasant struggles of capital, Bogotá. Apiay is home to Grupo FARC. ‘For operations within Colombia
suited to the 1920s and 1930s. de Combate 21. As well as the resident the intelligence information can be
recent combat The politics and Escuadrón de Combate 211, it includes confusing. The target area could be
operations.
strategies of many of two other squadrons: Escuadrón de inside a forest or inside a mountain cave.
these organizations Combate 212 operating the Embraer The A-29B gave us the ability to deliver
were based on AT-27 Tucano trainer, and Escuadrón de weapons by simply having the co-
socialism and Combate Táctico 213 (213th Combat ordinates and making sure they will hit
Tactics Squadron) with a mixed fleet of the same point every time.’
53

‘The A-29B is used for internal conflicts,

interoperability, training for regular and
irregular conflicts and advanced training.
The technology of the A-29B allows the
pilots to complete their entire training and
be ready to fly a more advanced fighter
such as the Kfir. Since the peace talks
with the FARC began, we have been in a
stand-by position for the first part of the
year with the United Nations periodically
visiting to check our situation during the
ceasefire.’
The FAC A-29Bs are divided between two
squadrons. The Escuadrón de Combate
211 operates 17, with forward-deployed
detachments at Tres Esquinas and Yopal.
The other unit, the Escuadrón de Combate
312, flies seven aircraft from Barranquilla,
with one forward-deployed at Cali.
Capt Monsalve Montoya continued: ‘To
be in a combat squadron the pilot must
be highly motivated, well trained and
have good principles. Although the pilot
must focus on their goal of flying combat
aircraft, he or she must work as a group to
pool their experiences to serve the nation.
‘The general objective is to prepare
the squadron for irregular war like the
conflicts happening inside Colombia, as
well as regular war; it would be too easy
54 to focus on the war with the FARC. Since
2007 we have flown up to 150 missions
a year against them but we have been

‘I was forward-
deployed to Cali on
quick reaction alert.
After the call to launch
we have to be in the air
within 20 minutes during the
day and 30 minutes at night’
CAPT ROMMEL RODRIGUEZ
55
looking forward as the peace process has

been progressing. The reduction in flying
Above:
Colombia’s COMBAT MISSIONS
A-29s are
missions against the FARC gave us time to divided between Any details of missions against the FARC they did. This mission proved
look and see how we can improve the skill Escuadrón de remain very sensitive, and the following that although we had the capability it
levels of our pilots and operate the A-29B Combate 211 accounts were relayed to CA on the wasn’t necessary to destroy buildings.’
at Apiay and
in a different crisis should we be required. understanding that the pilots’ names be Pilot number two recounted a very
Escuadrón
We are flying more combat air support de Combate withheld. different sortie. This involved large
312, which The first mission described involved numbers of aircraft and a target that would
and CSAR training sorties now, so that we a plan to flush a FARC leader out of a be near-impossible to destroy. ‘There was
operates seven
can still maintain the mission availability to aircraft from building. The area of operation was in a large quantity of aircraft involved in this
support Colombia.’ Barranquilla. the jungle of Chocó, where special forces operation: Kfirs, A-37s, A-29Bs, AC-47Ts
Before the ceasefire the A-29Bs were (SF) had been observing the leader for and helicopters, totaling 40 aircraft. It
Left: An three weeks. Pilot number one said: ‘The was a very important mission, which we
loaded with weapons, ready to take off Escuadrón principle behind every mission is how you successfully accomplished due to the
at a moment’s notice. Today the unit no de Combate
plan, how you investigate the enemy, and accurate delivery of weapons.
longer keeps any bombed-up aircraft 211 taxies
out at Apiay how you get to know their patterns of life. ‘Twelve A-29Bs took off from Apiay in
on the flightline while the peace process for a morning ‘I was deployed to a remote airfield variable conditions; six Kfirs and seven
continues. mission. called Palanquero and was one of three A-29Bs from Barranquilla, as well as the
aircraft on station in bad weather with A-37s. In the brief we established an
Right top to low cloud. It was a high-priority mission H-hour, and as the time ticked by each
Foreign adventures bottom: A and the SF guys were only 100m [328ft] squadron would deliver an avalanche of
The FAC A-29B community has been morning pre- from the FARC leader’s building and were weapons onto a cave in the mountains.
working with US Air Force pilots who form mission briefing outnumbered, with the enemy carrying ‘It was difficult to get a direct hit and the
at Apiay, led by
part of the Mobile Training Team (MTT). heavy weapons. There were no civilians in terrain was very hostile. After the Kfirs had
the experienced
These personnel have been helping write A-29 instructors. the area, which had been determined by started the attack, an A-29B followed by
pre-strike intel. A-37s attacked the target, followed by the
doctrine and showing the FAC a new way ‘The mission planned to drop three remaining A-29Bs. Although we could see
The four pilots
of operating the aircraft in innovative of the new bombs around the FARC leader’s building this target and had a detailed brief, it was
roles, including a focus on interoperability A-29B aerobatic to generate confusion, and force the an important point for us to have a wide
with other countries and aircraft types. team. people to come out of the building toward knowledge of the legal steps that were
This effort involved a deployment to the direction of a river, where the SF could made to get to the mission execution, and
have a chance to take them out, which we did what we had briefed to do.’
Exercise ‘Maple Flag 46’ in 2013, during

A-29 squadron. The main issue was getting Bottom: A pair of

A-29s recovers
everyone to a certain standard, from to Apiay
learning English to making sure the pilots following a local
had all the correct ticks in the boxes.’ mission.
In August of this year the squadron will Left: Toting
participate in ‘Green Flag East’ at Barksdale live 500lb iron
Air Force Base, Louisiana. Capt Montoya bombs and
rocket pods, two
said: ‘We will fly SAT missions, but more A-29Bs roll in on
importantly for this exercise we will fly a target.
and learn the roles in CSAR, because
CSAR has more mission branches to learn
such as on-scene commander and rescue
escort [RESCORT] — these are new roles
for us. This will not only benefit the A-29B
community but the rest of the combat
squadrons once we return to Colombia
and pass on our experiences to the other
which the A-29B was tasked with surface to progress to international standards to light attack aircraft squadrons in the Air
attack tactics (SAT), and a deployment take part in multi-national exercises. This Force, which operate the A-29B, Cessna
to the United States for Exercise ‘Angel includes learning from the USAF about its OA-37B and AH-60L.’
Thunder’ in 2015. ‘Angel Thunder’ was operational experiences.
primarily a CSAR exercise, and saw USAF Minos continued: ‘The OV-10 Bronco was The pilot’s view
A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots visiting originally assigned to participate in ‘Angel Capt Rommel Rodriguez is an A-29B
Colombia to explain the mission prior to Thunder’, but due to some maintenance instructor and a member of the A-29B
the deployment. problems that resulted in those aircraft aerobatic team with many hours of
The FAC has keenly felt the need to be being retired from active service the FAC combat experience. He was able to tell
aligned with NATO standards. Participating decided to send the A-29B as it performs CA about the process of becoming a
in the aforementioned exercises can aid similar types of operations. The squadron combat-ready A-29B pilot and some of
in developing the same understanding of only had six weeks to prepare for the the missions flown by the squadron.
procedures and levels of professionalism. deployment. The OV-10 squadron helped ‘Primary flight training is carried out on the
56 While the FAC has a lot of internal the A-29B squadron with the experience Beechcraft T-34 or Cessna T-41. Students
operational experience, there is a desire gained and some of its pilots joined the then move on to the AT-27 Tucano or

Cessna T-37 where they will receive their and our lawyers to review the rules of Capt Rommel recalled one such sortie.
wings. If they progress to the A-29B it will engagement and the human rights. ‘I was forward-deployed to Cali on quick
take between six and eight months to Afterwards, the information is given to reaction alert. After the call to launch we
become an A-29B pilot. Since 2007, 95 the squadron to prepare the mission and have to be in the air within 20 minutes
pilots have graduated, and the number perform it. This is always the process.’ during the day and 30 minutes at night.
will rise to 100 by the end of 2016. Once the pilots have returned to base, We were scrambled to fly out into the
‘The FAC hopes to establish a combat they debrief to learn lessons and provide Pacific Ocean to intercept a Cessna being
school. This means that after a pilot has intel for the commanders. In the majority flown by two Mexicans who were carrying
finished basic training, he will be sent to of cases the ground troops go into the drugs on board. The target aircraft had big
that school, which has instructors from the target area and bring detailed information bottles of fuel in the back seats to extend
AT-27 and A-29B. Once he has finished the back to the squadron. In this way the the range; we took over the intercept from
combat training, he will be able to join a unit can verify that it engaged the target the controllers and forced the aircraft to
combat squadron. according to the intel package and the land at an airfield close to the coastline
‘We know that the basis of a good brief. where the police were waiting.
operation is intelligence. If we don’t have Terrorists typically like hiding in ‘It was a standard intercept but we still
This image:
good intel and study of the enemy we are Rugged terrain mountainous areas, where it is very have to follow procedures according to
not allowed to conduct an operation. In around Apiay difficult for aircraft to operate. The aircraft the United Nations. We have something
the jungle of Colombia the trees are up to combined are forced to fly at a very high altitude and called air, bridge and deny (ABD). We
with rapidly-
100ft [30m] in height and it’s very difficult changing in heavy configurations. Three mountain have three steps to follow; the first step
to find the FARC with a forward-looking weather makes chains converge close to Apiay. In is to position ourselves beside the front
infra-red [FLIR] camera. Most of the time for challenging addition, the weather near the mountains cockpit and call the pilot’s attention. We
flying,
we need good information to make a especially at can change very rapidly, with rain and have to speak English and Spanish on the
continuously computed impact point night. clouds forming quickly. The pilots often emergency frequencies, both VHF and
[CCIP] attack on specific co-ordinates. need to call upon all their experience to UHF as well, and also on the air traffic
Bottom: The
‘We teach Army troops not only how to A-29B carries decide if they should continue the mission. frequency in the area.
guide an aircraft to attack the enemy but two internally- ‘If we don’t get a reply we move on to
also how to keep friendlies safe. It is very mounted 0.5in
machine guns,
Counter-narcotics step two, for which we need clearance
similar to a JTAC [Joint Terminal Attack 2.75in rocket Another task assigned to the A-29B is the from COFAC, the Colombian Air Force
Controller]; however, the Colombian Army pods, Mk81 interception of drug smugglers. The FAC Command. They are in control with the
does not have the same capabilities. and Mk82 always has A-29Bs ready for this mission, Air Force commander and will decide
bombs, and
‘In every attack mission, the intelligence BDU-33 bombs even though the A-37s are also available in if we can fire warning shots to show 57
package is given to the FAC commanders for training. the northern region. that we need the aircraft to land. If the

aircraft is still not complying we will again

need COFAC and Air Force commander
permission to shoot down the aircraft with
our 0.5in [12.7mm]-caliber guns. This is
step three, and the final step.’
Now that flying operations are less
intense, the squadron is currently trying to
establish a four-ship aerobatic team within
the A-29B community. Every two years the
FAC conducts a presentation at the F-Air
(Feria Aeronáutica Internacional Rionegro)
airshow, in which pilots demonstrate
the capabilities of their aircraft in public,
and this would be an ideal showcase for
an A-29B team. Further demonstrations
would be flown when VIPs visit Apiay. A
number of A-29B pilots have visited the
Chilean Air Force aerobatic team to discuss
the logistics of forming a dedicated display
team. The idea has been received well
by the FAC commanders and there is ‘We have three plans to improve the In terms of armament the A-29B carries Above: A range
of upgrades are
currently a study into funding options to capability of the A-29B that we are carry two 0.5in machine guns (250 rounds
on the cards
buy and operate the aircraft. requesting to the commanders. The first each), up to 14 2.75in rockets, Mk81 and for Colombia’s
request is for safety equipment to make Mk82 bombs, and BDU-33 bombs for A-29s, including
new weaponry
Upgrade plans operating in airspace safer by improving training. The aircraft may also be fitted
and a datalink.
Capt Monsalve Montoya has nothing situational awareness. The datalink with the FLIR Systems Bright Star DP
but praise for the A-29B, and he hopes could be improved — it would allow electro-optical/infra-red sensor. This can’t Below: The Super
Tucano has
for future upgrades. ‘The aircraft is very us to have mutual support and always be used to designate targets since the FAC
proved to be an
reliable. When we went to ‘Angel Thunder’ have a visual on our wingmen, because does not operate the A-29B with laser- ideal platform
we took four aircraft, 10 technicians and if you have that system you always have guided bombs. However, the current CCIP for pilots as a
stepping-stone
58 one pallet of support equipment. We the overall picture. The second request system provides accuracy to within 1-10m
to the Kfir.
have a flight data recorder [FDR] system in concerns the surveillance systems, which of the target.
the aircraft; it’s an international standard I am not allowed to talk about due to its The A-29B looks set to continue to build
system that reports any issues with the classified status. The third is the armament upon its reputation in the FAC, and will
aircraft. Although there is a lot of data that can be carried; there are hopes to likely be remembered for its contribution
produced, it doesn’t mean it’s developing procure infra-red missiles as the aircraft is toward peace with the FARC. This final
problems. In December the A-29 will have equipped to carry those.’ point is echoed by the words of Capt
been with the FAC for 10 years and we Crew survivability is ensured through Rommel: ‘We made the difference on the
have gained a lot of experience. If you armor protection and state-of-the-art battlefield with the A-29B. We changed
do have an issue, you can search for the items such as a missile approach warning the path of the war with the enemy and
problem and decide to continue with the system and radar warning receiver, in that’s why we got to the point of the
mission or not using this system. addition to chaff and flare dispensers. peace process.’

