Air Forces Monthly

100 Pages·2017·24.126 MB·English

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VMFA-121 F-35Bs fly alongside 305 Hikotai F-15Js from Nyutabaru Air Base and B-1Bs assigned to the
37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, over waters near
Kyushu, Japan, on August 30. JASDF
Begging for war?
nother month, another round of bellicose, the North Korean government of practical options. Nikki Haley, the US
A
ballistic missile and nuclear weapons stated that this missile test was a “prelude ambassador to the UN, accused Kim Jong-
testing by North Korea. In perhaps to containing” the US island territory of un of “begging for war”. A further round
the most provocative move to date, a Guam. The B-1s flew from there and its of sanctions might help, but to date North
Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic Andersen Air Force Base hosts regular Korea has shown that it’s adept at skirting
missile overflew northern Japan on August rotational deployments of US bombers – such measures designed to impede its missile
28, coming down in the Pacific around 733 including nuclear-capable B-2s and B-52s. and weapons technology and development.
miles (1,180km) east of Hokkaido. Meanwhile, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear Trump’s proposal to stop “all trade with
the American response to such actions has test on September 3, claiming it was its first any country doing business with North
started to take on a predicable appearance. detonation of a thermonuclear weapon. Korea” has little credibility, considering China
Two days after the missile launch, US There’s little doubt we will see test-firings is not only North Korea’s biggest trading
Air Force B-1Bs, Japan Air Self-Defense of more ballistic missiles into the Pacific in partner, but also America’s. Perhaps, after
Force F-15Js and Republic of Korea Air coming months. But while an aerial armada all, China and the US will be forced to accept
Force F-15Ks assembled for a ‘deterrence’ over the peninsula might look impressive North Korea’s status as a nuclear power. AFM
flight. The difference on this occasion was – and surely angers leader Kim Jong-un –
the ten-hour mission included US Marine deployment of additional US Army Terminal
Corps F-35Bs flying from Iwakuni, Japan for High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems
the first time. After flying over Japanese to protect South Korea against missile strikes
waters, the US aircraft and F-15Ks crossed is more meaningful in the short term.
the Korean Peninsula and dropped live While President Trump has threatened to Thomas Newdick
weapons on the Pilsung Range training area. unleash “fire and fury” against the North Email at:
As the rhetoric on both sides becomes more Korean regime, the US is fast running out [email protected]
Editor: Thomas Newdick to, money, manuscripts, photographs or personal from Key Publishing Ltd or downloadable from www.
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www.airforcesmonthly.com #355 OCTOBER 2017 // 3
CONTENT
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Regular features
30 INTEL REPORT: Fighting of the year – which took place at Kingsley 62 EXERCISE REPORT:
fire from above Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, from July 20 Sea Breeze 2017
Scorching temperatures across southern to 23. Welcome to ‘the land of no slack’! The 17th Sea Breeze was the most
Europe this summer led to wildfires important exercise in this series to date,
breaking out in many countries. Alan 58 FLASHPOINT: Tough times featuring many firsts for its key participants,
Warnes assesses Europe’s ability to for Chadian Air Force as Vladimir Trendafilovski discovered.
cope with such natural disasters. After being tested in combat against Boko
Haram, the Chadian Air Force inventory 84 FORCE REPORT:
46 EXERCISE REPORT: was decimated by a storm earlier this People’s Liberation Army
Sentry Eagle 2017 year. Arnaud Delalande charts the Air Force Part One
Nate Leong witnessed the action at the recent development and operations AFM’s latest Force Report – by
US Air National Guard’s largest exercise of this Central African air arm. Andreas Rupprecht – begins with an
4 // OCTOBER 2017 #355 www.airforcesmonthly.com
Features
3 Comment
AFM’s opinion on the hot topics in military
aviation.
12 Alpine crossroads
Both neutral, but otherwise very different,
Austria and Switzerland are weighing up
options for their future fighter fleets.
Georg Mader assesses the two neighbours’
approaches.
