Combat Aircraft Monthly - December 2015 UK

100 Pages·2015·8.44 MB·English

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‘HOGS’ IN EUROPE
Whiteman A-10 ON ‘Atlantic Resolve’
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IN THE
NEWS:
F-35C goes
back to the
carrier
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£
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ADVANCED F-15 The ultimate EAGLE in detail Finland’s hottest hornets B
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RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES RAISE SYRIA TENSIONS • IRANIAN F-4 PHANTOM II’ NEW CAPABILITIES D
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u n i t e d s tat e s a i r f o r c e

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types, plus a detailed unit and aircraft air
power review. This 100-page publication is a
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FEATURING:

F-22 on the front line
A review of the Raptor’s combat debut over Syria
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40 Years of exercise’ Red Flag’
A review and tribute to the world’s most famous
exercise.

Bayou Militia
A unit review of the F-15Cs of the 122nd Fighter
Squadron Louisiana ANG

F-35 training
Behind the scenes at Eglin and Luke AFB as the
F-35 training squadrons get up to full speed.

B-1 today
Exclusive interviews with B-1 senior officers as
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December 2015 • Vol 16 • No 12
30 WILD BOARS IN EUROPE Operation ‘Atlantic Resolve’
has now brought in the A-10s from Whiteman AFB
IN THE NEWS CONTRACTOR AIR SERVICES
Canadian defense contractor Discovery Air 64 72
06 Headline News
Defense has more aircraft and personnel than
F-35C tackles second period of carrier trials
most air forces. Rich Cooper reports from Wittmund
and F-16V makes fi rst fl ight
DISCOVERY
08 US News AIR
KC-46 Pegasus enters fl ight-testing, DEFENCE
selected B-52s lose nuclear role, and all the
latest unit and deployment news
ATAC — SMART FLEET SUPPORT
16 World News
Combat Aircraft editor Jamie Hunter talks to the
News from round the globe including the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC)
latest J-10 variant, plus all the latest military about its proven track record with the US Navy
aircraft losses
DRAKEN INTERNATIONAL 76 82
24 COMBAT REPORT: Draken International is the largest private
A RUSSIAN PROXY operator of tactical aircraft in the world.
WAR IN SYRIA Frank Crébas/Bluelife Aviation fl ies with the
company during F-35 trials support
Stefan Büttner details how the Russian Air
Force has been fl ying daily air strikes against
rebel forces and terrorists from the Syrian
AIR USA
airfi eld of Latakia
Air USA provides airborne adversary and Joint
38 EXERCISE REPORT: Tactical Airborne Controller training, with
SEA BREEZE 2015 signifi cant contracts with the US Marine Corps
Alexander Golz joins the ‘Sea Breeze’ naval as James Deboer reveals
exercise in Ukraine
40
50 ‘GREEN BATS’ OVER ADVANCING THE EAGLE
THE RACEWAY The F-15 is still regarded as one of the fi nest fi ghter aircraft ever built,
An exclusive centerspread photo by Steve but can Boeing continue to attract orders for its ultimate Eagle, or is it
Davies of a fl ight of 422nd Test and Evaluation moving into a support and upgrade phase instead? Jamie Hunter and
Squadron (TES) F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle Brad Elward assess the program
and F-35A Lightning IIs fl ying over the
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
52 DELTA DEPARTURE
Horacio J. Clariá joins Argentina’s Escuadrón
Mirage of the VI Brigada Aérea for its last
operational deployment
56 PROJECT DOWRAN F-4S
Project Dowran — Iran’s F-4E Phantom II
upgrade — has fi nally begun to yield tangible
results, as Babak Taghvaee reports
60 MAKE OR BREAK
Alexander Mladenov and Krasimir Grozev,
with exclusive images from Rich Cooper, look
at how Bulgaria’s modest air arm went
through a stormy period after its outspoken
PLUS
commander-in-chief resigned in October
88 MORE STING FOR
Robert F. Dorr’s Front
FINNISH HORNETS
Line column
Derek Bower heads to Finland to see how the
GIVE THE GIFT THAT
MLU2-standard F/A-18 Hornet is bringing an
all-new air-to-ground capability to the ON THE COVER: LASTS ALL YEAR
Whiteman ‘Hog’ — in
Nordic air arm
this issue we review the
96 CUTTING EDGE latest A-10 deployment to A subscription to Combat Aircraft
Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting Europe, as the USAF also makes a great gift this Christmas.