Aviation Tours
2016 TOUR PROGRAMME
15-19 Sep CZECH REPUBLIC: NATO & Czech Air Days Airshow. Fabulous international
participation. Arrivals Day and both airshow days
18-24 Sep BULGARIA: aviation museums, collections and aircraft on poles etc
21-27 Sep NORTH KOREA & CHINA: LONG WEEKEND: Air Force and Air Koryo 2-day
airshow. Flying Finnair A350-900; Air Koryo IL-62 & TU-204. Optional flts in
other Soviet-era airliners. Maximum participation by air force in static display
and flying programme. Two aviation museums in/around Beijing area and
optional sightseeing. Fully inclusive price.
21 Sep-2 Oct NORTH KOREA & CHINA: EXTENDED TOUR: as above but with sightseeing and
flights Soviet airlines and Mil helicopters. Five aviation museums in/around
Beijing and sightseeing. Fully inclusive price.
17-28 Nov FALKLAND ISLANDS (via Chile). Battlefield tour including 3 flights in FIGAS
Islanders around West Falkland. Plus time for local wildlife.
2017 TOUR PROGRAMME

(1st Quarter)
14 Feb-8 Mar NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA & DUBAI: 3 weekends – 3 airshows! Wings Over
Wairarapa, 80th Anniversary of RNZAF Int’l Airshow & Australian National
Airshow & Exhibition Avalon. Plus museums in NZ, OZ and Sharjah. Flying
Emirates
25 Feb-4 Mar USA: RED FLAG NELLIS AFB & NAS FALLON: Red Flag with foreign participants.
Fallon ramp access confirmed. Coyote Summit LLR
Itineraries now on our website.

Or call 01487 832922 to discuss
Terminal House, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8AS
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P059_CA_AUG16_ad.indd 1 16/06/2016 13:29

SPECIAL REPORT | INDIAN SEA HARRIERS RETIRE
INDIAN
SEA HARRIERS
BOW OUT
INAS 300 RE-EQUIPS WITH MiG-29
60

O
INDIAN SEA HARRIERS RETIRE | SPECIAL REPORT
N MAY 11, 2016,

After a 33-year career with the Indian Navy, the service’s Indian Naval Air
last British Aerospace Sea Harriers were withdrawn Squadron (INAS) 300
during an official ceremony in May. With this, the final ‘White Tigers’, the
first-generation ‘jump jets’ in service anywhere in the Indian Navy’s premier
fighter squadron,
world were stood down. traded its famous BAe Sea Harrier V/STOL
(vertical/short take-off and landing) jets
report and photos: Angad Singh for brand-new Mikoyan MiG-29K/KUBs
to become the Navy’s operational fighter
training unit. Adm R. K. Dhowan, Chief
of Naval Staff (CNS), who once served This image: The
old guard meets
as direction officer at INAS 300, was the the new — Sea
chief guest at the ceremony held to mark Harrier FRS51
the change-over at INS Hansa in Goa. serial INS602
leads out a
Present too were numerous ‘White MiG-29KUB at
Tigers’ luminaries, including former the retirement
Navy chief Adm Arun Prakash, the parade.
Navy’s pioneer Sea Harrier pilot who Inset left:
commanded INAS 300 when it first Cdr Shikku
received its ‘jump jets’ in 1983. Other Raj formally
relinquishes
retired flag officers on hand included command to
VAdm Shekhar Sinha (another Sea Harrier Capt K. H. V.
pilot), VAdm Subhash Chopra, Adm Singh, marking
the end of the
Sureesh Mehta, VAdm Vinod Pasricha, V/STOL era in
and VAdm Sunil Damle, the latter four India.
61

having flown CATOBAR (catapult-assisted

take-off but with arrested recovery)
Hawker Sea Hawk jets during their time
at INAS 300.
After the CNS was presented with an
62 honor guard, INAS 300 performed its
final Sea Harrier sorties, led by outgoing
commanding officer Cdr Shikku Raj, and
the squadron’s senior pilot, Lt Cdr Gokul
Suresh. Additional Sea Harriers were on
static display at the ceremony, all bearing
special ‘1983-2016’ markings beneath the
trademark leaping white tiger insignia on
their tails, highlighting the type’s 33-year
service with the Indian Navy.
Farewell flypast
The airborne Harriers were accompanied
by examples of the aircraft that are to

INDIAN SEA HARRIERS RETIRE | SPECIAL REPORT
Two MiG-29KUBs, still

bearing the insignia of
INAS 303, flank the last
Sea Harrier.
Left top to bottom: replace them — a pair of MiG-29KUBs, apron itself, marking the end of the Operational training
IN617 taxies back still bearing the snarling ‘Black Panthers’ V/STOL era in India. All remaining While INAS 551 ‘Phantoms’ is the unit that
to the flightline as
the end of an era is insignia of INAS 303. The ‘Fulcrums’ were INAS 300 Sea Harrier pilots (there are lays the groundwork for all Indian Navy
marked. led by the CO designate of INAS 300, Capt six at present) will move on to non- fighter pilots, the operational conversion
K. H. V. Singh in IN678, accompanied by aviation posts, some permanently and to Sea Harriers was conducted at INAS
The phasing-out
of the Indian Sea Lt Cdr Vikram Chauhan flying IN679. others only for a short while before 552 (formerly 551B) ‘Braves’, co-located 63
Harriers marked The aircraft performed mixed flypasts, they re-join the flying stream. Most with INAS 300 at INS Hansa, Goa. The
the end of the the Sea Harriers showed off their will ultimately serve as much-needed ‘Braves’ graduated the last batch of Sea
first-generation
Harrier in service. vectored-thrust tricks, and one of the qualified flying instructors (QFIs) with Harrier pilots in 2014, before being folded
Only one privately- MiG-29KUBs put on an utterly spectacular INAS 551 ‘Phantoms’ flying BAE Systems into INAS 300 in October that year, with
owned Sea Harrier (if all too brief) low-level aerobatic display Hawk Mk132s out of INS Dega at Cdr Shikku Raj, then CO of INAS 552,
remains flying
in the US; the before returning to terra firma. IN602 and Visakhapatnam on India’s eastern coast. taking charge of the ‘White Tigers’.
remainder are all IN617 conducted the last-ever vertical The Sea Harriers’ aging ‘mother ship’, In the meantime, MiG-29K conversion
Harrier IIs. landings by Indian Navy Sea Harriers. the aircraft carrier INS Viraat (the former was taking place within INAS 303, as the
IN617 performs They received a water cannon salute as HMS Hermes) has not yet been formally unit awaited the arrival of the refurbished
the final vertical they taxied back to the ramp, where the decommissioned, but is presently STOBAR (short take-off but arrested
landing by an two MiGs joined them. docked at Mumbai and unlikely to sail recovery) carrier INS Vikramaditya (the
Indian Navy
Sea Harrier. Cdr Shikku Raj formally relinquished again before she is formally seen off later ex-Admiral Gorshkov). With Vikramaditya
command to Capt K. H. V. Singh on the this year. having worked up to ‘fully ops’ status
The last two flying Sea

Harriers at rest on the INS
Hansa concrete.

and INAS 303 conducting operational personnel from the INAS 553 cell, to the carrier qualifications. When pilots are ‘day
flying from her deck, a requirement was ‘White Tigers’. ops’ on the carrier — qualified to conduct
identified to replicate the Sea Harrier- The transition will see around a third of daytime/clear-weather air defense
style training pipeline and establish a INAS 300’s technical personnel moving operations from deck — they will move
dedicated operational training unit for to INAS 551 at INS Dega, where they will to INAS 303 and begin operational flying,
the STOBAR fighters. work on the unit’s Hawk Mk132s. They picking up more qualifications (night,
A new MiG-29 training unit, INAS will be replaced by INAS 553 staff, who strike and so on) along the way.
553, was mooted, with the provisional are already trained on the MiG-29K/ Eventually, around three years from
nickname ‘Fighting Lions’. The group KUB, while the remainder of INAS 300’s now, INAS 300 will form the nucleus of
began operating as a ‘cell’ within the staff will begin the conversion process the air wing for India’s second aircraft
Navy’s aviation branch, and planned to the new type. All flying personnel in carrier, INS Vikrant, currently under
to be formally commissioned around the unit are new, with the senior pilots construction at Cochin. When INAS 300
mid-2016. However, with the exit of drawn from INAS 303 and the trainees transitions to the operational role and
the Sea Harriers approaching, the Navy from INAS 551. is formally assigned to the carrier, the
elected earlier this year not to stand INAS 300 will now convert naval Navy will set up a new training unit, with
down the famous INAS 300 ‘numberplate’, aviators from the Hawk to the MiG-29K, the correct numbering convention. It is
and instead simply transferred the seeing them through their first solos unclear, but certainly very likely, that this
operational training role, along with the on the type all the way through to their unit will then be called INAS 553.
INDIA’S SEA HARRIER SAGA

As early as 1972 the Indian Navy expressed The initial carrier for the Indian ‘Shars’ was Sea Harrier upgrade was
an interest in the Harrier, with a view to the first INS Vikrant, which initially lacked repeatedly delayed and scaled back.
replacing the Hawker Sea Hawk. In July a ‘ski-jump’ take-off ramp. The carrier was Finally, in 2005 the Indian Navy launched
that year, BAe’s company demonstrator re-fitted with a ski jump between 1987-89 the Limited Upgrade Sea Harrier (LUSH)
G-VTOL undertook deck trials aboard and an inaugural Sea Harrier launch from project, also known as ‘Project Tiger’. This
the carrier INS Vikrant (the former HMS the revised deck was made in March 1990. included the replacement of the FRS51’s
Hercules) off Cochin. The Sea Harrier was The Vikrant was retired in 1994, after the original Blue Fox radar with the Israeli Elta
formally selected in October 1978, with a Sea Harriers had embarked again for a EL/M-2032 multi-mode radar, the addition
stated requirement for 48 jets. A year later final ‘mini-cruise’ in November that year. of Rafael Derby beyond visual range (BVR)
an order was placed for six single-seat Sea Thereafter, the Sea Harriers operated air-to-air missiles, and the capability for the
64 Harrier FRS51s (plus four options) and a primarily from Viraat, which had arrived in pilots to wear the Elbit DASH helmet sight.
pair of two-seat T60 trainers. Unlike their India with full ‘Harrier carrier’ adaptations. While they never saw combat in Indian
Royal Navy counterparts, the Indian ‘Shars’ While INAS 300 was the sole squadron to hands, the Sea Harriers were deployed
were compatible with French-made Magic take the Sea Harrier on board both carriers during Operation ‘Vijay’ during the Kargil
2 air-to-air missiles and differed in their use in an operational capacity, the ‘White conflict in 1999 and embarked again on A Sea Harrier
of gaseous instead of liquid oxygen. The Tigers’ loaned aircraft to a second-line the Viraat for Operation ‘Parakram’ in 2001, FRS51 takes
aircraft were compatible with Sea Eagle formation, INAS 551 ‘Braves’. This unit took during another period of India-Pakistan off from the
anti-ship missiles but featured a slightly Sea Harriers on strength as required, for tensions. In early 2014 the Sea Harriers flight deck of
downgraded Blue Fox radar, and revised training and standardization. completed a series of approaches to the the carrier INS
IFF and radio equipment. At the turn of the century, India began an newly-arrived carrier INS Vikramaditya Viraat (R 22)
Indian pilots began conversion to the upgrade program for its Sea Harrier fleet, (formerly the Admiral Gorshkov), although during Exercise
‘Malabar 07-2’
Sea Harrier with the Royal Navy’s 899 Naval centered upon a new radar and weapons this vessel was always intended to embark
in September
Air Squadron, the first Indian examples with the aim of bringing its air-to-air the Harrier’s designated successor — the 2007. US Navy/
being delivered direct to Royal Naval Air capabilities up to date. However, with MiG-29K/KUB. MC2 Dustin
Station Yeovilton, England in December plans afoot to acquire the MiG-29K, the Thomas Newdick Q. Diaz
1982. An initial trio of aircraft was shipped
to INS Hansa, Goa, arriving on December
16, 1983. On their arrival in India, INAS
300 was formally re-equipped. Although
the Sea Hawks made an official farewell
flypast, these veteran jets continued to fly
for another year. A first deck landing on the
Vikrant took place on December 20, 1983.
‘Three Hundred’ was declared operational
in July 1984. Two years later New Delhi
acquired the INS Viraat (ex-HMS Hermes),
while a second batch of 10 FRS51s and
one T60 were ordered in November 1985.
Seven more FRS51s and another T60 were
added to the order book in October 1986.
The final Indian Harriers to be delivered
comprised two former Royal Air Force
‘snoopy-nose’ T4s that were converted
to T60 standard and arrived in 1999 as
attrition replacements. With this, the grand
total of Indian Harriers amounted to 23
single-seaters and six two-seaters.

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VARIANT BRIEFING | ‘FLANKER’
I
N EARLY APRIL 2016 the Russian were deployed to Saki, Crimea. During
Ministry of Defense (MoD) summer 2016 the Russian aerobatic team
placed an order with the Irkut Russkiye Vityazi (the Russian Knights),
Corporation for 36 Su-30SM based at Kubinka outside Moscow
fighters. It was Moscow’s sixth and currently flying the Su-27, is to be
contract for the Su-30SM in just equipped with Su-30SMs.
four years, underscoring a real success Four Su-30SMs from Domna were
story. Since March 23, 2012, these deals deployed to Syria in September 2015,
have amounted to an impressive total of being tasked initially with providing
116 new fighters. fighter cover for the Russian air strike
The initial Su-30SM for the Russian group. They normally flew with a typical
Air Force (today more properly known air-to-air weapons load of four medium-
as the Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye Sily, range R-27R (AA-10 ‘Alamo’) and two
VKS; Russian Aerospace Forces) flew on close-combat R-73 (AA-11 ‘Archer’) air-to-
September 21, 2012, and was handed over air missiles (AAMs).
for trials at the Akhtubinsk test center. The
first operational fighters were delivered to From India to Russia —
the 120th Composite Aviation Regiment the Irkutsk line
(Smeshannyi Aviatsionnyi Polk, SAP) based The introduction of the Su-30SM to
at Domna near Chita, close to the Chinese Russian service is proceeding remarkably
border, during November 2013. Su-30SMs smoothly, especially when compared
were delivered in October 2015 to to the single-seat Su-35 (discussed in
another VKS unit, the 31st Fighter Aviation part two of this feature). After years
Regiment (Istrebitelnyi Aviatsionnyi Polk, of production for foreign
IAP) based at Millerovo. customers, the aircraft is
Russian Naval Aviation (Morskaya mature, and its minor
Aviatsiya Voenno-Morskogo Flota, MA adaptations to Russian
VMF) received its first three Su-30SMs requirements, and
on July 19, 2014. These fighters initially subsequent evaluation,
arrived at the Yeysk evaluation and were problem-free. To
66 training center and in December 2014 date, the Russian MoD

‘FLANKER’ | VARIANT BRIEFING
has received half of its Su-30SMs on order.
THE ‘FLANKER’ FAMILY