36 Middle East modernisation
It has been 26 years since Operation Desert
Storm saw an unprecedented gathering of
air power in the Persian Gulf. Since then,
the region’s air forces have strengthened
and modernised to meet potential new
threats, including a nuclear-capable Iran,
along with the rise of Islamist terrorism.
Alan Warnes charts their progress.
50 Barksdale BUFFs
Sixty-five years after its maiden flight,
the B-52 still plays a crucial role over
the battlefield. Martin Scharenborg and
Ramon Wenink visited the 307th Bomb
Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base to fly with
the mighty ‘BUFF’.
68 Shooting at Suippes
The Armée de l’Air range at Suippes is used
by Mirage, Rafale, F-16 and Tornado fast
jet customers, as well as hosting Aviation
Légére de l’Armée de Terre helicopter live-
firing exercises. Sebastien Buyck saw the
range in action.
72 A new breed of gallantry?
No area of modern warfare is more
misunderstood than the use of unmanned
aerial vehicles in combat. Tim Ripley
examines a new report revealing how the
Royal Air Force’s Reaper crews manage
their work and the affect it has upon them.
78 Baltic hunters
Cover: According to air force spokesman Senior Colonel Shen Jinke, the J-20A will be the third stealth Poland’s Mi-14 helicopter force has been in
fi ghter to enter operational service following the United States’ F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. In this service for 35 years and the government
month’s issue, China aerospace expert Andreas Rupprecht launches a two-part briefi ng of the new-look is now likely to choose a successor before
People’s Liberation Army Air Force that reveals the origins of the air arm. via Chinese internet
the last of the veteran aircraft run out of
Above: A pair of Royal Air Force of Oman F-16C Block 50s over the desert during a mission from their
Thumrait base. These jets are among the diverse types featured in a comprehensive review of the air hours. Wiebe Karsten and Marco Muntz
forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council, beginning with Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. Peter R Foster investigate the Baltic Haze.
News by Region
All the world’s military aviation news,
examination of the origins and history 94 COMMANDER’S UPDATE
by region.
of the People’s Liberation Army Air BRIEFING: Lightning II —
6-7 Headlines
Force, to better understand the current The sequel: hit or fl op?
8-9 United Kingdom
issues faced by China and the latest
In the first of his regular AFM columns, 10-11 Continental Europe
developments within its armed forces.
Air Power Association President, Air 15-17 North America
Marshal (Ret’d) Greg Bagwell CB, CBE 18-19 Latin America
90 ATTRITION provides a new take on the commander’s 20-21 Middle East
Dave Allport details the world’s update brief – the traditional method 22 Africa
most recent military accidents. of apprising senior personnel. 23 Australasia
24-25 Russia & CIS
93 Feedback 98 Coming up 26-27 Asia Pacific
AFM’s letters page. See what’s featured in your AFM next month.
www.airforcesmonthly.com #355 OCTOBER 2017 // 5
NEWS Headlines
RAF Typhoon flies with Storm Shadow
Above: Typhoon FGR4 ZK356 at Warton on August 29 carrying two Storm Shadow stand-off cruise missiles. Derek Bower
A ROYAL Air Force the test-flying programme at Warton but wear test and evaluation of Centurion includes
Typhoon has flown with at BAE Systems’ Warton the markings of No 41 the Project Centurion the integration of the
a two-missile Storm facility in Lancashire has (Reserve) Squadron, Phase 1 capability Brimstone missile. The
Shadow load-out in entered a new phase. A the Test and Evaluation package upgrades. This first live firing of a
what is believed to be series of evaluation flights Squadron (TES) based work includes trials of Brimstone missile from a
a first for the UK fleet. with the Storm Shadow at RAF Coningsby, software systems for Typhoon was successfully
Typhoon FGR4 ZK356 was will be carried out prior Lincolnshire. the Storm Shadow and completed in early
photographed carrying to the introduction to The Storm Shadow test Meteor missiles. The July. Derek Bower
the stand-off cruise service of the MBDA- programme is being test work follows trial
missiles on August 29. produced missile. conducted from Warton installation work and General
As Project Centurion – Typhoon FGR4s ZK356 by a mix of BAE Systems subsequent upgrade
the transition of strike and ZK355 (the first and No 41(R) TES pilots. of six aircraft. Service Atomics lines
capability from the RAF Tranche 3 airframe) Meanwhile, at entry of the upgrades is
Tornado GR4 to the are both retained by Coningsby, pilots are also scheduled for early 2018. up major
Typhoon – gathers pace, BAE Systems for trials conducting operational The final stage of Project
Avenger C
RAF C-130Js
sale
begin to be
GENERAL ATOMICS
Aeronautical Systems
sold off
(GA-ASI) is negotiating an
international sale of as
DISPOSAL OF surplus
many as 90 Predator C
Royal Air Force C-130J
Avenger remotely piloted
Hercules C5s by the UK
aircraft. The potential
Ministry of Defence is
customer has not been
currently under way.