from the front line of aerospace technology, sends A-10s to Turkey. See pages 22 and 23 for details.
Neil Dunridge
by David Axe
COMBAT EDGE | FIND US ON
Louisiana ANG F-15Cs photographed
in October by Combat Aircraft editor
Jamie Hunter during a shoot for our
forthcoming USAF Air Power Yearbook.
04
www.combataircraft.net December 2015
DECEMBER 2015 | COMBAT EDGE
Eagle extended
W
HEN THE hasn’t missed this, and is now talking up
FORMER US a 2040C project for the USAF’s remaining
Secretary ‘Charlie’ model Eagles.
of Defense All the while, the Next-Gen Air
Robert Gates Dominance (NGAD) program lurks in the
curtailed background as the ultimate future fi ghter
F-22 Raptor production at 187 aircraft that will eventually replace the Raptor
in 2009, it came as little surprise. The and the Eagle.
Raptor was expensive and eyes were Many have called the Raptor the
turning to the new F-35 Lightning II. defi nitive fi ghter. But it has a few
However, many experts realized that compromises. Arguably the thrust
the decision to cut Raptor production vectoring was above and beyond
short was, well, short-sighted. what was needed. Most Raptor kills
The Raptor’s expensive development are achieved silently at range. Thrust
was behind it. It had emerged from vectoring brings weight penalties,
early troubles and was forming itself engineering challenges and probably
a fearsome reputation as the world’s a few stealthy trade-off s. Raptor pilots
ultimate air supremacy fi ghter. Today, still don’t have a helmet-mounted sight,
few would argue with that mantra. and, like the F-35, the rear-hemisphere
Last year I spoke with Col Kenneth visibility for the pilot is far from
Lambrich about his being great.
F-15C Eagles at the So, how about a risk-reduced approach
05
Massachusetts ANG. He told for NGAD? Take the almost perfect
me how the F-15C would need Raptor and put it back into production,
to remain in service to fi ght alongside albeit this time with the tweaks that
the Raptor throughout the service life of make it truly the best a fi ghter ever can
the newest super-fi ghter. The USAF’s lack be. That approach may just help mitigate
of air-to-air fi ghter ‘mass’ endorsed this against the early developmental issues
argument, but, then again, most senior that cause so many cost over-runs and
USAF offi cers said that the F-35 would delays — and provide capability faster
pick up that slack. and when it’s needed.
However, the USAF’s F-35A is being
subtly nudged towards the air-to-ground
role as its primary focus. Air Combat
Command chief Gen Herbert ‘Hawk’
Carlisle has even acknowledged the
need to upgrade the Eagle and maintain JJaammiiee HHuunntteerr,, EEddiittoorr
its credibility in the future fi ght. Boeing E-mail: [email protected]
CONTRIBUTOR PROFILE RICH COOPER
R
ich Cooper visited two Sukhois
Bulgaria on assignment was a mammoth eff ort by all
at a time when it was involved. This ‘people factor’
literally make or break was also evident during another
for the BuAF. This proud nation Centre of Aviation Photography
makes major international strides assignment to DA Defence as it
with just a handful of jets, but the settled in at Wittmund, Germany,
people make all the diff erence. getting set for the next level of
Flying air-to-air with six MiGs and service provision.