When all contracts are implemented,
the VKS and MA VMF will have nine or
10 Su-30SM squadrons and the aircraft
produced in Irkutsk will become the
most numerous fighters in Russia. It is a
surprising reversal for a type originally
PART ONE: THE MULTI-ROLE S -30 U
made for export and which for 10 years
was only manufactured for foreign Now in service for more than 30 years, Sukhoi’s Su-27
customers. has proven to be such a good platform that its upgraded
The Su-30 from Irkutsk is also the
most numerous modern Russian fighter
fighter variants will remain the most numerous Russian
in foreign service. Under a series of combat aircraft for several decades to come. This detailed
contracts (the first of which was signed on briefing presents the latest fighter ‘Flankers’, starting with
November 30, 1996, and the most recent the two-seat Su-30.
on December 24, 2012), total orders for
the Indian Air Force (IAF) have reached report: Piotr Butowski
272 Su-30MKI versions. By early 2016, the
IAF had received an estimated 225 aircraft,
including 50 delivered in a ‘fly-away’
condition from Russia and 175 made by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)’s
Nasik facility. At the beginning of 2016 the
Indian Air Force initiated the procurement
of a batch of 40 more Su-30MKIs.
Other export customers for the Irkut
Corporation Su-30 are Malaysia,
which received 18 customized
Su-30MKM fighters in 2007-
09, and Algeria, which
took 44 Su-30MKI(A) 67
This image: An
Indian Air Force
Su-30MKI from
No 30 ‘Rhinos’
Squadron shows
off its impressive
load of 26
OFAB-250-270
high-explosive-
fragmentation
bombs.
Kedar Karmarkar
Inset: Su-30SM
and Su-35
‘Flankers’ fly
over St Basil’s
Cathedral.
Piotr Butowski

68 variants in 2007-12. In April 2015, Algeria

ordered another batch of 14 fighters to
be delivered in 2016-17. During 2014,
Kazakhstan ordered four Su-30SM
fighters in the Russian configuration;
they were delivered in April 2015 and
are deployed at Taldy-Kurgan air base.
Kazakhstan ultimately intends to acquire
50 more Su-30SMs by 2020.
The story of the Su-30 begins 25 years
ago. In the early 1990s, when the Soviet
Union was disintegrating, two Russian
fighter manufacturing companies, Sukhoi
and MiG, were looking to the future
in different ways. MiG, led by Rostislav
Belyakov, believed that its task was to
produce aircraft, not to look for customers,
and instead waited for orders from the The Indian military expressed an interest the purchase of a batch of Su-30s. Finally,
Russian MoD. Sukhoi, led by Mikhail in just such an aircraft in 1991. Two years on November 30, 1996, Russia and India
Simonov, took the opposite approach. later, in June 1993, Russia displayed the signed a contract for development of the
Within Sukhoi it was quickly understood Su-30MK multi-role fighter at Le Bourget. Su-30MKI (I for India) multi-role fighter
Above: An
that the Russian military would not have Su-30SM from Specifically targeted at India, the Su-30MK and delivery of the first batch of aircraft.
the money to buy significant quantities the Irkut plant. was shown with Kh-29 (AS-14 ‘Kedge’), Funded by New Delhi, and in order to
of new aircraft for a long time — the The Su-30 is Kh-31 (AS-17 ‘Krypton’) and Kh-59M meet the Indian requirement, Russia was
also the most
only solution for the company was to numerous (AS-18 ‘Kazoo’) air-to-surface missiles and thus able to complete development of
seek export orders. Therefore, Simonov modern Russian KAB-500 guided bombs, though in reality some of its most advanced technologies,
personally won clearance from the Russian fighter in foreign the aircraft was a standard Su-27UB trainer previously prepared for the Su-27M
service. Irkut
authorities to sell the Su-27 to China. with dummy weapons. fighter. Therefore, while development
Simonov was then the initiator behind the Above right: A June 1994 saw an Indian military of the Su-27M was suspended with
conversion of the Su-27 into the Su-30MK rare view inside delegation visiting Russia, and Indian the collapse of the USSR, work could
the Su-30SM
export multi-role fighter, an equivalent to production line pilots evaluated the aircraft in flight. In resume on its electronically-scanned
the F-15E Strike Eagle in the United States. at Irkut. Irkut July 1995 the Indian parliament approved radar, thrust-vectoring engine, and a new

aerodynamic configuration with canard

foreplanes.
The Indian Su-30MKI was to be a
two-seat multi-role fighter, and since the
platform on which it was based was a
development of the two-seat Su-27UB,
the production facility at Irkutsk was used.
The Irkutsk plant already had considerable
experience in co-operation with India,
having participated in license production
of the MiG-27ML fighter-bomber with
HAL Nasik from 1986-94. Alexey Fedorov,
the then manager of the Irkutsk plant,
also had very good relations with India.
All these factors saw the ‘center of gravity’
for the Su-30MKI program moving to
Irkutsk, and thus the ‘Irkutsk’ branch of the
Su-30MK family was conceived. leading edge) and a new SAU-10M-03 Above: The greatest improvement to the
flight control system with SDU-10MK This is the Su-30MKI’s combat potential comes via its
second
‘Flanker’ tech digital fly-by-wire (FBW) system.
Su-30MKI
avionics and especially the RLSU-30MKI
The Su-30MKI is a fighter aircraft that Two AL-31FP turbofans each provide prototype. The (Radiolokatsionnaya Sistema Upravlenia;
retains controllability at angles of attack of 122.6kN (27,562lb st) thrust at maximum production radar control system) Bars radar system.
facility at Irkutsk
60-70°, and is capable of briefly attaining afterburning. Their nozzles move up and This is based around an N011M passive
was used for this
angles of attack of 100-120° without down only, but the vertical central plane project as it had electronically-scanned array (PESA) radar
losing stability. This agility is made of each one is deflected by 32° (the right- considerable made by the NIIP Institute at Zhukovsky,
possible thanks to the thrust-vectoring hand nozzle to the right and the left-hand experience of and controlled by Indian-made RC1 and
working in co-
engines, all-moving swept canard nozzle to the left), so that the nozzles operation with RC2 computers. The main shortcoming
foreplanes (which can be deflected move within V-like intersecting planes to India. of a PESA radar is its limited range of
symmetrically by +7° to -70° at their provide three-dimensional control. Piotr Butowski observation, only 45° to each side, which
Left: is unacceptable for a highly maneuverable
The Irkut fighter aircraft. As a result, the Bars 69
Corporation electronically-scanned array is installed
built 18
customized on a hydraulic drive, which can be rotated
Su-30MKMs for by 25° to left and right. The array weighs
Malaysia. 110kg (243lb), but due to electronic
Piotr Butowski
scanning the mechanical turn of the array
Below: does not have to be as dynamic as in a
Kazakhstan typical mechanically-scanned array radar.
ordered four
The array typically works in the electronic
Su-30SMs
in Russian scanning mode only, and the mechanical
configuration turn is performed only when the tactical
that were
situation demands it.
delivered in
April 2015. The N011M in the air-to-air mode can
Talgat Ashimov track up to 15 targets simultaneously

and can simultaneously engage four to

six. Search range against a fighter-size SUKHOI SU30MKI/MKM/SM ‘FLANKERH’ SPECIFICATION
target is 120-140km (75-87 miles) from Two AL-31FP (izdeliye 96) thrust-vectoring
a head-on position, or 60km (37 miles) Powerplant turbofans, each developing 122.6kN (27,562lb st)
thrust at maximum afterburning
tail-on. In the air-to-ground mode, search
Dimensions
ranges include 80-120km (50-75 miles)
Wingspan 14.7m (48ft 2in) Bottom left to
for a railway bridge, 40-50km (25-31 right: Russia
miles) for a group of tanks, or 120-150km Length, without probe 21.935m (71ft 11in) ultimately plans
(75-93 miles) for a destroyer. Other Height 6.4m (20ft 11in) to have up to
10 squadrons
fire-control sensors include the OLS-30 Weights
of Su-30SMs.
(izdeliye 36Sh-01) infra-red search and Nominal take-off 26,090kg (57,519lb) Maxim Bryanskiy
track (IRST), Israeli Elop SU 967 head-up Maximum take-off 34,000kg (74,957lb)
In September
display (HUD), Ukrainian Sura-K helmet- Maximum allowed take-off 38,800kg (85,539lb) 2015 four
mounted sight (HMS), and Israeli Rafael Performance Su-30SMs were
Litening targeting and navigation pod. deployed to
Maximum Mach number 1.9 Latakia, Syria,
Indian-made 1410A IFF is also fitted. For from the 120th
Maximum speed at sea level 1,350km/h (839mph)
self-protection, the Su-30MKI is provided Mixed Aviation
g limit 9
with an Indian-made Tranquil (Tarang Regiment at
Ceiling, clean 17,300m (56,758ft) Domna. Their
Mk2) radar warning receiver (RWR), Israeli Su-30SMs were
Maximum range 3,000km (1,864 miles)
Elta EL/L-8222 podded jammer, and seven only delivered
Maximum range at sea level, maximum fuel, two from the Irkut
14-round 50mm (1.9in) UV-30MKI chaff/ R-27 and two R-73 AAMs
1,270km (789 miles)
factory at the
flare dispensers built into the tail ‘sting’. end of 2014.
Take-off run (normal take-off weight) 550m (1,804ft)
The airframe of the Su-30MKI was MO RF via syria.
Landing run 750m (2,461ft)
strengthened to increase the ordnance mil.ru
70
The first operational Su-30SMs for

the Russian Air Force were delivered
to the 120th Composite Aviation
Regiment at Domna near Chita,
close to the Chinese border, in
November 2013. Maxim Bryanskiy

load to 8,000kg (17,637lb). Utilizing 12

hardpoints the fighter can carry up to
eight semi-active radar-guided R-27R/ER
AAMs, two IR-guided R-27T/ET AAMs, up
to 10 active-radar RVV-AE (AA-12 ‘Adder’)
AAMs, or six R-73 short-range AAMs.
In the Russian Su-30SM, the RVV-AE is
complemented by its new modification,
the R-77-1. Air-to-surface options include
two Kh-59M missiles (with APK-9 guidance
pod), up to six Kh-31P/A anti-radar/anti-
ship missiles, up to six Kh-29 missiles (the
laser-guided version requires a targeting
pod), up to three 1,500kg (3,307lb) or six
500kg (1,102lb) guided bombs, and up
to 32 250kg (551lb) free-fall bombs, as
well as S-8, S-13 and S-25 rockets. Like all
‘Flankers’, the fighter has a 30mm GSh-301
cannon with 150 rounds.
Perhaps the most interesting weapon
from this list is the ‘long-arm’ Kh-59ME,
intended for destroying point targets
of known co-ordinates at ranges up to
115km (71 miles). After launch, the missile is guided to the target area by its inertial Damocles pod, and Thales HUD3022
navigation system (with radio updates). HUD and IFF systems. Altogether new
At that point a TV camera activates and is the Su-30MKM’s self-defense system,
relays the image to the launching aircraft with a Russian L-150-30 RWR as well as a
via APK-9 datalink; course correction South African Saab Avitronics MAW-300
information is relayed back to the missile. ultra-violet missile approach warning
Above: The A sidestick for controlling the Kh-59ME system and LWS-310 laser illumination
Su-30SMs in is installed in the rear cockpit of the warning system. The Russian SAP-518 71
Syria typically
Su-30MKI, on the right-hand console. self-protection jammer pod and SAP-14
operated with
four medium- According to Russian sources, the missile escort jammer pod are used instead of
range R-27R can hit its target with an accuracy of 2-3m Israeli pods.
(AA-10
(7-10ft) using manual guidance or 5-7m To date, the Russian Su-30SM has
‘Alamo’) and
two close- (16-23ft) with automatic guidance. remained close to the Indian variant. The
combat Other countries ordered a slightly modified RLSU-30MK-R Bars-R (N011M-R)
R-73 (AA-11
different equipment suite. The radar retains Indian-made computers
‘Archer’) air-
to-air missiles Su-30MKI(A) for Algeria repeats the Indian but has gained additional operational
(AAMs). avionics complement with the exception modes. The L-150 Pastel RWR and seven
MO RF via
of the Russian L-150-20 Pastel RWR 14-round 50mm (1.9in) UV-30 chaff/flare
syria.mil.ru
instead of the Tarang, and with no podded dispensers are used for self-protection.
Below: jammer. For its Su-30MKM, Malaysia In 2013, the Russian MoD placed an
Russian Naval
installed a slightly modified Bars-M radar order with the KNIRTI institute of Kaluga
Aviation
received its and replaced the Israeli sub-systems with to provide the new Khibiny-U (in which
first three French equipment including the Thales U probably stands for Unifitsirovannyi,
Su-30SMs in
Damocles targeting and navigation pod, unified) self-defense suite for various types
July 2014.
Alexander a navigation forward-looking infra-red of fighters; the Su-30SM is the first to be so
Golz (NAVFLIR) system complementing the equipped. A Russian-made IFF and S-107-

2 communication suite are installed. From years. Although popularly known as India wants to adapt the aircraft for the
2016, the French Thales HUD3022 is to be the Super 30, this name has never been carriage of indigenous weapons, including
replaced by the Russian IKSh-1M display. officially confirmed. The aircraft is to be Astra AAMs; an Astra was launched from a
In early 2016, Russia began marketing fitted with a new computing system Su-30MKI for the first time on May 4, 2014,
the Su-30SME, the export version of their (reportedly of Israeli design) as well as during trials in India. New self-protection
Su-30SM. This is independent from the new or upgraded sensors, primarily the systems are expected, as well as new
Indian MKI, without the avionics from radar. The weapons array will be enhanced engine compressor blades, wing and
France, Israel and other countries. with long-range RVV-BD (R-37M) and empennage leading edges, and cockpit
A thorough upgrade of India’s Su-30MKI medium-range RVV-SD (R-77-1) AAMs, as canopy coatings to reduce the radar
fighters has been discussed for many well as Kh-59MK air-to-surface missiles. cross-section. The AL-31FP engine control
system will be upgraded. Under a separate
project, the Indo-Russian Brahmos-A
72 air-to-surface missile is to be used on the
Su-30MKI.
At the beginning of this year Yuri Belyi,
the head of the Tikhomirov NIIP radar
company, complained that talks with
India about the upgrade of the Su-30MKI
had stalled. It is more likely that Russia’s
Su-30SM fighters will be updated first. As
far as the radar is concerned, two stages
of upgrade work are planned: first, the
Indian computers will be replaced with
indigenous examples, and then the radar
performance will be enhanced with longer
range, greater jamming resistance and
new operational modes. Replacement
of the PESA array with an active
electronically-scanned array (AESA) unified
with the N036/N079 radar antenna of the
fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 fighter was
once considered, but this has apparently
been abandoned.
The Komsomolsk line