disclosed, although last
The first two to be sold
year India sought to buy
are being prepared for
as many as 22 MQ-9B
delivery to the Royal
Sea Guardian RPAs.
Bahraini Air Force (RBAF)
First flown in 2009, the
by Marshall Aerospace
jet-powered Predator
and Defence Group at
C has not yet received
its facility in Cambridge.
any orders. Of the eight
Comprising ZH880 and
examples completed
ZH886, they had arrived at
to date, one is in use
Cambridge on December
as a company testbed
22 last year and January
and the USAF operates
6, respectively. RBAF
another. The remainder
serials 701 (for ZH880)
and 702 (for ZH886) Above: RAF Hercules C5 ZH885. To date, the RAF has disposed of four C5s. In addition to ZH880 are flown by by
have been allocated and ZH886 for Bahrain, ZH884 was fl own to Cambridge on January 19 and withdrawn from use. undisclosed US agencies
It was followed by ZH881, which had arrived there by July. Jamie Hunter for classified missions.
for these aircraft.
While New Delhi
The first is nearing the Bangladesh Air Force, Hercules C4s and ten to 2030 for the 14 Hercules
originally looked at the
completion and was seen which is also seeking two Hercules C5s. The C4s that are being
Sea Guardian for the
in a hangar at Cambridge aircraft. Additionally, Strategic Defence and retained. This has since
Indian Navy, recent talks
on August 14 fully painted the Sri Lankan Air Force, Security Review 2015, been further extended – on
between US President
in RBAF grey camouflage. which has previously published on November 23 July 14 this year, Defence
Donald Trump and
They are being acquired purchased two older of that year, stated that the Secretary Sir Michael
Indian Prime Minister
through a government- ex-RAF C-130K Hercules ten Hercules C5s would be Fallon revealed a £110m
Narendra Modi may have
to-government contract, C1s, is discussing buying withdrawn from service. contract with Marshall to
included the Predator C
details of which have surplus RAF Hercules C5s. It was announced in the replace the centre wing
for the Indian Air Force,
not been made public. The RAF had a fleet of SDSR that the previously box on the 14 C4s, allowing
according to reports
A similar deal is reportedly 24 C-130Js, comprising planned out-of-service date the out-of-service date
in the Indian media.
being negotiated with 14 stretched C-130J-30 of 2022 would be stretched to be taken to 2035.
6 // OCTOBER 2017 #355 www.airforcesmonthly.com
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at [email protected]
Mystery USAF F-16Ds arrive in Europe
FIVE US Air Force F-16Ds and will more likely be sold Texas Air National Guard 195th Fighter Squadron Center, 86-0051 ‘CO’ of
landed at Charleroi- on to another country. units, and comprised: (FS), 87-0381 ‘AT’ of the the Colorado ANG’s 120th
Brussels South Airport, The five jets were a mix 83-1180 ‘AZ’ and 84-1326 Arizona ANG/Air Force FS and 87-0365 ‘SA’ of the
Belgium on the evening of Arizona, Colorado and ‘AZ’ of the Arizona ANG’s Reserve Command Test Texas ANG’s 182nd FS.
of August 17. Having
departed Atlantic City,
New Jersey, they were
refuelled over the Atlantic
by KC-135R 62-3502,
which then flew into RAF
Mildenhall, Suffolk.