December 2015 www.combataircraft.net
[NEWS] HEADLINES
06
RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES IN SYRIA (IS), but in practice most have taken against IS forces in Syria, the Russian
place in areas controlled not by IS air strikes — the fi rst to be conducted
On September 30 the Russian Air the Russian Ministry of Defense,
but by other anti-Assad forces. Four outside the borders of the former
Force launched combat operations targets comprised weapon and
Su-30SM fi ghters confi gured for air Soviet Union since the end of the
against rebel groups in Syria, ammunition storages, fuel depots,
defense duties as well as around 20 Cold War — have raised the very real
marking Moscow’s latest measure combat equipment, control points,
helicopters supplement the Russian risk of confl iction with the US and its
of support for that country’s communication centers, and vehicles.
strike aircraft, which were averaging allies. Further complicating matters is
embattled President Bashar al-Assad. Offi cially, the air strikes, now fl own
a total of around 40 daily sorties the fact that certain ‘moderate’ rebel
The fi rst wave of air raids included primarily by six Su-34, 12 Su-24 and
as of mid-October. All aircraft are groups are receiving direct support
eight strikes in the governorates 12 Su-25 aircraft, are targeting the
based at an airfi eld in Syria’s coastal from the US government.
of Homs and Hama. According to forces of the so-called Islamic State
Latakia province. A full report on the Russian
With a US-led international operations in Syria is included in this
coalition also carrying out an air war issue. Thomas Newdick
Apart from the ‘Bort’ numbers, all of
this Su-34’s identifi cation markings and
insignia have been removed.
MO RF via syria.mil.ru
www.combataircraft.net December 2015
HEADLINES [NEWS]
F-35 BACK AT SEA mounted display and included the
fi rst night fl ights at sea with the
helmet.
Five test pilots were involved in
the evaluations, which involved
high-risk fl ights to test the jet’s
SECOND PERIOD OF SEA TRIALS FOR NAVY F-35C
ability to take off at a reduced
airspeed, at weights from 55,000-
T
HE US NAVY’S 60,000lb (24,948-27,216kg) while
Lockheed Martin carrying full fuel loads, an inert
F-35C Lightning II 2,000lb (907kg) GBU-31 Joint Direct
completed its second Attack Munition and two AIM-120
at-sea period aboard AMRAAM missiles in the internal
the Norfolk-based weapons bays. The fi ghters utilized
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS full-power afterburner take-off s from
Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on the ship’s two bow catapults, which
October 9. Two test aircraft, CF-03 are equipped with modifi ed jet
and CF-05, arrived aboard the ship blast defl ectors. The Joint Precision
on October 2. The pair conducted Approach and Landing System
day and night carrier qualifi cations (JPALS), which provides adverse-
over a period of eight days as part weather precision approach and
of the second phase of at-sea landing capability, was evaluated.
developmental testing (DT-II). Trialing The ship was operating in crosswinds
the suitability and integration of the of up to 40kt. F-35C developmental
Left: F-35C test aircraft CF-03 is directed to a bow catapult aboard the
F-35C in an at-sea environment, DT-II aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on October 2. Two testing is now around 80 per cent
included simulated maintenance F-35Cs from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 conducted follow- complete and a third round of at-sea
on developmental test (DT-II) sea trials aboard the ship over a period of
operations and general maintenance testing is planned for next summer.
eight days. Lockheed Martin/Andrew McMurtrie
and fi t tests for the aircraft and The US Navy intends to declare initial
support equipment. Additionally, it Above: CF-03 is launched from one of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s operating capability by the end of
evaluated the Generation 3 helmet- waist catapults on October 2. Lockheed Martin/Andrew McMurtrie August 2018.