A good relationship between Russia and
China was something new in the early
1990s, after three decades of hostility.
Therefore, Russia was still fearful of
transferring new technologies to China at
that time. The Su-30MKK (the second K is
for Kitay, China) modification prepared for
Beijing was based on a standard Su-27UB
airframe — that is, without canards — and

Left: The front enabling the use of laser- and TV guided

and rear munitions. The self-protection devices
cockpits of a
Su-30MKK. include the L-150-14 Pastel-30K RWR that,
Piotr Butowski furthermore, provides target indication
for Kh-31P anti-radar missiles. The L-203I-E
Gardenia (or L005S Sorbtsiya for some
customers) jammer is provided in two
wingtip pods and APP-50-R chaff/flare
dispensers are carried in the rear fuselage.
The subsequent Su-30MK2 version,
originally designed for use by the Chinese
naval air arm, received the SUV-VEP
fire-control system with the RLPK-27VEP
(N001VEP) radar that includes a separate
computing channel with Solo-54
computer to enable terrain mapping with
synthetic aperture, detection of surface
targets and their indication to Kh-31A anti-
was not equipped with an electronically- radar system coupled with the OEPS-27MK ship missiles. The weapons suite of the
scanned array radar, nor engines with electro-optical (EO) sighting system, Su-30MK2 is virtually the same as that of
thrust vectoring. The avionics suite did not SILS-27M data indicating system and the Indian Su-30MKI. Although similar to
provide ‘open architecture’ which would IFF interrogator. The N001VE radar is a the Su-27UB, the airframe is considerably
easily allow for future modifications. standard N001 taken from the Su-27 with strengthened to allow take-off with a full
Aircraft for China were built by the Cassegrain antenna, upgraded only in the fuel load and eight tonnes of weapons
manufacturing plant at Komsomolsk- form of a new computer and software and stores.
on-Amur, where the alternative, enabling the use of RVV-AE missiles. The China purchased 76 Su-30MKKs in
‘Komsomolsk’ line of the Su-30MK family OEPS-27MK (izdeliye 31E-MK) includes 2000-03 and 24 Su-30MK2s in 2004, but
was established. In contrast with the the OLS-27M (izdeliye 52Sh) IRST device subsequently ceased purchases from
aircraft from Irkutsk, the Su-30MKs from and Sura-K HMS. The SILS-27M consists Russia and started development of its own
Komsomolsk incorporate entirely Russian of an ILS-31 HUD in the front cockpit J-16 fighter as an indigenous continuation
(and some Ukrainian) equipment. and two 6 x 8in (152 x 203mm) MFI-10-5 of the Su-30MK2. The next customer was 73
The early Su-30MKK version for China displays in each cockpit. Additionally, the Indonesia, which acquired two Su-30MKKs
features an SUV-VE fire-control system fighter has a separate SUV-P1I fire-control in 2003, and nine Su-30MK2s in 2008-
that includes the RLPK-27VE (N001VE) system with BTsVM-486-2 computer 13. Vietnam received 24 Su-30MK2Vs
between 2004 and 2012; in 2014
deliveries began of another batch of 12
SUKHOI SU30MK2/M2 ‘FLANKERG’ SPECIFICATION Left page top Su-30MK2Vs ordered by Hanoi in August
to bottom: 2013. Venezuela received 24 Su-30MK2Vs
Two AL-31F series 23 (izdeliye 99V) turbofans,
Powerplant each rated at 122.6kN (27,562lb st) with maximum
A Chinese
Su-30MKK gets in 2006-08, and Uganda six Su-30MK2s in
afterburning
airborne. China 2011-12.
Dimensions
purchased Finally, the Russian MoD also decided
Wingspan 14.7m (48ft 3in) 76 of these
Length without probe 21.935m (71ft 11in) fighters and 24 to order a batch of Su-30M2s, this being
Height 6.4m (21ft) Su-30MK2s, but a version of the Su-30MK2 adapted for
Wing area 62.037m2 (668sq ft) subsequently Russian requirements. The only differences
switched to its
Tailplane span 9.88m (32ft 5in)
‘indigenous’ relate to certain new software modes,
Wheelbase 5.8m (19ft) J-16 as a national IFF, the datalink, and other minor
Wheel track 4.34m (14ft 3in) continuation of items. The first order for four Su-30M2
Weights the Su-30MK2.
Dimitry Pichugin aircraft was placed in August 2009
Maximum take-off weight 34,500kg (76,059lb)
and these were delivered in 2010; on
Maximum permitted take-off weight (no more Russia has
38,000kg (83,776lb) December 29, 2012, another order was
than 20 take-offs)
ordered 20
Maximum landing weight 23,600kg (52,029lb) Su-30M2s to placed for 16 more examples. The aircraft
Maximum permitted landing weight 30,000kg (66,139lb) be embedded are being assigned as combat trainers to
Performance within Su-27SM units operating upgraded Su-27SM single-
Maximum Mach number at high altitude 2.0
squadrons as
combat trainers. seat fighters.
Maximum speed at high altitude 2,100km/h (1,305mph) Stanislav
Maximum speed at sea level 1,350km/h (839mph) Bazhenov The second part of this article will
g limit +8.5, -2 focus on the remaining members
Ceiling, clean 17,300m (56,759ft) Uganda of today’s fighter ‘Flanker’ family,
received six namely the mid-life upgrades
Maximum range 3,000km (1,864 miles)
Su-30MK2s in
Maximum range at sea level, maximum fuel, two developed for the ‘legacy’ Su-27,
1,270km (789 miles) 2011-12. These
R-27 and two R-73 AAMs
operate from the navalized Su-33 variant, and the
Take-off run (normal take-off weight) 550m (1,804ft) Entebbe. Su-35 — currently regarded as the
Landing run, brake chute deployed 750m (2,461ft). Benoît Denet ultimate ‘Flanker’ iteration.

C
EXERCISE REPORT | ANATOLIAN EAGLE
ENTERED ON THE 3rd

Main Jet Base (3. Ana Jet
Üs) at Konya in central
IRON EAGLES
Turkey, the Turkish
Air Force (Türk Hava
Kuvvetleri) ‘Anatolian
Eagle’ (AE) exercise is well-established
and continues to grow. ‘Eagle’ operations
commander Col Mustafa Erturk told
Combat Aircraft that his aim is to make
the exercise ‘the most prestigious and
The latest ‘Anatolian Eagle’ exercise attracted the usual mix of
preferred tactical training center in
local fighters and support assets, plus some rare visitors, to the world’. Considering the reputation
central Turkey. enjoyed by the likes of ‘Red Flag’, this
is a bold statement. However, AE is
report: Derek Bower already the largest multi-national
exercise outside of ‘Red Flag’. Another
fact air forces will study is AE’s location,
particularly when European and Asian
participants face the enormous financial
and logistical demands of deploying
aircraft and manpower thousands of
miles to North America.
This year’s AE saw more than 45
Turkish Air Force aircraft and in excess
of 23 airframes from foreign air arms
arriving at Konya for the two-week
exercise. Several aircraft turned up days
in advance to undertake familiarization
flights before proceedings started on
74 May 30. Once under way, the daily
exercise packages, termed as ‘Eagle’
missions, always saw the Turkish Air
Force providing the majority of the
aerial assets. Due to conditions imposed
by the hosts, foreign participants must
not exceed those of the host nation in

ANATOLIAN EAGLE | EXERCISE REPORT
any given package. With most of the E-3A that shared the AEW&C role on a This image: The Incirlik to Konya in order to fly sorties
Turkish fast jet squadrons now flying number of AE missions with the Peace Royal Saudi Air with the PAF F-16s.
Force sent eight
the F-16, ‘Vipers’ were unsurprisingly Eagle. Tornados, in The massive airfield at Konya and its
most prominent. No fewer than five Generally, four foreign nations are the increasingly infrastructure can accommodate up
Turkish F-16 bases provided a total of 32 invited to send fighters to the exercise, common to 80 aircraft on any ‘Eagle’ exercise
overall air
exercise aircraft, operating in multi-role but on this occasion only three arrived. defense grey. package. This year, due to several
configurations. The ‘Vipers’ of the home- Missing was the Royal Air Force, as Neil Dunridge factors, the largest amounted to 48
based 132 Filo acted as Red Air during confirmed by ‘Eagle’ commander Lt Col aircraft. However, whatever the size
Left top to
all ‘Eagle’ sorties. Ilker Kurt. The RAF had initially requested bottom: Turkish of the package, the exercise planners
Additional to the F-16s were the F-4E to participate as Red Air with No 100 Air Force F-16s always mix foreign flying participants
2020s from 111 Filo operating in the Squadron Hawks, but, as explained by were most with elements of local forces to increase
prominent, this
air-to-ground role, and examples of the Col Erturk: ‘An aircraft with no radar or example being the value of the nations working
CN235 (201 Filo), C-130 (222 Filo), and radar missile playing Red Air in ‘Anatolian from 151 Filo together. This interoperability extends
AS532 or, on alternate days, UH-1N (both Eagle’ would provide no training value at the 5th Main beyond just aircrew. Wherever possible,
Jet Base at
from 135 Filo), flying combined combat whatsoever, so the request was denied.’ Merzifon. the planning work promotes the notion
search and rescue (CSAR) missions. The exercise planners are always Derek Bower of one nation’s support staff working
A single Turkish Air Force KC-135 looking to enhance the overall value of with those from a different country.
Continuing
engaged in the exercise. So did the training provided, and during AE2016 to play an When quizzed on future exercise
the relatively new Turkish Air Force several new events took place. Significant important role ambitions, Col Erturk explained that
737AEW&C (airborne early warning examples were the introduction of a for the Turkish plans were under way to add more
Air Force, the
and control) Peace Eagle aircraft CSAR support package on every ‘Eagle’ F-4E 2020 was challenging scenarios next year. These
of Konya’s own 131 Filo flying in its sortie, and, again for the first time, very active will include fast-moving ground targets
familiar surveillance role, and on several support for these assets from several on many of rather than simple static range targets,
the ‘Eagle’
occasions as a high-value asset (HVA) Turkish F-16s acting as dedicated CSAR missions. and, if requested by foreign participants,
protected by dedicated escort fighters. escort ‘top cover’. Another improvement Neil Dunridge the dropping of laser-guided munitions,
was the use of three air-to-ground albeit inert ones. Erturk expanded on
Dropping in
International visitors bombing ranges, which were littered on the final this by explaining that although 2016
Foreign participants comprised six with mobile surface-to-air missiles. day to support saw the Italian Tornados dropping inert
Italian Air Force and eight Royal Saudi Air During the exercise all capable aircraft the Tornados’ GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, in 2017
return to
Force (RSAF) Tornados, both flying strike were cleared to fly supersonically, Dhahran was proposals will be considered from other
and suppression of enemy air defenses dispense flares and chaff, or use this KE-3A nations to use precision-guided ‘smart’ 75
(SEAD) missions. Further fast jets came appropriate electronic countermeasures, from the 23rd weapons.
Squadron at
from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) with six with vertical limits ranging from 250ft Al Kharj. In another move designed to enhance
F-16A/Bs arriving from the Mushaf-based up to 50,000ft. Never before in AE had a Dietmar Fenners the real-world experience, Erturk
No 11 Squadron. Non-fighter assets were Turkish Air Force KC-135R provided air- confirmed that night-time ‘Eagle’ sorties
a single Royal Netherlands Air Force to-air refueling for foreign participants, a will be included, should more than one
KDC-10 tanker, an RSAF KE-3, and a NATO single 101 Filo airframe deploying from foreign country request this.