The F-16s went to the
aerospace company
SABCA, which provides
depot-level maintenance to
the US Air Forces in Europe
(USAFE). It’s unclear where
the F-16s will be delivered
but as they are old Block
25 and 30 examples it is
unlikely that they will go to
Texas Air National Guard F-16D 87-0365 ‘SA’ touches down at Charleroi on August 17. Tom Houquet
the USAFE units in Europe
‘Dragon Lady’
deployed to Fairford
FOR THE first time since ‘DRAGON’, however,
the mid-1990s, the US 80-1083 of the 99th
Air Force deployed a Reconnaissance Wing
U-2S reconnaissance arrived at Fairford as ‘FERRY
aircraft to RAF Fairford, 86’ and conducted its
Gloucestershire on first mission as ‘QUID 09’.
August 23. The sensor ‘QUID’ is a common callsign
fit of 80-1083 is notable, usually associated with
comprising an ASARS- KC-135Rs belonging to the
2 nose, Senior Span/ 100th Air Refueling Wing
Spur dorsal fairing at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
above the fuselage and Left: After being
Senior Ruby electronic unserviceable for two days,
intelligence collection 80-1083 departed Fairford on
system under the wings. August 31 for an 8hr 30min
Traditionally, U-2 transit fl ight over the Baltic as ‘QUID
flights use the callsign 09’. Rick Ingham
Iranian UAV ‘interferes’ with F/A-18E in Gulf
AN F/A-18E from the US separation between the CVN 68 was conducting was described as “unsafe remain clear, the QOM-
Navy’s Strike Fighter two aircraft of around a composite training and unprofessional”. The 1’s controlling station
Squadron (VFA) 147 200ft (61m) and a vertical unit exercise with its QOM-1/Sadegh-1 came was unresponsive and
‘Argonauts’ assigned separation of about 100ft carrier strike group within 1,000ft (305m) of the UAV did not use any
to USS Nimitz (CVN (30m). CENTCOM stated in preparation for an fixed-wing flight operations aircraft navigation lights
68) had “unsafe and that this was the 13th upcoming deployment. while in international waters while it made several
unprofessional interaction unsafe or unprofessional Less than a week later, of the central Arabian Gulf. passes in close proximity
with an Iranian QOM-1 interaction between US on August 14, another “Despite repeated to Nimitz and its escort
unmanned aerial vehicle” and Iranian maritime Iranian UAV operating in radio calls to establish ships,” said spokesman
while operating in forces this year. the vicinity of the Nimitz communications and LT Ian McConnaughey.
international airspace
in the central Persian
Gulf. According to US
Central Command, the
August 8 incident took
place in the close vicinity
of an F/A-18E that was
in a holding pattern and
preparing to land on
the aircraft carrier. The
QOM-1 executed “unsafe
and unprofessional
altitude changes” despite
repeated radio calls to
stay clear of active fixed-
wing flight operations.
An F/A-18E of VFA-147 ‘Argonauts’ takes off from
The Super Hornet
the fl ight deck of the USS ‘Nimitz’ in the Arabian
manoeuvred to avoid a Gulf on August 7. US Navy/Mass Communication
collision with the drone Specialist Seaman Jose Madrigal
resulting in a lateral
www.airforcesmonthly.com #355 OCTOBER 2017 // 7
NEWS United Kingdom
HMS Queen External-load ‘ski jump’ trials for F-35B
Elizabeth
AN F-35B Lightning II has weapons for the trial, to begin late next year. will be Sqn Ldr Andy
arrives in
launched for the first time which took place in early The carrier will spend Edgell, Royal Air Force.
from the ‘ski jump’ test August. BAE Systems’ eight weeks off the east The UK currently
Portsmouth
rig at Naval Air Station chief F-35B test pilot, coast of the United States has 11 F-35Bs and
ROYAL NAVY aircraft Patuxent River, Maryland, Peter ‘Wizzer’ Wilson and will embark two Joint around 120 personnel
carrier and future carrying an external was at the controls. Strike Fighters for the training in the US.
flagship HMS Queen load. F-35B BF-02 had The first shipborne trials first time. Lead test pilot By the end of the year
Elizabeth entered a UK-specific mix of of the F-35B aboard HMS for the carrier’s First of another three F-35Bs will
its homeport of Paveway IV and ASRAAM Queen Elizabeth are due Class Flight Trials (FOCFT) have been delivered.