07
DEFENSE BILL CLOSER TO REALITY
F-16V FLIES WITH AESA RADAR
WHILE THE FINAL US National to retire, or placing in storage or on
LOCKHEED MARTIN HAS fl own includes a new cockpit center Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) back-up fl ying status any EC-130H
the fi rst upgraded F-16V Fighting pedestal display, a modernized for Fiscal Year 2016 awaits the Hercules. It will have to conduct
Falcon. The fl ight on October mission computer, a high- President’s signature, the Senate ‘an assessment of the required
16 was made by aircraft serial capacity Ethernet data bus, and and the House of Representatives capabilities or mission platform to
93-0702, an upgraded Republic of several other mission systems approved the $612-billion package replace the EC-130H aircraft, and to
China Air Force (Taiwanese) F-16A enhancements. that provides $515 billion in defense submit a report on that assessment
Block 20. It has been fi tted with Lockheed Martin is off ering spending as well as $89.2 billion for to the congressional defense
the new Northrop Grumman’s the F-16V as both a newly- overseas contingency operations. committees no later than December
AN/APG-83 active electronically- manufactured or upgraded Among the provisions made by 31, 2016.’
scanned array (AESA) Scalable aircraft. Taiwan is the launch the 2016 bill, the Secretary of the Air The bill provided funding for 12
Agile Beam Radar (SABR). The customer, with up to 144 F-16A/Bs Force will be required ‘to maintain additional F/A-18E/Fs for the US
avionics confi guration also set to be upgraded. a minimum of 171 A-10 aircraft in Navy, six more F-35Bs for the US
primary mission aircraft inventory Marine Corps, a fourth MQ-4C and
(combat-coded) status’ and ‘may not three MQ-8Cs for the US Navy, as
move more than 18 A-10 aircraft in well as eight UH-60M helicopters for
the active component to back-up the Army National Guard.
fl ying status’. Additionally, it directs Tom Kaminski
the Secretary of the Air Force to
ALSO THIS MONTH...
‘commission an independent
entity outside the Department of
Pegasus news
Defense to conduct an assessment
First KC-46 fl ies. See US News
of the required capabilities and
mission platform to replace the A-10 International F-35 update
First Norwegian jets fl y.
aircraft’. The US Air Force will be
Lockheed Martin/Randy Crites prohibited from retiring, preparing See World News
December 2015 www.combataircraft.net
[NEWS] UNITED STATES
PEGASUS
TANKER FLIES
FIRST KC-46 TAKES TO THE AIR
The fi rst fully-confi gured KC-46A
deploys the centerline boom for
the fi rst time on October 9. The
boom is capable of delivering
fuel at a rate of 1,200 gallons per
minute. Boeing/John D. Parker
GHOSTRIDER Testing of the fi rst two Block
P-8A Poseidon BuNo 168759 of VP-8 ‘Tigers’ from NAS
10 AC-130Js is continuing, and
Jacksonville returns to RAF Lossiemouth, UK, during
PROGRESS modifi cation of the third AC-130J Exercise ‘Joint Warrior 15-2’ in October. Dr Séan Wilson
began at Crestview in July. The third
THE FIRST AC-130J Ghostrider Block 10 example of the Ghostrider
equipped with a 105mm howitzer should be completed in March 2016.
08 was delivered to Lockheed Martin’s Work on the fi rst Block 20 model
Missile and Fire Control facility is expected to take around a year. In
at Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview, addition to the howitzer, the Block
Florida, on September 10. The 20 will retain the Block 10’s 30mm
modifi cation will transform MC-130J gun, low-yield precision-guided POSEIDON TESTING
serial 13-5772 into the initial Block weapons, and high defi nition
20 variant of the AC-130J. sensors. BOEING HAS RECEIVED a separate $19.2 million contract that
$23-million contract modifi cation was awarded in 2013.
SPECIAL OPS ‘HERCS’ RETIRED associated with testing of the In related news, patrol squadron
P-8A’s high-altitude anti-submarine VP-8 ‘Tigers’ completed the type’s
THE 1ST SPECIAL Operations Wing’s howitzers in nine of its AC-130Ws.
warfare weapons capability fi rst AGM-84D Harpoon live-fi re
4th Special Operations Squadron One aircraft will be modifi ed as
(HAAWC). As part of the P-8A missile shot during GUAMEX 2015
retired its fi rst AC-130U at Hurlburt a testbed for the installation of
Increment 2 project, HAAWC will on August 12. The event was
Field, Florida, on September 21. a high-energy laser that could
allow the Poseidon to deliver a intended to validate the weapon’s
Serial 90-0163 was subsequently eventually equip the AC-130J.