EXERCISE REPORT | HAWGSMOKE
Every two years, A-10 squadrons from around the US 2016. ‘Every two years we pull everyone
Air Force come together for several days to share in the together. It’s not just about the good
times. It’s not just about who’s the best,
camaraderie and fellowship of the ‘world’s premier close air although there is a good amount of
support fighter community’. This is ‘Hawgsmoke’... braggadocio that goes along with being
a fighter pilot. Everybody does want to
U
report and photos: Norman Graf be number one, but the best part about
S AIR FORCE aerial ‘Hawgsmoke’ sees a number of social this is bringing the community together.’
gunnery competitions events organized to reinforce esprit Every effort is made to include as many
were once legendary de corps, including remembrance units as possible. Except for those actively
events. Alternating ceremonies for fallen comrades. But the deployed, most squadrons send a team
annually between primary reason to gather is to engage of at least four aircraft plus support
the ‘William Tell’ in an intense round of bombing, missile, crews. This year, 13 teams accepted the
air-to-air exercise and the ‘Gunsmoke’ and tactical gunnery competitions. challenge. Every team decides who from
bombing meets, these contests are long The squadron that won the previous their squadron will compete, as Waring
consigned to the history books. In 2000 competition traditionally hosts the event, explained. ‘Some units will take their
the A-10 Thunderbolt II community and as the 47th Fighter Squadron (FS) most experienced guys. They’ll try to
decided to continue the tradition of ‘Dogpatchers’ emerged victorious in stack the deck with the pilots that they
just such a biennial competition, albeit 2014, this year’s meeting was held at know are their best bomb-droppers and
limiting participation to units flying the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona gun-shooters. Other squadrons will try
‘Warthog’ — also known affectionately from June 2-4. to spread it out. They’ll have one of their
as the ‘Hawg’. This ambition gave rise to Lt Col Brett ‘Zero’ Waring of the 47th FS most senior pilots and they’ll have one
‘Hawgsmoke’. was the ‘Hawgsmoke’ project leader for of their younger pilots. Our squadron
76
HAWGSMO
HAWGSMOKE | EXERCISE REPORT
decided we were going to go with all of down in training accidents. It’s a somber Range (BMGR). This vast training range
our younger pilots because, as a training memorial [...] to those pilots who have consists of almost two million acres and
squadron, we’re very heavy on rank and gone before us.’ is located in the Sonoran Desert in south-
experience — so, a lot of lieutenant After the list had been read, a ‘missing west Arizona, between Yuma and Tucson.
colonels in the squadron, a lot of field- man’ formation of A-10s flew over. Then, The range is divided into two sections,
grade officers, and we had four captains one-by-one, each participant drank a one for the Air Force, the other used by
in the unit. Since our mission is primarily shot of whiskey and smashed the glass the US Navy and Marine Corps. The 56th
to train new A-10 pilots we just decided into the fireplace. ‘This tradition among Range Management Office at Luke Air
that our four captains were going to flyers dates back to WW1, when combat Force Base manages the eastern sector
represent the squadron.’ aviation first appeared in battle’, Waring of the range, known as BMGR-East. This
explains. ‘After a mission, the survivors year’s ‘Hawgsmoke’ competition focused
‘Fallen Hawg’ were given a shot of whiskey to calm on two major areas: tactical massing
The first order of business at every their nerves’. To capstone the event, the of fire in minimum time in an opposed
‘Hawgsmoke’ is to remember fallen four top awards presented at the end of environment, and conventional weapons
comrades. ‘We’ll gather all the ‘Hawg’ the competition are named after four delivery.
drivers that are here, and all the legendary ‘Hawg’ drivers. Everybody in Things A-10 pilots do day in, day out
maintenance folks that can make it the community remembers their names, to hone their skills are always a part
as well to try to highlight that bond. what they did, and why these prestigious of the contest. There’s always going to
We’re going to read the names of every A ‘Dogpatchers’ awards were named for them. be strafing, visual weapons delivery,
A-10 pilot that has died over the years. A-10C lets rip dropping unguided bombs, shooting the
Some of those are combat fatalities, with the 30mm The competition gun. The other tactical elements tend to
during the low-
some of those are natural causes, and angle strafe The flying portion of the gathering took change in each edition, based on what’s
some of those are pilots that went competition. place on the nearby Barry M. Goldwater currently going on ‘down-range’. Waring
77
MOKE2016
EXERCISE REPORT | HAWGSMOKE
templated on the ground that they’ll the mantra is, ‘Stay low, stay away from
‘HAWGSMOKE’ RESULTS 2016 have to contend with, and see how many the enemy, stay covered as long as you
45° High-Altitude Dive Bomb targets they can kill of different types can. Pop up to acquire and then kill
1. Capt David ‘Gnome’ Knighton, 47th FS in a very realistic scenario’. More than the target as quickly as possible’. Bomb
2. 1st Lt Christopher ‘STYFLR’ Shelley, 76th FS
60 individual targets and aim points scoring is conducted via triangulation
3. Maj John ‘Atlas’ Meyers, 25th FS
were distributed throughout the tactical using cameras in the flank tower and the
30° Dive Bomb, Heading and Altitude Reference System
(HARS) degraded delivery range. Multiple modern and ‘legacy’ main tower. Observers at Luke AFB line
1. Capt Tyler ‘Mully’ Shipman, 47th FS air defense systems such as the SA-15 up the two images, calculate an impact
2. Maj Jeff ‘Z’ Sliwoski, AATC ‘Gauntlet’, 2S6 (SA-19 ‘Grison’), Roland 2, parameter and microwave the score back
3. Capt Ryan ‘Slinga’ Yingling, 104th FS and ZSU-23-4 provided the threats. ‘All to the tower. A bull’s-eye is inside of 3m.
10° Low-Angle High-Drag Pop-up
of the competitors found the scenario
1. Capt Simon ‘Honey Badger’ Long, 47th FS
2. Lt Col Alan ‘Lick’ McCracken, AATC
to be extremely challenging tactically, Gun passes
3. Capt David ‘Gnome’ Knighton, 47th FS
and they all walked away learning more The final two events of the competition
Long-Range Strafe about employment options in such an were the long-range strafe and low-
1. Lt Col John ‘Karl’ Marks, 303rd FS environment’, reports Waring. angle strafe. The long-range strafe
2. Capt Ben Best, 107th FS The competition then transitioned to opened up from about a mile away,
Low-Angle Strafe the conventional range. This portion while the low-angle strafe was really
1. Capt Josh ‘Tono’ Woodard, 354th FS of the meet displayed the tactics, ‘up close and personal’, especially from
2. Capt Max ‘EDDIE’ Sery, 25th FS
techniques and procedures that each Combat Aircraft’s viewing position on
Top Conventional Team (Maj Jeff ‘Burger’ Watterberg Trophy)
A-10 pilot deals with day in, day out. the range tower. The pilot engages at
47th FS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
Maj Kyle ‘Swat’ Lanto, an instructor with less than half a mile with a ceasefire slant
Top Tactical Team (Capt Steve ‘Syph’ Phillis Trophy)
25th FS, Osan AB, Republic of Korea the 47th FS who has flown the A-10 range of 2,000ft. They flew two passes
Top Overall Pilot (Lt Col Robert ‘Muck’ Brown Trophy) for 11 years, commented: ‘The range at approximately 75ft shooting 100
Capt David ‘Gnome’ Knighton, 47th FS is designed to build good habits and rounds in total. The first pass was used
Top Overall Team (Col Al ‘Mud’ Moore Trophy) patterns, like shooting free throws. Those for sighting the gun, with a short burst
47th FS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (for the second time in a row) patterns become second nature, so you of roughly 20-30 rounds; the second
can concentrate on other things like, involved 60-70 rounds to finish it off. A
continues: ‘What tactical scenarios do where is that moving target? Where are three- to four-second burst is followed
the pilots want to work on? What are the the friendly troops?’ by a slightly longer second burst. For
things that are most important to that The bombing portion started off with the strafing runs, a large cloth target is
78 unit? For example, one time we focused a high-altitude dive event using the 25lb strung up between two posts. Cameras
on AGM-65 Maverick missile deployment. BDU-33. This training bomb simulates and acoustic panels were set up nearby
We had a convoy of eight to 10 vehicles the Mk82 unguided, low-drag general- to accurately calculate each round’s
and the test was, how many of those purpose 500lb bomb and has a spotting trajectory. Only those rounds that passed
vehicles can you hit within a five-minute charge that releases a cloud of smoke through the 16 x 16ft target are scored.
window with those Maverick missiles? on impact. The pilots released the bomb To put that in perspective, at half a mile,
The last time we did this here at Davis- at an MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush flying at less than 100ft, the target is
Monthan we wanted to focus on another Protected vehicle) target from 10,000ft the size of your pinky fingernail at arm’s
of our missions, which is combat search at a 45° angle. They then transitioned length. Now imagine putting 100 rounds
and rescue [CSAR]. For 10 minutes, each to a 30° bomb run using ‘Kentucky through that while flying at close to
four-ship had that limited window in windage’ — meaning that they turned 300mph!
which to go out, find and do the initial off the computed sights and manually The aircraft orbited the range in a large
authentications for a simulated downed dropped two bombs from a 30° dive circle. Each individual aircraft was then
aviator. angle closer to the ground. The final ‘cleared hot’ by the range control officers,
‘This year we’re focusing on the bombing run involved running in at meaning that the target was clear and
precision engagement capabilities 200-500ft, popping up to acquire the the pilot was authorized to fire live
of the A-10C. The pilots will have a target and releasing their bombs. This ammunition. Lining up on the target-
10-minute window with a fairly pre- maneuver would be used in a high- line, the pilots leveled out, descended
planned scenario to go out, with threats threat environment. According to Lanto, toward the target and fired off a short
GAME FACES Snake, shark and warthog mouths on Fort Wayne, Moody and Davis-Monthan A-10s respectively.

HAWGSMOKE | EXERCISE REPORT
burst with the GAU-8 Avenger cannon: Knighton, Capt Tyler ‘Mully’ Shipman,
this saw a combination of muzzle smoke, Capt Keith ‘Stool’ Madsen, and Capt EXERCISE TEAMS
the impact of the 30mm rounds near the Simon ‘Honey Badger’ Long. Knighton Squadron Home base
target, then last of all the buzz-saw report was selected as the overall ‘Top Gun’, the 47th FS Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
74th FS Moody AFB, Georgia
from the cannon. The muzzle velocity of first time in the history of ‘Hawgsmoke’
75th FS Moody AFB, Georgia
the rounds is three times the speed of that the flight lead from the winning
104th FS Warfield ANGB, Maryland
sound, meaning that the sound of their team was also the overall winner. 107th FS Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
impact arrives much quicker than the Due to budget cuts, the threat of 163rd FS Fort Wayne ANGS, Indiana
sound of their firing. After firing, each retirement is never far away for the A-10. 303rd FS Whiteman AFB, Missouri
pilot quickly flipped the aircraft onto its For now, at least, its immediate future 354th FS Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
side and engaged in a tight, climbing seems to be secure. Hopefully the same 357th FS Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
turn. Within seconds the next aircraft was is true for ‘Hawgsmoke’. The rules forbid
Test Center (AATC) Test Squadron
already lining up. a unit from hosting the competition Units participating but not sending aircraft:
Lanto stressed that although twice in a row, and normally the ‘first-best 25th FS Osan AB, Republic of Korea
‘Hawgsmoke’ is a competition, an awful losers’ take on that role. However, since 76th FS Moody AFB, Georgia
lot of co-operation and collaboration this year’s second-place team was the 358th FS Whiteman AFB, Missouri
happens during the meet. ‘The gist of it 25th FS from Osan AB in the Republic of
is that we want to get everyone together Korea, the chances are good that in 2018
and see what everybody is doing: ‘Hawgsmoke’ will be hosted by the third-
compare and contrast good techniques placed 303rd FS from Whiteman AFB,
versus techniques we haven’t heard of Missouri.
before. We want them to bring back best
practise from the field so we can catch up
on what guys have been doing ‘down-
range’. Normal operations keep us pretty
busy and you get into your own lane. This
opens the aperture [so] now you can see
what everyone is doing.’
The winners
The winner of this year’s ‘Hawgsmoke’ 79
was once again the 47th FS, which almost
swept the board. The winning team
included flight lead Capt David ‘Gnome’
A 107th FS
‘Red Devils’
pilot reefs his
‘Hawg’ into a
tight turn as
he comes off-
target.

GLORY DAYS | THE MIGHTY VIGGEN
I
N THE EARLY 1950s Saab (Svenska on a single-engined aircraft. The Volvo weapons
Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) initiated Flygmotor RM8A/B afterburning turbofan load on
preliminary design studies for was chosen as the powerplant for the seven hardpoints
what was eventually to become Viggen. This was a heavily modified, under the wings and
the Viggen (‘thunderbolt’ in license-built version of the civil Pratt & fuselage. Maximum weapons
Swedish). The project moved Whitney JT8D as used on airliners like the load was an impressive seven tonnes,
forward in December 1961 when an Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-9. compared to the aircraft’s empty weight
official Swedish government decision of approximately 12 tonnes. Surface
80 was taken to develop Aircraft System 37 Deliveries attack weaponry employed by the AJ 37
to meet Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) Designed from the outset as a multi-role comprised different types of free-fall
requirements for a new multi-role fighter, combat aircraft, a total of 329 Viggen bombs (m/71 Virgo 120kg high explosive
to replace both the Saab 32 Lansen and airframes were eventually constructed or m/71 Lepus 80kg illumination bombs),
Saab 35 Draken in the surface attack, by Saab in different versions designed to unguided rockets (m/70 rocket pods
air defense, and reconnaissance roles. perform fighter, attack, reconnaissance, each containing six 135mm Bofors
To fulfill the different tasks, mission- and training missions. Viggen type rockets) and guided missiles (the Rb 04E
specific equipment would be fitted to the designations reflected their operational radar-guided anti-ship missile, Rb 05
same basic airframe, thereby reducing roles as follows: radio-guided air-to-surface missile and
development, production and service • AJ for Attack, Jakt Rb 75 AGM-65A Maverick). The AJ 37
costs. At that time, the Saab 37 program (surface attack, air defense); could perform a secondary role of limited
was the biggest industrial project • SH for Spaning, Havsövervakning air defense, although only with m/55
undertaken by Sweden. (reconnaissance, sea surveillance); Aden 30mm cannon pods and Rb 24
The first Viggen prototype, serial 37-1, •SF for Spaning, Foto (reconnaissance, AIM-9B Sidewinder infra-red (IR) homing
took to the air on February 8, 1967, flown photographic); air-to-air missiles (AAMs), as its nose-
by Saab chief test pilot Erik Dahlström. A • SK for Skol (conversion training); mounted Ericsson PS-37/A radar lacked
total of eight prototypes were built during • JA for Jakt, Attack air-to-air modes.
development of the different Viggen (air defense, surface attack). The SH 37 featured a PS-371/A radar
variants. The idea of having the same basic optimized for maritime operations
The Saab 37 featured a novel airframe for all missions had to be and an RKa 40 cockpit camera that
aerodynamic configuration that was tweaked a little, as it proved necessary recorded radar imagery for subsequent
extremely advanced for its time. This to implement several changes to the mission analysis. In addition, its CK
combined a delta main wing with interceptor version compared with the 37 central computer had greater
delta-shaped canard foreplanes. This other models. Therefore the Viggen processing capacity than that of the AJ
unconventional planform enabled the family is generally regarded as consisting 37. For photography the SH 37 normally
Viggen to meet Flygvapnet requirements of the first-generation Viggens (AJ 37, carried an AKK (Avståndskamerakapsel) A JA 37D Viggen
for a speed of Mach 2-plus at high altitude SH 37, SF 37, and SK 37) constructed by long-range photo pod on its of David Röd
cruising at
and the ability to operate from 500m Saab during the 1971-80 period, and the right shoulder pylon and an MSK high altitude
(1,640ft) runways. To keep the landing second-generation JA 37 which followed (Mörkerspaningskapsel) night- during a local
distance short Saab developed a thrust- from 1977-90. reconnaissance pod on its left shoulder mission from
F 4 Östersund
reverser integrated with the rear fuselage, The AJ 37 was optimized for surface pylon. Thanks to its radar the SH 37 in September
to this date the only one of its kind found attack and could carry a large and varied retained the surface attack capability of 2004.