Portsmouth for the
first time on August 16.
The carrier embarked
Merlin helicopters on
deck for its arrival, while
RN Wildcat and Merlin
helicopters and Hawk
jets provided a flypast.
The ship will be berthed
at the newly named
and upgraded Princess
Royal Jetty, where it will
be joined in future by
the RN’s second carrier,
HMS Prince of Wales,
which was formally
named on September 8.
Before its first entry
into Portsmouth, Queen
Elizabeth rendezvoused
with the USS George H
W Bush and its carrier
strike group off the
coast of Scotland. US Navy/Arnel Parker
It was previously
expected that Queen
Elizabeth would enter Second MFTS Phenom arrives, Prefect fl ying begins
Portsmouth towards
the end of the year
A SECOND Phenom 100
after completion of
for the UK Military Flying
contractor’s trials
Training System (MFTS)
and formal handover.
programme has been
Rapid progress in
delivered to Affinity
the trials saw these
Flying Training Services at
plans changed.
Royal Air Force Cranwell,
In related news, the
Lincolnshire. The aircraft,
RN’s current flagship
PR-ING (c/n 50000377,
HMS Ocean left
ex N709EE), arrived at
Plymouth for her final
the base from Wick,
cruise before being
Scotland, on August
decommissioned next
15 after completing a
year. The helicopter
transatlantic ferry flight.
carrier left the base It was allocated UK civil Above: MFTS Grob 120TP Prefect T1 ZM300 takes off from RAF Barkston Heath on August 1 for
on August 29 before the fi rst instructor training fl ight with the type. RAF College Cranwell
registration G-MEPS on
diverting to the
August 23, but will take The first MFTS Phenom, 4 (see Embraer delivers of 23 on order, the last
Caribbean to provide
up military markings once PR-PHK (c/n 50000375), first Phenom for UKMFTS, of which are expected
humanitarian aid in the
Military Release to Service was handed over at the August, p8) and also next March. The first
wake of Hurricane Irma.
has been achieved. factory in Brazil on July routed via Wick before training flight in an MFTS
arriving at Cranwell on Prefect took place from
July 10. It was allocated the base on August 1,
G-MEPT on July 18. These following authorisation
two aircraft will receive from the Commandant
military serials ZM333 of No 3 Flying Training
and ZM334. Affinity, School. It was piloted
Ascent and the MOD are by Sqn Ldr Balshaw of
currently working together the RAF’s Central Flying
to gain Military Release to School and Ascent’s Chief
Service for the Phenom, Pilot, Nigel Scopes.
five of which are on order, Initial sorties are training
while options are held instructors on the new
for additional aircraft, type, prior to training of
should the need arise. the first ab initio pilots,
Meanwhile, another scheduled to start at
element of MFTS is year-end. Training began
also making progress following official Military
at RAF Barkston Heath, Release to Service on July
Lincolnshire where around 11 – see Release to Service
The second MFTS Phenom 100, still wearing Brazilian test registration PR-ING, in a hangar at RAF
ten G 120TP Prefect T1s for Prefect, September,
Cranwell on August 15, shortly after arriving on its delivery fl ight. Crown Copyright/RAF Cranwell
are now operational out p8. Dave Allport
8 // OCTOBER 2017 #355 www.airforcesmonthly.com
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at [email protected]
RAF Atlas MacRobert markings for No 6 Squadron
at Mobility
Guardian
THE ROYAL Air Force’s
A400M Atlas C1 took
part in the US Air
Force Air Mobility
Command Mobility
Guardian exercise
at Joint Base Lewis-
McChord, Washington
in August. It was the
first time that the RAF
Atlas had participated in
a large-scale exercise.