Mk54 torpedo with a GPS-guided integration on the P-8A as well as
fl own to Davis-Monthan AFB, In addition, the last two HC-130Ps
wing and tail kit from altitudes being a valuable training event. The
Arizona, where it will be placed in operated by the 347th Rescue
up to 30,000ft (9,144m). Boeing is Block 1C Harpoon scored a direct
storage. Since delivery in February Group’s 71st Rescue Squadron left
developing the weapon under a hit on its designated target.
1995, the gunship — named Bad Moody AFB, Georgia, on September
Omen — had fl own more than 11, ending the Combat King’s
U-2 REPLACEMENT PROPOSED
2,300 sorties and accumulated over service with the active component
10,000 fl ight hours. AFSOC had of Air Combat Command. Serials
previously planned to retire three 64-14852 and 65-0986 were fl own LOCKHEED MARTIN IS reportedly defended airspace but would use the
AC-130Us in Fiscal 2015 and two to Patrick AFB, Florida, where they preparing an unsolicited proposal to same General Electric F414 engines
more in Fiscal 2016, but retirement were re-assigned to Air Force the USAF for a U-2 replacement. The that power the U-2S along with many
of the next four gunships has Reserve Command’s 920th Rescue contractor claims that, if it receives of its unique sensors. The TR-X, which
been delayed due to operational Wing. a go-ahead, the optionally-manned would have a longer airframe and
demands in Iraq and Syria as well The fi rst MC-130H was also retired ‘TR-X’ could be fl ying by 2025. Rather somewhat larger wings and elevators
as delays with the AC-130J. The recently, serial 89-0281 arriving than replacing the RQ-4B, TR-X is than the U-2, could also perform
command has 16 AC-130Us and 12 Davis-Monthan on September initially planned as a complementary electronic warfare, communications
AC-130W Stinger IIs. 21. The Combat Talon II had been replacement for the ‘Dragon Lady’. node, and laser attack missions.
In related news, AFSOC has operated by the 353rd Special It would feature a stealthy airframe Under current plans the USAF will
announced plans to install 105mm Operations Group at Kadena, Japan. capable of surviving in heavily- retire the U-2S fl eet in 2019.
www.combataircraft.net December 2015
UNITED STATES [NEWS]
B
OEING COMPLETED The fl ight was the fi rst by a fully per minute. The initial in-fl ight testing two will be fully-confi gured KC-46A
THE fi rst fl ight of confi gured KC-46A. Boeing conducted with an F-16 will be followed by a tankers. The third and fourth EMD
its KC-46A Pegasus a series of tests that included C-17 using the boom. Subsequent aircraft are around 60 and 86 per
tanker when the deploying the refueling boom and work will include a fast drogue test cent complete respectively. On
second engineering, boom and wing aerial refueling pods with an F/A-18, a slow boom test with September 16, EMD-4 supported a
manufacturing (WARP) in preparation for live aerial an A-10, a boom test with another cargo demonstration that validated
and development (EMD) test refueling demonstrations scheduled KC-46A, and fi nally a slow drogue test each required confi guration for cargo
aircraft took off from Paine Field in to begin in January. On October 8, with an AV-8B. and passengers.