THE MIGHTY VIGGEN | GLORY DAYS
81
The Saab 37 Viggen was always a distinctive and charismatic

aircraft, and one that was truly fascinating to watch in action. It
was big. It was powerful. It had capabilities like few other jets. It
was a perfect blend of beauty and potency.
report and photos: Jan Jørgensen

the AJ 37, and it had a secondary role of head-down displays and a new head-up Below: AJS 37
maritime strike, armed with the Rb 04E display (HUD). The on-board computer upgraded
Viggens waiting
anti-ship missile. was significantly upgraded to a Singer- between
The SF 37 lacked radar but was equipped Kearfoot SKC-2037, built under license missions on the
with a distinctive camera nose containing by Saab as the CD 107 and possessing flightline at F 7
Såtenäs in May
a mix of different camera systems (four five times the processing power of earlier 1995.
57-120mm SKa 24 and two 600mm systems. As the Jakt-Viggen’s requirement
SKa 31 cameras), plus a VKa 702 IR line for air combat maneuverability called for Inset: The
cockpit layout
scanner. In addition, the SF 37 often an engine with higher thrust and greater of the ultimate
carried two different types of MSK night surge margin, the RM8A that powered JA 37DI, the
reconnaissance pods on its shoulder first-generation Viggens was replaced by upgraded Jakt-
Viggen, was
pylons, one equipped with cameras and an upgraded RM8B giving 10 per cent dominated by
one with flash units for night photography. more thrust. Other differences compared the large tactical
For self-defense, both the SH 37 and SF 37 to the AJ 37 included the same extended indicator color
display, the
could tote Rb 24 Sidewinder IR-homing tail fin as used on the SK37, an extra same as came to
AAMs. elevon actuator beneath each wing, and be used in the
The SK 37 trainer variant was created an under-fuselage gun pack housing an JAS 39 Gripen.
simply by adding an extra cockpit internal m/75 Oerlikon KCA 30mm cannon
behind that of the single-seat Viggen, distance measuring equipment (DME) for with 150 rounds of ammunition. Basic
giving the Skol-Viggen a very distinctive navigation. Jakt-Viggen air-to-air weaponry included
configuration with two separate canopies. The second-generation JA 37 was Rb 24J (AIM-9J Sidewinder) and Rb 74
The tail fin area was increased by adding optimized for air combat, and was also (AIM-9L Sidewinder) IR-homing missiles as
a 30cm (11.8in) extension on top of the known as the Jakt-Viggen (fighter Viggen). well as Rb 71 (BAe Sky Flash) radar-guided
as well as a ‘saw-tooth’ leading edge, It had a new Ericsson PS-46/A radar, a missiles, later replaced by Rb 99 (AIM-120B
compensating for the larger vertical area pulse-Doppler X-band system featuring AMRAAM) active-radar homing BVR
of the second canopy in order to maintain different air-to-air modes including track- (beyond visual range) missiles.
yaw stability. The SK 37 was a pure while-scan with a look-down range well
conversion trainer with only very limited in excess of 50km (31 miles), as well as Upgrades
weapons delivery capability, mainly secondary air-to-ground ranging modes. Thanks to the close relationship between
due to the lack of radar. It was cleared The interface between pilot, aircraft and the Flygvapnet and the Swedish
82 to carry m/55 cannon pods and m/70 systems was completely redesigned, aviation industry, the Viggen family was
rocket pods for weapons delivery training. with the Ericsson EP-12 cockpit display continuously kept up-to-
Without radar it relied on Doppler and system incorporating two multi-functional date through various

modification programs, with the aim of

increasing flexibility and capability.
From 1992-96 the Flygvapnet carried out
a program to bring AJ/SH/SF 37 Viggens
to a common AJS 37 standard, including a
new mission computer and digital databus
to provide integrated attack, fighter and
reconnaissance capabilities. The result
was a true multi-role Viggen. Advanced
air-to-surface weapons originally acquired
for the JAS 39 Gripen were introduced
with the AJS 37 upgrade, including the Rb
15F anti-ship missile and Bk 90 stand-off
munitions dispenser. No life extension was
involved, so only the lowest-hour first-
generation Viggens were converted. Initial
plans were ambitious, but for economic
reasons the SF 37 was not modified to
fulfill the attack role, nor the AJ 37 to
conduct the photo-recce role. Thus, minor
differences still existed between the sub-
variants and each received its own type
designation, as follows:
Previous designation After upgrade

AJ 37 AJS 37
SH 37 AJSH 37
SF 37 AJSF 37
The JA 37 fleet too was continuously

upgraded through several modification
programs, both large and small. Some 83
50 software updates were made to the
different aircraft computers, taking the A flight of Jakt-
Viggens from F 21
JA 37 from Edit 16 (the first operational
Luleå’s Urban Blå
release) to the ultimate Edit 36 software maneuvering over
system. Major hardware updates the Gulf of Bothnia
in May 1999. At that
performed on the JA 37 included Mod
time of year the ice is
A (preparation for datalink and minor finally melting away,
platform changes), Mod B (further minor making it possible to
reach Luleå by boat
platform changes), Mod C (deactivation of
again. JA 37s were
airbrakes, new functional buttons in the painted both in the
cockpit, EP-12 tactical display, chaff and classic Viggen splinter
camouflage and in a
flare dispensers), and Mod D (integration of
more contemporary
Rb 99 AMRAAM missiles and U 95 jamming air superiority gray
pod, new CD 207 mission computer, new scheme.
TI 237 tactical indicator color display,
new stores management system, GPS
navigation, TARAS digital radio, mission
planning tool, radar modifications and
electronic counter-countermeasures
improvements).
JA 37 Mod D was the most
comprehensive upgrade effort ever carried
out on the Viggen, and the modified
airframes were unofficially designated as
JA 37D. Between 1997 and 2001 sufficient
Jakt-Viggens to equip two squadrons were
upgraded to Mod D. Late in the program,
a new NATO/Partnership for Peace-
compatible FR 31 tactical radio was added,
Johan Röd Viggens low over
resulting in the designation JA 37DI (I for southern Sweden in April
Interoperability). 2000.

PILOT PR OFILE
F LY I N G T H E V I G G E N
THROUGH THE EYES OF SWEDISH AIR FORCE PILOTS

ALF INGESSON-THOOR, VIGGEN PILOT 1975-97
‘After nearly 2,000 flying hours on the during daytime and good weather
AJ 37 Viggen, there are naturally many ‘Flying at 200- conditions only, and otherwise we
good memories. It could be the long, mainly practised air combat for self-
dark nights over the sea when we were 300m above the defense.
water, we slammed
practising maritime attack, usually with ‘A special maneuver I will mention had
the Rb 04 air-to-surface missile. Our been developed by the Draken guys.
normal tactics involved four aircraft
attacking at low level, with join-ups and the afterburner It was initiated by moving the stick
quickly backwards into the stomach,
evasive maneuvers carried out at very
low level. Or strike missions in Norrland
into zone 3 and which resulted in a sudden nose-up
maneuver, followed by moving the
dropping live weapons on the Vidsel
range, and again extreme low-level
went into a near- stick quickly forward again to bring the
Draken back to level flight, although
flying.
We also practiced air combat
vertical climb at a considerably lower speed. Many
years later Russian Su-27s demonstrated
maneuvering with the air defense guys, at Mach 0.95. the same during airshows, and called
usually 4-v-4. When the Jakt-Viggen it the ‘Cobra’ maneuver. The first time I
replaced the Draken in the air defense The flame from experienced it was during air combat
role, it became tough for us attack guys. training against Drakens from F 10
84 Even though the Draken could take my wingman’s above the Bay of Hanö. I was about to
afterburner was
7-8g — sometimes up to 9g — it had a have the Draken in my sights, when it
very large turn radius in order to keep suddenly ‘stopped’ in the air and I flew
up speed, which gave more room for
us. We usually won the engagements initially bright right by him without releasing a shot.
Although he did get behind me, he had
as long as the opponent was of the
MiG-21 type, simulated by the Draken,
yellow, changing lost a lot of speed, but it would have
worked as a last evasive maneuver. The
but against a MiG-29-type opponent we
would have no chance. Even though we
toward a more same would not be possible with the
Viggen, except at very low speeds, due
had Rb 24 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles,
our podded gun was not very effective
blue color as we to the risk of structural damage to the
airframe. The Draken guys did not have
during air combat. The intention was got higher’ to worry about that, as their airframe
that the attack Viggen could be used could withstand almost everything.
for air defense against enemy bombers ALF INGESSON-THOOR ‘The Viggen’s engine thrust never
ceased to impress me. The Viggen’s
powerplant had a three-stage
afterburner. At maximum dry thrust the
performance was not that impressive,
maybe even a little weak. During test
flights on a hot day, where take-off
was performed in dry power, it felt like
A JA 37D the aircraft wouldn’t leave the ground.
upgraded
Jakt-Viggen Afterburner zone 1 was mainly used
conducting for maintaining attack speed (Mach
road base 0.9) at low level, when loaded with
operations at
Krigsflygbas large and heavy ordnance. Zone 2 was
31 in Kosta used for acceleration and take-offs. But
near Växjö, when zone 3 was used, then things
southern
Sweden, in really started to happen. The word
September acceleration is not sufficient — the
1999. Viggen became like a wild animal. When

taking off in zone 3 afterburner, the

aircraft rotated after 400m, passing
the end of the runway at 800km/h.
While accelerating through Mach
0.9 the stick was pulled back to
4-5g, and the Viggen went into an
80-degree zoom climb. Leveling off
was initiated passing 6,000m, and at
10,000m the climb angle was down
to 30 degrees. Time from brakes-off
to an altitude of 10,000m was about
one minute 50 seconds. During a
cold winter’s day the time could be
below one-and-a-half minutes. That
is approximately the time it takes a Another comprehensive modification southern Sweden, closer to likely airspace
modern airliner to lift off and retract program was carried out on two-seat incursions, such as F 10 Ängelholm, F 17
its undercarriage. SK 37 Viggens to convert them into SK Ronneby, or Visby, a reserve base on the
‘Some of my longest-lasting 37E electronic warfare (EW) aggressors, island of Gotland. Occasionally QRA was
memories of the Viggen are exactly taking over the EW training role from held at F 16 Uppsala, close to the capital
these zoom climbs. During night the Saab J 32E Lansen. This was carried Stockholm, or at Kiruna in the extreme
flying, when we were strafing targets out during 1998-2000, taking in the north of the country. The latter was only
in Lake Vättern or dropping bombs, installation of new radar warning established for ‘special occasions’, such
we were sometimes given the receivers, nose-mounted G 24 radar as large NATO exercises in neighboring
opportunity to ‘become astronauts’. jammer, FR 31 tactical radio, a new Norway. NATO pilots who were unfamiliar
I remember one occasion, toward instrument panel in the rear cockpit, with northern Scandinavia could easily
the conclusion of a mission, where and the ability to carry U 22 and U 95 stray into Swedish airspace, so a pair Top: An AJSF 37
recce Viggen
we had some fuel left and it was a active jamming pods as well as KB chaff of QRA Viggens based at Kiruna was being turned
beautiful clear night. The controller and flare dispenser pods. The SK 37E available to quickly guide any ‘wanderers’ around between
gave us permission to climb to variant was referred to as the Stör-Viggen back to the correct side of the border. missions at F 21
Luleå in April
12,000m. We were two Viggens and (jammer Viggen). At the height of the Cold War, when 2002. Photo 85
we increased our sideways spacing East-West tensions were at their greatest, technicians are
to some 500m, flying at 200-300m Quick reaction alert the Viggens were scrambled on 400-500 changing film
magazines in
above the water, slammed the All Viggen fighter squadrons shared the live QRA missions per year to intercept any the camera nose,
afterburner into zone 3 and went task of standing quick reaction alert unidentified aircraft approaching Swedish while refueling
into a near-vertical climb at Mach (QRA) on a rotational basis. Usually the airspace. QRA targets came from both takes place
under the right
0.95. The flame from my wingman’s QRA fighters were deployed to a base in Warsaw Pact and NATO nations, and were wing root.
afterburner was initially bright
yellow and 10-15m long, changing VIGGEN VARIANTS Below: Jakt-
Viggens taxiing
toward a more blue color as we got out at the
Designation Quantity Primary role Secondary role Major upgrades
higher. When passing 6,000-7,000m start of the
we rolled individually onto our backs AJ 37 106 All-weather surface attack Simple air defense 48 modified to AJS 37 day’s flying,
SH 37 28 Maritime reconnaissance Maritime strike, 25 modified to AJSH 37 in beautiful
and began leveling off, continuing early-morning
simple air defense
our climb inverted and more or less SF 37 28 Tactical reconnaissance Simple air defense 13 modified to AJSF 37 sunlight at a
at 0g. At the same time the world snow-covered
SK 37 18 Conversion training Simple surface attack 10 modified to SK 37E
F 4 Östersund in
opened up below us, and when we JA 37 149 All-weather air defense Simple surface attack 35 modified to JA 37D March 1999.
rolled back at 12,000m we could see
the entire southern part of Sweden,
from the lights of Stockholm to the
east and over to Oslo to the west.
The feeling of going into orbit with
a spacecraft was complete. The
journey from the dark surface of Lake
Vättern to the starry sky at 12,000m
had taken some 40 seconds! After a
few half-rolls we were quickly down
at low level again, touched down
at F 6, taxied in and walked back to
the squadron building, smiling and
noting that ‘somebody had to do the
dirty job’.’