“Exercise Mobility
Guardian 2017 is a real
opportunity for us,”
said Wg Cdr Ed Horne,
commanding officer
of No 70 Squadron
from RAF Brize Norton,
Oxfordshire. “The
aircraft arrived in
service with the Royal
Air Force in 2014, so
we’re still preparing the
aircraft for operations
overseas. This is really
an excellent opportunity
for us to operate with Above: A close-up of the new markings on No 6 Squadron Typhoon FGR4 ZJ919 ‘919’ at
our coalition partners.” Lossiemouth on August 24. Niall Paterson Sentinel
The RAF Atlas was
TYPHOON FGR4 ZJ919 of action on May 22, 1941 mother, Lady Rachel
allocated nine missions No 6 Squadron at RAF while leading a flight of Workman MacRobert, returns
during Mobility
Lossiemouth, Scotland has Hurricanes in a strafing funded the purchase
Guardian, which was received special markings attack on a German- of a Stirling bomber, from
intended to test the
to commemorate Sir held airfield near Mosul called MacRobert’s Reply
abilities of airlift forces
Roderic Alan MacRobert, in Iraq. The marking on and four Hurricanes Middle
to execute rapid global
who served as a Hurricane the nose of the Typhoon in tribute to her three
mobility missions in
pilot with the unit during reads: ‘The MacRobert sons who all died in East ops
dynamic, contested
World War Two. Sir Fighter – Sir Roderic’. flying accidents – two of
environments.
Roderic was killed in Famously, Sir Roderic’s which in RAF service.
A ROYAL Air Force
Sentinel R1 from No V
Typhoons prepare for Shader (Army Co-operation)
Squadron has returned
to RAF Waddington,
Lincolnshire, from RAF
Akrotiri in Cyprus after
a mission supporting
the coalition in the fight
against so-called Islamic
State in the Middle East.
The RAF announced the
return of the Airborne
Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR)
aircraft on August 2. The
Sentinel was deployed
for eight weeks, flying
235 hours, with a typical
sortie lasting ten hours.
The aircraft’s departure
from Cyprus leaves a
surveillance ‘gap’ for
the RAF in that theatre,
Above: Typhoon FGR4 ZK323 ‘C’, with No 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron markings. The other jets involved in early August’s ‘war after more than two
week’ were ZK312 ‘EM’, ZK318 (no markings), ZK337 ‘FP’ and ZK344 (no markings). John Reid years of continuous
presence in the region.
THE RAF’s Typhoon Force mission in the Middle As of August 11, RAF Syria, in particular in the According to a press
at RAF Lossiemouth, East, initially employing Typhoons had flown ISIS heartland of Raqqa, release from the RAF,
Scotland, has been the internal cannon. On more than 900 missions where its use of the the Sentinel played
preparing for deployment August 3 the squadrons over Iraq and Syria since Paveway IV GPS precision- “an important part
on Operation Shader, the launched three jets each December 2015, equating guided munition together in the gathering of
UK’s contribution to the carrying a single live to more than 10,000 with its advanced sensors information to support
fight against so-called Paveway IV dual-mode flying hours. The aircraft have enabled Typhoon the ground campaign”
Islamic State in Iraq and GPS/INS and laser-guided had delivered more to be considered almost during the successful
Syria. The station’s ‘war bomb. All weapons were than 850 Paveway IVs. the platform of choice for effort to recapture the
week’ in early August saw released safely over An RAF spokesman said: operations against the Iraqi city of Mosul.
pilots working up for the Garvie Island, Cape Wrath. “Typhoon is very active in targets around Raqqa.”
www.airforcesmonthly.com #355 OCTOBER 2017 // 9
NEWS Continental Europe
Final joint mission for Holloman Tornados Romania
paves way
THE LUFTWAFFE has direct collaboration flight by a USAF 314th course. The Fliegerische
flown a final joint training between the Fliegerische Fighter Squadron F-16D. Ausbildungszentrum for AH-1Z
mission in the US as Ausbildungszentrum The primary mission also provides
the German Tornado der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe of the Luftwaffe at advanced tactical
THE ROMANIAN
contingent prepares Flying Training Centre) Holloman is to train training for Tornado
Defence Minister Adrian
to leave Holloman and US Air Force units Tornado aircrews through units at Holloman.