Everett on September 25. During EMD-2 extended the drogue refueling Although the fi rst EMD aircraft A Milestone C decision that will
the fl ight, Boeing test pilots carried baskets from both the centerline has fl own more than 150 hours allow the Pegasus to enter low-
out operational checks on of drogue system (CDS), located on the since conducting its inaugural fl ight rate initial production is expected
EMD-2’s engines, fl ight controls and lower fuselage, and from the wing in December 2014, the 767-2C between January and April 2016.
environmental systems and reached aerial refueling pods (WARP) on the (767-2LK)-series aircraft was not Boeing is required to deliver 18 full-up
a maximum altitude of 35,000ft wing tips. The Pegasus deployed fully confi gured as a tanker. Boeing KC-46As to the USAF by August 2017.
(10,668m). It concluded four hours its fl ying boom the following day. is building four KC-46As as part The Japanese Defense Ministry has
later when the Pegasus, which carries Whereas the two drogue refueling of its 2011 contract to design and reportedly selected the KC-46A as its
the civil registration N462KC (c/n systems are capable of delivering fuel develop the next-generation refueling new in-fl ight refueling and transport
41275/1069), landed at Boeing Field at a rate of 400 gallons per minute, platform. Whereas two of the aircraft aircraft and plans to procure three by
in Seattle. the boom transfer rate is 1,200 gallons are confi gured as 767-2Cs, the other the end of fi scal 2018.
NELLIS ADVERSARY SUPPORT
RETIREMENTS
DRAKEN INTERNATIONAL WILL Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA). Both
provide contracted adversary air can carry a variety of electronic USMC/LCpl Colin Broadstone
support (CAS) for the US Air Force attack pods and will replicate third
under a $4.5-million contract that and fourth-generation threat aircraft
was awarded in September. The in support of the 57th Adversary 09
contractor will support operations Tactics Group (ATG), the USAF
at Nellis AFB, Nevada, using its A-4K Weapons School, Red Flag, and
Skyhawks and L-159E Advanced operational test adversary support.
The Reaper ER variant of the MQ-9A
features two wing-mounted fuel tanks.
General Atomics
Last ‘Phrogs’ retired last Rockwell T-2Cs at NAS Patuxent
Marine transport squadron VMR-1 River, Maryland, on September 25.
conducted its fi nal fl ight with the Although the Commander, Naval
HH-46E at MCAS Cherry Point, Air Training (CNATRA) phased out
North Carolina, on September its fi nal Buckeyes in 2008, three
25. The ‘Roadrunners’ launched were transferred to VX-20 for use
all three assigned Sea Knights, primarily as chase aircraft. A pair
which were formally retired on of C-38A Couriers from the District
October 1. The squadron was the of Columbia ANG’s 201st Airlift
last to operate the ‘Phrogs’, tasked Squadron are replacing them. The
primarily with the search and Couriers will be used for chase
rescue mission. duties and as radar targets, and
EXTENDED-RANGE REAPER FIELDED will support pilot profi ciency. The
Final Buckeyes go squadron received its fi rst C-38A
THE USAF RECENTLY fi elded the fi eld-retrofi ttable modifi cation
Air test and evaluation squadron in July 2015 and the second is
Extended-Range (Reaper ER) variant installs two wing-mounted fuel
VX-20 ‘Force’ retired the US Navy’s expected to arrive in late October.
of the MQ-9A remotely-piloted tanks, an alcohol/water injection
aircraft. Developed by General system and a four-bladed propeller
T-2C BuNo 158320 fl ew its fi nal sortie
Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the along with a heavyweight trailing over Chesapeake Bay on September
Reaper ER provides an increase in arm landing gear system that 25. US Navy/Liz Wolter
range, endurance and performance enables safe ground operations at a
over the older models. General heavier gross weight. The USAF
Atomics developed the version in plans to update 38 MQ-9As to
response to a quick reaction the Reaper ER confi guration by
capability (QRC) requirement. The July 2016.