CAPT MIKAEL ‘BUTCHER’ TORMALM, VIGGEN PILOT 1997-2005

‘I flew approximately 800 hours on the from all directions until he failed to notice
JA 37C/DI Viggen at F 16, F 21 and F 4 one of our aircraft, giving that pilot an
wings, and approximately 250 hours on opportunity to go ‘all-in’ in his rear sector
the AJSF 37, AJSH 37 and SK 37E at F 21 for the kill. It was high-risk because our
wing, so I have more experience with the opponent was a simulated Su-27 with
Viggen fighter than any other version. AA-10C [extended-range radar-homing
‘The JA 37 was, and indeed felt like, R-27ER] missiles. We were like a wolf pack
a new generation of the Viggen. It was working together, and it was usually a
quiet, and had an excellent man-machine successful tactic.
interface. Compared to the AJSF/AJSH and ‘At the end of the JA 37 era, flying the
SK 37E, it was a much more carefree ride. JA 37DI, the tactics changed due to the
The evolution from the RM8A engine to integration of the Rb 99 AMRAAM and
the RM8B in the JA 37, with the extra fan the U 95 jammer pod. It was a whole new
stage, allowed us as fighter pilots to switch ball game. Detection ranges were far
from idle to max ’burner and back without superior to previous models. We could
being worried about compressor stall, go silent, non-emitting, using the U 95
which allowed us to focus on the fight, to share information and enhance the and share target information via the
not the aircraft. The JA 37 also had audio SA [situational awareness] of the pilots, datalink. Some of these features are still
warning for high AoA [angle of attack], allowing for, at that time, unprecedented being used in the Gripen. I did not fly
so we could keep our eyes on target. synergy for effectiveness in air-to-air much air-to-ground, but I did fly some
The more powerful RM8B gave better combat. The automatic gun-aiming mode recce sorties with the AJSF/AJSH. Our
acceleration at high altitude, especially was a cool feature that allowed us to tactic was normally to fly low and fast
when we flew the examples that did not perform head-on attacks from a distance as a single ship. We flew speeds up to
have an engine with down-rated thrust, using the Oerlikon 30mm gun. The JA 37 transonic and altitudes down to 30m.
which most JA 37s had, due to overheat autopilot flew the aircraft in pitch and yaw, ‘[Operating from road bases] was quite
inset: Capt
Mikael issues in the rear fuselage when using max and you as the pilot controlled the roll interesting. The approach speed was
Tormalm (left) ’burner. The older AJSF/AJSH and SK 37E within parameters given by the computer. around 230km/h with a runway 800m
discussing with the RM8A had to be flown more The alignment was sometimes brutal, long and 24m wide. You had to make
86 final mission
details with carefully in air-to-air combat. Transitions causing motion sickness in some cases! sure you acted quickly and precisely after
Capt Per-Åke from afterburner to mil power and back in ‘When I started flying the JA 37C [the touchdown because the thrust reverser
Persson, high AoA could force the engine to stall. Mod C standard] in 1997 we employed system took a couple of seconds before
before
jumping These variants were limited to 6g and four-ship tactics using the datalink and activation. Those seconds were long.
into the alpha 18°, which of course is less than ideal our main missile at that time, the Rb 71 During wintertime we landed on white
seats of their for a fighter. The pro for these versions was Sky Flash. The Sky Flash was already runways, and the only thing available to
Jakt-Viggens
and heading the lower weight, which meant you could obsolete then, being a semi-active missile. stop the aircraft was the thrust reverser.
out for 1-v-1 out-climb a JA 37 at low speeds. That meant we had to track the target Wheel brakes were useless. I definitely
air combat ‘It was a powerful engine, yes, but the with radar until missile impact. We had had an increased heart rate during these
training over
the Gulf of aircraft was also heavy, so performance to come close to our target, and the only operations.
Bothnia from was average, not outstanding. What way to come close was to be extremely ‘Those of us who flew the Viggen were
F 21 Luleå in really gave the JA 37 an advantage was aggressive while using all four aircraft in confident in our skills and tactics, and
April 2002.
the early implementation of the Swedish the formation. The trick was to overload were prepared to take on any opponent.
Right: A datalink, which allowed up to four aircraft the opponent pilot with radar warnings Much of this confidence came from our
rare mixed knowledge of what a group of fighters
formation
of SK 37E working together, using a datalink, could
and AJSF 37 accomplish. This flying period of my life
above the ice- gave me a solid belief that a multiple-
covered Gulf
of Bothnia in aircraft formation is always better than a
March 2004. single aircraft, no matter how competent
The SK 37E that single platform may be. For me,
carries a U 95
jammer pod it comes down to SA, a capable link
on its left system, good weapons and sensors. The
underwing Viggen may have been heavy, and not
pylon, while
the AJSF 37 is top of the class in performance, but the
loaded with a sensors, weapons, training and datalink
U 22 jammer were outstanding, especially with the
pod and a KB
chaff and flare JA 37DI. I think it would have performed
dispenser great against any possible opponents at
pod.
that time.’

usually flying close to Swedish airspace outside its normal flight envelope, but pictures and aircraft/weaponry status to This image: A
over the Baltic Sea or the Gulf of Bothnia. it still performed well. The SR-71 would other Viggens on the datalink network. pair of JA 37s
takes off from
No doubt the most challenging QRA jam the Viggen during the attack, but To send data via the link, all the pilot F 4 Östersund
targets were the US Air Force’s Lockheed the JA 37’s PS-46/A radar kept its lock-on. had to do was select the appropriate in March 1999,
SR-71As, which often passed very close to Missile simulations showed that it would radio channel (which was pre-set by the each loaded
with a single
Swedish airspace on their regular ‘Baltic have been quite possible to shoot the mission planning system) and transmit Sidewinder
Express’ missions. Coming from their base ‘Blackbird’ down. The Rb 71 Sky Flash did the data. training round
at RAF Mildenhall in the UK, the SR-71s not work well at those altitudes, but the The datalink allowed Viggens to sneak for air combat
training.
usually approached the Baltic Sea south of Rb 74 Sidewinder would have been up on their opponents by remaining
Sweden, flying on an easterly course at an excellent since the SR-71 was so hot. radar-passive, with targeting data being Left: An SK 37E
extreme speed and height (approximately Between 1982 and 1988, Jakt-Viggens on provided by the radar of another Viggen, on an electronic
warfare training
Mach 3.2 at 74,000ft, or 22,500m). Once QRA performed 52 successful intercepts of or by ground-based or airborne radar mission with
over the Baltic Sea the aircraft turned ‘Baltic Express’ SR-71s. controllers. The fuel and armament a JA 37 above
north, flying in international airspace status of each aircraft could be seen the Jämtland
region west of
parallel to the coast of East Germany, Datalink and some elementary text commands F 4 Östersund
Poland and the Soviet states of Estonia, The Flygvapnet was among the true transmitted. Up to four Viggens could in March 2000.
Latvia and Lithuania. North of the Swedish pioneers in the use of tactical datalinks for be active (transmitting) on the datalink Visible under
the left wing is
island of Gotland the ‘Blackbird’ would fighter operations, and the Jakt-Viggen simultaneously and an unlimited number a U 95 jammer
slow down to approximately Mach 2.3 in mastered this capability to perfection. could be passive (receiving). Extensive pod and a BT 53
order to make a 180-degree turn and fly In BVR combat, where information and testing proved the system to be virtually laser reflector
pod (for surface-
back along Swedish airspace. It was here situational awareness are the keys to unjammable. to-air missile
that the Viggens had their chance to get a success, a datalink system provides aircraft The potential of the Viggen datalink validation),
‘Blackbird’ lock-on. with unrivalled battlespace awareness. was formidable and could not be and under the
right wing a KB
It was great sport for the JA 37 pilots to In its most basic function the Viggen underestimated. The Flygvapnet ran air chaff and flare
go after the SR-71, which was regarded datalink could transmit radar/sensor defense exercises using just six Viggens dispenser pod.
as the ultimate QRA practise target. Using
ground-controlled interception (GCI),
they were usually airborne waiting for
the spyplane at an altitude of 26,000ft
(8,000m). When the SR-71 approached
Gotland, the JA 37 accelerated to Mach 87
1.35 and began a five-degree climb on
a head-on course relative to the SR-71,
continuing the acceleration to Mach 2
during the climb. Correct timing of all
maneuvering was essential, as the closing
speed between the two aircraft was Mach
4.5. The Viggen’s afterburner had to be
in zone 3 during the entire attack. After
passing 59,000ft (18,000m), the JA 37
had about 10 seconds to obtain a lock-on
and fire. At this stage the Jakt-Viggen was

to defend half of the country. A typical Road base operations In the event of war, all Flygvapnet
spacing between Jakt-Viggens on Fundamental to Viggen operations was peacetime air bases would be completely
combat air patrol (CAP) was in excess the type’s adaptation to the Flygvapnet’s abandoned and each Flygflottilj (air wing)
of 150km (93 miles), with situational dispersed field philosophy of the Cold War would disperse its aircraft into small
88 awareness secured by the datalink. Three period. While most nations built hundreds groups operating independently from
pairs of two JA 37s on CAP could cover of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) at their strips of highway scattered all over the
the entire area along the east coast, from air bases to prevent aircraft from being Swedish countryside. The Flygvapnet had
the northern edge of Gotland in the destroyed on the ground, Sweden relied been developing this system since the
Baltic to F 17 Ronneby and beyond to the on a concept of protection by dispersal. 1930s, and during the Viggen period the
southern tip of Sweden. Thanks to the Experience from various recent conflicts Swedes were true masters of dispersed
datalink, each Viggen could be confident has proved the viability of the Swedish field operations.
that everybody knew where the others concept, as nowadays aircraft can easily The requirement for road base
were at all times, what they were seeing, be destroyed inside their HAS by modern operations strongly influenced
and what they were doing. precision bombing techniques. Flygvapnet equipment, training and
organization during the Cold War period.
All aircraft types — fighters as well as
VIGGEN OPERATORS transports — had to be able to take off
AJS/AJSH/ and land on runways no more than 800m
Wing Squadron AJ 37 SH/SF 37 SK 37/E JA 37/D
AJSF 37 (2,650ft) long and 16m (52ft) wide. In
1st division (David Röd) 1983-2004
F 4 Östersund addition, servicing between missions had
2nd division (David Blå) 1997-2003 1985-2004
to be simple and quick to allow aircraft
1st division (Filip Röd) 1979-1993
F 6 Karlsborg
2nd division (Filip Blå) 1978-1993
to operate under relatively primitive
1st division (Gustav Röd) 1974-1993 1993-1998 conditions in the field. While this was no
F 7 Såtenäs 2nd division (Gustav Blå) 1973-1993 1993-1997 1973-1974 easy task with an advanced fighter like
3rd division (Gustav Gul) 1974-1977 the Viggen, Saab managed to make it
F 10 Ängelholm 1st division (Johan Röd) 1993-2000 possible. All support functions had to be
1st division (Martin Röd) 1976-1993 mobile so they could disperse together
F 13 Norrköping
2nd division (Martin Blå) 1980-1993 with the aircraft.
1st division (Olle Röd) 1975-1993 1993-1997 In addition to its normal main peacetime
F 15 Söderhamn Top: Jakt-
2nd division (Olle Blå) 1976-1993 1993-1997 1974-1997
Viggens of David bases, the Flygvapnet maintained a much
2nd division (Petter Blå) 1987-2003 Röd and David
F 16 Uppsala larger number of reserve war bases, which
3rd division (Petter Gul) 1986-2000 Blå on a training
1st division (Quintus Röd) 1982-2002 flight over were available for dispersed operations.
F 17 Ronneby the Jämtland During the 1980s and 1990s the war
2nd division (Quintus Blå) 1978-1993 1993-2002
1st division (Urban Röd) 1979-1993 1993-2005 2003-2005 2002-2004
region west of base concept was known as Bas90, and
F 4 Östersund
F 21 Luleå 2nd division (Urban Blå) 1985-2002
in September 24 of these locations were maintained in
3rd division (Urban Gul) 1982-1999 2004. readiness at any time.

Each Bas90 war base covered an area

A pair of SK 37Es
Retirements
of approximately 20 x 30km (12 x 19 playing around high Not surprisingly the Viggen enjoyed a
miles) and consisted of one 2,000m above Norrland, glorious career in Flygvapnet service,
(6,560ft) primary runway (usually an west of F 21 Luleå, equipping no fewer than 19 Divisioner
in August 2005,
airfield) plus three or four satellite not long before the (squadrons) organized within nine
800m (2,650ft) secondary runways Viggen was retired Flygflottiljer (air wings). During the
(usually strips of hardened and widened from Flygvapnet 1980s and 1990s the Viggen constituted
operational service.
highway), all connected by normal the backbone of Sweden’s air defenses.
roads. Along these roads were up to It possessed vital capabilities that
100 small parking spaces (usually well- became fundamental cornerstones of
camouflaged ‘pockets’ in the woods, Flygvapnet tactics, such as its ability
although shelters tunneled out of rock to operate from dispersed road bases
were also used in northern Sweden) under field conditions, and its very
where aircraft turn-arounds could effective datalink system.
be performed. Most war bases had The first Viggen variant to completely
pre-positioned fuel depots at different disappear from Flygvapnet service was
locations and concealed bunkers for the AJS 37 surface attack version, the
command and control. last examples of which were retired
A key element of Bas90 was that in 2000. During 2004 the remaining
aircraft changed base frequently and JA 37 air defense fighters followed suit,
ideally never landed at the location leaving only one mixed squadron of
from which it took off, thereby making SK 37E electronic warfare trainers and
target identification extremely difficult AJSF 37/AJSH 37 recce fighters to soldier
for an attacking force. This required on for another year. The Viggen was
a very effective logistics system, and retired from Flygvapnet operational
to make it all possible the Flygvapnet service on November 25, 2005, when the
organized a number of so-called base ‘The trick was to overload 1st division of F 21 wing performed the
battalions, tasked with servicing and last flight with a mixed pair of AJSF 37
re-arming fighters under dispersed field the opponent pilot with and AJSH 37 jets.
radar warnings from all

operations. After the Viggen had been retired from
One base battalion consisted of eight operational service, a pair of SK 37Es was 89
fully mobile groups, each crewed by
six technicians and equipped with
directions until he failed to transferred to the Försökscentralen (FC)
flight test unit at Malmslätt, where they
three trucks carrying all the necessary
tools, fuel and ammunition for the
notice one of our aircraft, continued to fly for a few more years
as testbeds for various Gripen projects.
turn-around of one fighter. From
its camouflaged hide, the group
giving that pilot an The very last military Viggen flight was
performed by the FC with SK 37E serial
moved out to be ready when a fighter opportunity to go ‘all-in’ in 37809 on September 4, 2007. Today a
returned after a mission, directed it to single AJS 37 has been restored to flying
a designated parking space, carried out his rear sector for the kill’ condition, and is operated on the civil
the turn-around and then moved on register by the Swedish Air Force Historic
again as soon as the fighter had taken CAPT MIKAEL ‘BUTCHER’ TORMALM Flight for display purposes.
off, relocating to another position for the
next turn-around. If necessary, a TP 84 A fabulous break by
Hercules could be used to move base Jakt-Viggens of F 4 in
battalions quickly between war bases, September 2004, shortly
before the unit converted
flying ammunition and mobile ground to the JAS 39 Gripen.
equipment at treetop height into the
short highway strips.
Viggens operated routinely from the
Bas90 system of dispersed road bases.
When practising Bas90 operations the
Viggens usually deployed to their war
bases for one or two weeks, flying round
the clock to rehearse both day and night
missions under operational conditions.
The type’s short turn-around times,
reliability and ease of maintenance, as
well as its short take-off and landing
capability, were all key factors that made
it fit perfectly into the Flygvapnet’s war
base concept.