Tutuianu has signed a
Air Force Base. The at the New Mexico base. a basic weapons system The Luftwaffe will
letter of intent with Bell
milestone sortie on To mark the occasion, course, instructor finally depart
Helicopter to purchase
August 17 brought a Luftwaffe Tornado course and fighter Holloman in
AH-1Z attack helicopters
to an end 25 years of was accompanied on its weapons instructor mid-2019.
for the Forţele Aeriene
Române (FAR, Romanian
Air Force). Once the
agreement has been
signed on August 9,
Romania’s Ministry
of Economy and Bell
will discuss forming a
joint venture with the
state-owned Romarm
defence group and
transferring technology
so the helicopters can
be built in Romania.
The move is part of an
$11.5bn spending plan
for 2017 to 2026 that
was recently approved
by the defence ministry.
The value of the planned
AH-1Z contract and the
Luftwaff e Tornado 45+35 of the Fliegerische Ausbildungszentrum and 314th Fighter Squadron F-16D 90-0788 ‘HO’ during the number of aircraft to be
fi nal German-US mission from Holloman on August 17. USAF/Maj Bradford ‘Emcon’ Brizek built were not disclosed.
Second Polish VIP First two Slovak UH-60Ms delivered
Gulfstream delivered
THE SECOND of two delivered, September, p11).
Gulfstream G550 VIP Both will be operated
business jets has been by the 1. Baza Lotnictwa
delivered to the Siły Transportowego (1.
Powietrzne (SP, Polish BLTr, 1st Air Transport
Air Force). The final Base) at Warsaw-Okecie.
aircraft, 0002 (c/n 5554, The contract for these
ex N554GD) General 16-seat VIP aircraft,
Kazimierz Pulaski, arrived which was signed on
at Bydgoszcz on July 29 November 14 last year,
following its delivery also includes a logistics
flight from the US. As package, technical Slovak UH-60M 7640 during the type’s fi rst public presentation at the Slovak International Air
Fest (SIAF) at Sliač air base on August 26-27. Igor Bozinovski
previously reported, documentation, pilot and
the first, 0001 (c/n ground crew training, plus SLOVAKIA HAS taken of the Armed Forces was held on August 3 at
5547, ex N547GA) Prince operational support. delivery of the first two of the Slovak Republic) Prešov air base. They
Józef Poniatowski, was Dave Allport of nine UH-60M Black under a Foreign Military will be operated from
delivered to Poland on Below: The second Polish Hawks on order for the Sales contract. A formal the base by the ‘Lt Col
June 21, when it arrived Air Force G550 arriving at Vzdušných síl Ozbrojené acceptance ceremony Ján Ambruš’ Vrtulníkové
at Warsaw-Okecie (see Bydgoszcz on July 29. sily Slovenskej Republiky for the helicopters, krídlo (Helicopter Wing).
Polish Air Force Gulfstream Polish MoD/Sławomir Mrowiński (VVzS OS SR, Air Arm serials 7639 and 7640, They had been flown
to Prešov on July 6 by
combined Slovak-US crews
after arriving by sea at
the port of Bremerhaven,
Germany. Sikorsky was
awarded a $46m contract
for the first four on
September 3, 2015 – the
remaining two of these
should arrive before the
year-end. The other five
are due for delivery in 2019.
Four Slovak crews have
already been fully trained
on the UH-60Ms, while
more are undergoing
training. Six are expected
to have converted to
the type by the year-
end. Dave Allport
10// OCTOBER 2017 #355 www.airforcesmonthly.com