December 2015 www.combataircraft.net
[NEWS] UNITED STATES
‘BUFF’ DROPS NUKE ROLE
PORTION OF FLEET TO LOSE NUCLEAR CAPABILITY
A
IR FORCE Reduction Treaty (New START), the Maintenance and Regeneration
GLOBAL Strike command will modify 30 operational Group at Davis-Monthan AFB,
Command has aircraft. The fi rst conversion was Arizona, will be modifi ed. The Air
begun converting completed at Barksdale AFB, Force is scheduled to complete all
a portion Louisiana, when B-52H serial the conversions by early 2017.
of its B-52H 61-0221, operated by Air Force Under New START, the United
Stratofortress fl eet to a Reserve Command’s 307th Bomb States will retain 454 Minuteman II
conventional-only capability by Wing, was returned to service. In ICBMs, 280 Trident II SLBMs and 66
removing the aircraft’s ability addition to the operational bombers, nuclear-capable bombers by 2018.
to deliver nuclear weapons. As 12 B-52Hs currently maintained in The latter will comprise 20 B-2As
required by the New Strategic Arms storage by the 309th Aerospace and 46 B-52Hs.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN RADAR FOR ARMY DEPLOYMENT NEWS
THE US ARMY has selected Northrop Grumman to develop the Airborne
Reconnaissance Low-Enhanced (ARL-E) Long-Range Radar that will
equip its RO-6A variant of the de Havilland Canada DHC-8. The active A ‘Bold Tigers’ F-15E arrives at Morón on October 3.
electronically-scanned array (AESA) system will feature synthetic aperture Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta
radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) modes, and will be
10
integrated with the Gen 2 Vehicle and Dismount and Exploitation Radar
(VADER) electronics and software.
VALOR FUSELAGE DELIVERED
SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS RECENTLY prototyping facility in Wichita,
delivered the fi rst V-280 Valor Kansas, in just 22 months.
fuselage to Bell Helicopter. Bell The JMR-TD is a precursor to the Hawaii Raptors deploy 90-0247, 90-0259 and 91-0300,
will conduct fi nal assembly of Department of Defense’s Future F-22As assigned to the Hawaii Air passed through the Spanish base
two V-280s in support of the US Vertical Lift program, which is National Guard’s 154th Wing began on October 3. They were followed
Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology intended to replace 2,000 to a six-month deployment to the US by 87-0182, 87-0202, 87-0204,
Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program 4,000 medium-class utility and Central Command (CENTCOM) area 87-0208, 90-0242 and 91-0600 on
at its Amarillo, Texas, facility. The attack helicopters. The Valor is of responsibility on September 26. October 9.
fuselage for the next-generation Bell Helicopter’s off ering for that The departure from Joint Base Pearl
tilt-rotor aircraft was designed program. The V-280 is scheduled to Harbor-Hickam marks the fi rst OK Guard F-16s deploy
and assembled in Spirit’s rapid make its fi rst fl ight in late 2017. operational deployment for the The Oklahoma Air National Guard’s
unit, which began its transition to 138th Fighter Wing has deployed 12
the Raptor in 2010. While deployed F-16Cs and around 200 personnel
the fi ghters will be fl own by pilots from Tulsa Air National Guard Base
from the ANG’s 199th Fighter to Kadena Air Base, Japan, in
Squadron and the 15th Wing’s 19th support of a the US Pacifi c
Fighter Squadron, which operates Command theater security package
as an associate unit. during October. The deployment,
which began on October 8, marks
Mountain Home Eagles the fi rst time that the wing’s 125th
on the move Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has
A dozen F-15E Strike Eagles from supported operations in the Pacifi c
the 366th FW deployed to the theater. The unit had previously
Middle East via Morón Air Base in deployed 10 times to the US Central
Spirit AeroSystems recently delivered October. Six aircraft of the 389th Command area of responsibility in
the fuselage for the fi rst V-280 Valor
and 391st FS, comprising serials support of operations in Iraq and
to Bell Helicopter’s facility in Amarillo,
Texas. Spirit AeroSystems Inc 90-0239, 90-0244, 90-0245, Afghanistan. Eight F-16Cs and 150
www.combataircraft.net December 2015