FEATURE | NETHERLANDS F-35
F-35As F-001
and F-002
form up for a
photoshoot
during their
deployment.
90
A
CCOMPANIED BY F-35s from the Dutch hardened aircraft
THE Air Force Chief shelters (HAS).
of Staff, Lt Gen
Sander Schnitger, Overseas deployment
the Dutch defense The deployment ‘package’ included
minister engaged F-35s serial F-001 and F-002, plus the
in a well-planned intercept of the two two KDC-10 tanker support aircraft. ‘Archers, welcome home!’
F-35A Lightning IIs and two supporting They all left Edwards AFB, California, Those were the words
KDC‑10 tankers in a Gulfstream IV as on Saturday May 21, bound for NAS
they approached Europe for the first Patuxent River, Maryland. After crew rest
of the Dutch minister of
time, 24,000ft above the North Sea. and routine maintenance, the journey defense Jeanine Hennis-
With this debut deployment to the continued on May 23 with a non-stop Plasschaert in welcoming
Netherlands, the minister kept her nine-hour flight to Leeuwarden. A NATO two Royal Netherlands Air
promise to give people living in the Heavy Airlift Wing C-17A flew in trail to
villages adjacent to the air bases at haul 38 tonnes of support equipment
Force F-35As over the radio
Leeuwarden and Volkel exposure to the across ‘the Pond’. as they arrived in Dutch
noise footprint of F-35 operations. At Leeuwarden the F-35s received airspace for the first time.
Concerns had been raised some years a ‘rock star’ welcome, greeted by The deployment was a
ago in the communities around the thousands of eager enthusiasts keen
bases that the Lightning II’s Pratt & to see their new fighter — still widely
textbook public relations
Whitney F135 engine would produce referred to by the general public as the campaign for the air arm’s
more noise than the current F-16s. JSF. Those who decided to stay home new fighter.
With the ‘noise perception flights’, the were able to watch the arrival via a
minister wanted to reassure locals YouTube live stream of the event.
that there is nothing to worry about. ‘The ferry went great,’ commented report and photos:
This was also, in many ways, a proving Col Bert ‘Vidal’ de Smit, the first pilot to Frank Crébas/
exercise, including operations by the land an F-35 on Dutch soil. ‘The aircraft Bluelife Aviation

NETHERLANDS F-35 | FEATURE
91
DUTCH
PIONEERS
thus we started with a clean sheet,’ de

The big
arrival Smit continued. ‘We were not exactly sure
— the what to bring since there is no blueprint
F-35s and
of what to take during a deployment
KDC-10 are
greeted by like this. As a test, we did not bring our
the RNLAF ALIS [Autonomic Logistics Information
Gulfstream
System] server we have at Edwards along
IV on
May 23. with us. By default, you typically bring
the squadron operating unit [SOU] or the
ALIS server to the deployed location. But
we wanted to see what would happen if
we left the server at home and accessed
it via an existing local secured network.
This worked really well.’
Perception flights
Just two days after the arriving at
Leeuwarden, the perception flights
began. Lt Col Laurens Jan Vijge, the
323 TES commander, flew 28 take-offs,
landings and pattern sequences at both
is somewhat more comfortable then Squadron (TES), currently working Leeuwarden and Volkel in a range of
the F-16. The 30° reclined F-16 seat can alongside international partners in the differing profiles. An F-16 then followed
be a bit tiring for the neck on the longer F-35 operational test and evaluation the same pattern some 10 minutes after
The F-35s
flights. In the F-35 the seat is reclined just (OT&E) program at Edwards. Although flew multiple the F-35 to give a sense of comparison
18°, and I felt remarkably well after we two Italian-built F-35As have been ferried missions between both types. As this unfolded, the
landed.’ to the US, this was seen as the first major from both local communities were invited to share
Leeuwarden and
The deployment home was another F-35 deployment. ‘No-one has ever their future base their thoughts on how they perceived the
milestone for 323 Test and Evaluation deployed overseas with the F-35 and at Volkel. difference. In addition, the Netherlands
92

Aerospace Centre (NLR) conducted noise Right top
to bottom:
measurements around the bases. In an
Sorties
announcement the day afterwards, it was included a
stated that the F-35 was at most three ‘tour’ of the
Netherlands
decibels louder than its predecessor.
to allow the
This was considered so minimal that general public
— according to the researchers — the ample chance
to see the new
human ear cannot detect the difference.
fighter.
Interestingly, the locals did note one
difference. The feedback was that the Col Bert
‘Vidal’ de Smit
F-16 has a higher engine pitch compared
in the F-35’s
to the F-35, which locals thought had a cockpit at
somewhat lower and ‘darker’ howl. Leeuwarden.
HAS testing kicked off early at
Leeuwarden, F-001 being placed inside a
shelter and secured with its tailhook. ‘In
the program, no testing has been done
so far to see what kind of operations can
be [completed] from a HAS,’ said de Smit.
‘Typically, we have looked at sound loads
for the crews working inside the shelters.
Also, we have measured the emissions
and the acoustic load. It could have been
that, [influenced by] the resonance, the
pressure on the airframe [was such] that
the lifespan of the aircraft could suffer.
As a result, we learned that under normal
circumstances, [and] with higher throttle
settings, we can work from a HAS
93
without a problem. The emissions stay the RNLAF made an announcement

within the legal norm.’ disclosing the route and the exact
Once all the necessary test work was timings in order to give the public an
complete, the F-35s joined the resident opportunity to see their new fighter.
F-16 units on routine training missions. Unexpectedly, rumours spread that the
As part of one sortie, time was scheduled aircraft wouldn’t cover the entire country
to perform flybys over RNLAF stations due to the fact that there are no RNLAF
throughout the country. installations in some corners of the
Combat Aircraft was scheduled to fly Netherlands. This was something of a
in the back seat of a chase F-16BM to turning-point in the Dutch F-35 program
photograph the F-35 over typical Dutch — people were no longer concerned
landscapes. The day prior to the flight, about the noise nuisance and were

94
more annoyed that they might not get Above: The right choice for the Netherlands. Among The program has had a past that has not
‘perception
to see the aircraft in flight. Fortunately the Leeuwarden display spectators always been good, but evidence from
flights’ allowed
the scheduled sortie was delayed for residents to was Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan, the this deployment [shows] the program is
several days by poor weather and was compare the program executive officer for the F-35. moving in the right direction. This will
noise of the F-35
re-planned to include each and every In an interview with a local station he also give the first [operational] USAF unit
with that of the
corner of the Netherlands! The following F-16. stated: ‘This is an historic moment for to reach initial operating capability this
day, the front covers of national and the F-35 program. This is the first time fall [the 388th FW] the confidence that
Below: With
regional newspapers were full of F-35As that one of our foreign partners flew the F-35 performs well when it is away
main weapons
flying over Dutch landmarks. It was a bays open, across the Atlantic and flew [the F-35] at from home.’
very successful exercise. one of the 323 their own airshow. It is very important The deployment came to an end on
TES F-35As
for us to have done this, not only for the June 14 when the F-35s flew back to
completes a test
Display debut point during the Dutch but for the entire program, so that Edwards AFB via a stop-over in Bangor,
Another milestone was the Lightning visit. people can see that this is a real airplane Maine. It was a job well done on so
II’s international airshow debut. Initially, and that the program is moving forward. many levels.
one aircraft was set to take part in the
static display at Leeuwarden, but the
team of hard-working maintainers made
participation in the flying program
possible. Both F-35s took to the skies,
joining 10 F-16s during the spectacular
air power demo. As part of this, the F-35s
made passes at Mach 0.97 with some
spectacular results.
This visit seems to have swung popular
opinion behind the F-35. A well-co-
ordinated event, it has helped to dispel
doubts about a ‘troubled project’ and to
convince the public that the F-35 is the

NETHERLANDS F-35 | FEATURE
With 37 F-35s on
order, the Dutch
MoD takes the
public’s view of
the Lightning II
very seriously.
Like a bat out of

hell — the moist air
at the Leeuwarden 95
show condenses into
a shockwave as the
F-35 nears the sound
barrier. ‘This is how we
roll’, commented Maj
Ian ‘Gladys’ Knight,
the lead pilot for the
demonstration.

an existing fighter. The F-35 Lightning II
Everyone in the fighter world is talking
about the possibility of restarting F-22 possesses some air-to-air capability plus
production. Jamie Hunter a higher degree of stealth than do most
aircraft.
But even the US Air Force admits that the
F-35 isn’t a suitable replacement for the
F-22. ‘It’s not that it can’t do it, it’s just that
it wasn’t designed to be a maneuvering
airplane’, Gen Hawk Carlisle, commander of
Air Combat Command, said in late 2015.
More likely, today’s F-22s could give
way to… tomorrow’s F-22s. Seven years
after then Defense Secretary Robert Gates
cancelled F-22 production, the US defense
PENETRATING COUNTER-AIR — THE establishment has concluded that 195

F-22s is not enough.
FUTURE OF USAF AIR SUPERIORITY? The US Congress has pressured the Air
F
Force to at least consider plans for more
F-22s. Air Force leaders are warming up
OUR YEARS AFTER the to the idea, despite the high cost. The
195th and final F-22 Raptor ‘An F-22 restart is RAND Corporation, a California think-tank,
‘not a crazy idea’,

stealth fighter rolled out of estimated that 75 new F-22s would cost
Lockheed Martin’s factory $19 billion in 2016 dollars. Even so, an F-22
in Marietta, Georgia, the
US Air Force still hasn’t
Gen Mark Welsh, restart is ‘not a crazy idea’, Gen Mark Welsh,
the Air Force chief of staff, said in May.
BY
DAVID
committed to developing a new manned
air superiority fighter.
the Air Force chief Fortunately, the Pentagon had the
foresight to order Lockheed Martin to
AXE But the world’s leading air arm is
proposing to develop some kind of new
of staff, said in preserve the F-22’s tooling and document
production processes. More problematic
aircraft to complement, and perhaps May’ is the limited networking capability of the
DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINE OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY
96 replace, the F-22 on the most dangerous current F-22 design. A Raptor’s datalink
air dominance missions in heavily sensors to enable employment using is compatible only with other Raptors,
defended territory. either stand-off or stand-in weapons’, the complicating the F-22’s participation in a
Noting that enemy air defenses are plan explains. network of systems. If a Raptor can’t talk to
developing faster than the USAF can ‘The penetrating capabilities of PCA will other aircraft, it certainly can’t designate
counter them, the flying branch’s ‘Air allow the stand-in application of kinetic targets for them.
Superiority 2030 Flight Plan’, published in and non-kinetic effects from the air But, again, there are solutions in the
May, warns that ‘the Air Force’s projected domain’. In other words, the PCA could be works. The US government’s tiny fleet
force structure in 2030 is not capable of a highly stealthy manned fighter or drone of Battlefield Airborne Communications
fighting and winning.’ whose main job is finding targets for other Node aircraft — a mix of Global Hawk
‘Developing and delivering air superiority systems to attack. unmanned aerial vehicles, business jets
for the highly contested environment in Not coincidentally, the Pentagon has and old WB-57Fs — carry radio gateways
2030 requires a multi-domain focus on studied modifying existing large aircraft that can ‘translate’ datalinks in order to link
capabilities and capacity’, the document — most likely B-52 and B-1 bombers — to up disparate aircraft.
notes. To that end, it calls for the USAF to serve as ‘arsenal planes’, carrying large More elegantly, Boeing has developed a
begin developing, as early as 2017, a new numbers of long-range munitions and scab-on datalink system called Talon HATE
‘penetrating counter-air’ system, or PCA. firing them, from safe distance, at targets that, installed on an F-15 Eagle, allows the
‘Capability development efforts for designated by stealthy aircraft flying much older fighter to securely exchange data
PCA will focus on maximizing trade-offs closer to enemy territory. with an F-22. Talon HATE is still in testing,
between range, payload, survivability, Along the same lines, the US military but could find its way to the front-line F-15
lethality, affordability and supportability’, is developing a wide range of new fleet in coming years.
it explains. munitions, including hypersonic rockets, It’s not clear whether the Air Force’s top
Studiously avoiding specificity with lasers and microwave weapons. It’s leadership — to say nothing of Congress
regard to the PCA, the plan leaves open possible to imagine that, around 2030, and the White House — will follow the air
the possibility that the new penetrating the USAF will deploy teams of systems superiority flight plan’s recommendation
counter-air system could be manned or to do the same job the F-22 does today. and begin development of a penetrating
unmanned. In any event, it will be part of a A team could include a stealthy drone counter-air system in the next year or so.
network of systems. communicating with a distant B-1 ‘arsenal But, if the stars align, the US Air Force could
‘While PCA capability will certainly have plane’ hauling a load of hypersonic soon — however belatedly — have a
a role in targeting and engaging, it also has missiles. replacement for the F-22.
a significant role as a node in the network, Of course, it’s also possible that the And it might even be a version of
providing data from its penetrating penetrating counter-air system could be the F-22.
August 2016
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EUROPEAN DEBUT SUPER TUCANO

FOR DUTCH F-35S COLOMBIA’S MEAN MACHINES

AUGUST 2016 UK £4.50

TIGER MEET ‘flanker’

08 The USAF is showing increasing signs that it might run a

38 IBERIAN TIGERS 96 CUTTING EDGE

60 INDIAN SEA HARRIERS

66 THE ‘FLANKER’ FAMILY

One of the two Dutch

T’S GREAT TO see how the United States, scheduled maintenance,

www.combataircraft.net August 2016

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August 2016 www.combataircraft.net

F35 VISITS THE NETHERLANDS

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CANADA EYES ‘INTERIM’ SUPER HORNET

Lockheed Martin/Beth Steel

August 2016 www.combataircraft.net

THE A10 DILEMMA

BRIMSTONE FOR THE F15E?

KING STALLION and it will be in service on RAF

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OSPREY WORKS UP COD MISSION PATROL FORCE

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DEPLOYMENT NEWS USAF FIELDS

CBP RECEIVES 13TH UPGRADED ORION

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MULTIYEAR C130J CONTRACT

KC46 PEGASUS PROBLEMS FORCE LOWRATE PRODUCTION DELAY

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Force Base, Georgia. The following

Left: HC-130J serial 13-5790 leaves

Right: Lockheed Martin recently

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report: Waseem Abbas

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served with 350 Squadron

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MAIDEN FLIGHT FOR HTT-40

DELIVERIES (HTT) 40 made its maiden flight on

GERMANY EXAMINES CH-53K BUY

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EUROFIGHTER IPA8 TAKES SHAPE

SEAHAWKS Mi-38 DELIVERIES SENEGALESE ‘HIND’ UPGRADE REVEALED

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IN BRIEF TRAGIC MONTH

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LIBYAN MIRAGE RETURNED TO SERVICE… AND LOST

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AIR WAR OVER under the right

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By the 23rd, the IQAF and Iraqi Army

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A CH-4B UAV of day after coalition warplanes bombed IS

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Y THE CLOSE of 2018, dedicated teams whose goal is to build

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