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INTERNATIONAL

DECEMBER 2013 Vol.85 No.6 INTERNATIONAL

£4.50 For the best in modern military and commercial aviation www.airinternational.com SR-72 The New Blackbird? Lockheed Martin’s Mach 6 Cruiser

Project Dowran Iran’s F-4 Upgrade Mud Mover Boeing’s F-15E Strike Eagle Long-lived Utility Bell’s 407GX in Detail

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FREE APP with sample issue IN APP ISSUES £3.99 SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Monthly £2.99 Precision 6 issues £19.99 for Strike Typhoon AIR International’s Mark 12 issues £34.99 Ayton provides a pro le of the Raytheon Paveway IV precision-guided bomb

Above: An RAF Typhoon T3 assigned to No.17(R) Squadron (the former Typhoon Operational Components Electronic Fuse Evaluation Unit) loaded with four inert Paveway IV A Paveway IV weapon comprises various components, and from front to tail The fuse was designed to withstand the forces imposed upon the bomb when practice bombs. Jamie Hunter these are a laser detector, colloquially called the birdie head, which sits on two penetrating a hardened target, which is why it contains no mechanical moving Main: This shot shows the Paveway IV’s ‘birdie fl oating gimbals. The detector aligns to the wind which is the velocity vector of parts. Consider the physics of a small fi ring pin and how it would become a head’ seeker, canards, hardback, lugs, the weapon. When the weapon is falling, regardless of manoeuvre or angle of big mass when suddenly subjected to high acceleration forces. So the design and tail planes. Raytheon UK attack, the detector remains fi xed upon the target. of the fuse allows it to survive the same penetration and force as the warhead. The next component aft of the detector is the cowling that fi ts over the It continues to function throughout the delay used in post-impact detonation. GAINS, which is part of the ECCG (enhanced computer control group), Paveway IV is the fi rst air-to-surface weapon on which the guidance section and and then there’s the CAS (control actuation system), a pneumatically driven the fuse have been fully integrated and the two communicate with each other system (powered by gas) that gets charged immediately after release from throughout the bomb’s fl ight to the target. Without this ‘smart’ fuse the weapon’s the aircraft. The system comprises two pairs of canards that steer the different modes of operation can’t be selected and adjusted by the pilot. weapon through either full defl ection or trail commands from the guidance system, often referred to as a bang-bang control. Solenoids pressurise the Combat Air Control canards which bang into the required position. When the control Paveway IV was designed as a combat air control weapon. This means the command is complete the solenoid is closed and the canards bomb can be employed to suit the conditions of different targets during the return to their trail position. The moving canards mission. Target information can be updated at any time and transmitted to displace and drive the pitch, at a given number of the weapon. What’s more, a Paveway IV can be employed using one of three degrees per second, to steer the weapon as it detonation modes: works through the guidance loop. Because • Height of burst, which allows the altitude at which the bomb detonates he Paveway I Raytheon the CAS uses a minimum number of parts (a above the ground to be selected. laser-guided bomb won that gas bottle, a couple of valves and piping) the • Point impact where the bomb detonates on impact. was fi rst used in competition with weapon’s guidance is very reliable. • Post-impact delay in which the bomb detonates a set time after it has combat by the US its 500lb (227kg) class Aft of the ECCG is the warhead, the main penetrated the target. during the Vietnam Paveway IV, which was part of the weapon, which forms its primary The pilot can select any of the modes while airborne. For example if he or she War. Paveway is developed specifi cally for the structure. Developed specifi cally for is directed to a target area and the forward air controller calls for a strike using SEARCH: AIR International derived from the MoD’s requirements. Paveway IV, the warhead has two main height of burst, that’s the mode selected for releasing the weapon. term ‘precision The RAF’s lead platform for Paveway IV features; the capability to penetrate In a strike using height of burst detonation, the guidance section knows the avionics vectoring equipment’ (PAVE) the name used for systems that control was the Harrier GR9, when it entered frontline service hardened targets, such as bunkers, bomb’s exact orientation and speed throughout its fl ight to the target. Even fl ying the speed and direction of an aircraft. PAVET was adopted by the US Air Force in Afghanistan in November 2008. The Tornado GR4 and is ‘insensitive’ to fi re and a different trajectory than pre-planned, the guidance section corrects for that, the as an identifi er of various weapon systems including, what is probably, the most followed in 2009 and work continues toward a release-to- bullets. In the event that bomb comes through a set point, the antenna signals to the fuse with the time familiar name ever given to a type of bomb. service on the Typhoon FGR4 which is expected in 2014. the bomb ignites in an remaining, the fuse counts down and detonates on command. The pilot doesn’t Many variants of the Paveway family remain in service with the United States, Raytheon’s integration work culminated with a guided- accident situation it have to worry about the timing because the weapon does that for him, all he the UK and other Allied nations. drop from a Typhoon in December last year. will burn out and selects is the preferred mode and the time in milliseconds required. But guiding a bomb with a laser becomes ineffective when the target is neither detonate Paveway IV is also capable of coming in to the target at a specifi ed impact obscured by cloud and sometimes dust. Those limitations have been overcome Paveway IV or propel itself angle from 30 to 90° and on a particular impact heading. But the launch aircraft by installing a GPS-aided inertial navigation system (GAINS) on Paveway weapons Raytheon’s design had to deliver one standard weapon that thanks to its has to be in a given position in the sky, so Paveway IV automatically generates to accurately determine the position of the weapon throughout the fl ight and could be carried on four aircraft types: Harrier GR9, Tornado GR4, insensitive cuing information for the pilot via implementation of LARs (launch acceptability hence provide an all-weather, day-night guidance capability. The GPS-feed allows Typhoon FGR4 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Using Paveway IV’s munitions regions). corrections to be made to remove any drift out of the inertial measurement unit. unique universal hardback enables the weapon to be loaded on all four aircraft features, The weapon uses its position and the target location, the target constraints GAINS was fi rst installed on Raytheon’s 1,000lb (454kg) Enhanced Paveway II types. Sway brace pads on the hardback provide a full interface with all which include input by the pilot, and the attack orientation to calculate an in-range LAR and an bomb which entered RAF service in 2001. This was the fi rst bomb to be employed designated aircraft types. the ability in-zone LAR. Both are projected in the HUD to show the pilot his or her position in combat by Typhoon FGR4s over Libya during Operation Ellamy in 2011. Each Paveway IV is delivered with bale lugs and mace lugs, which enable RAF to vent. relative to the LARs and when he or she is in range to release and hit the target. In 2003, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a systems requirement document armourers to build and confi gure the weapon at the forward deployed base for Positioned immediately behind the warhead is the fuse made by Thales Missile The aircraft has to be within the in-range LAR for the weapon to reach the for a bottoms-up weapon under a project called Precision Guided Bomb. carriage by either Tornado or Typhoon and in the future for the F-35. Electronics in Basingstoke. target. The release position can be from anywhere within the area for the

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IRAN’S PHANTOMS A CHRISTENING, subs@ Rick Burgess outlines the Rick Burgess christening of the USS , and the Gerald R. Ford ight of the MQ-8C maiden fl Scout. Fire details the Babak Taghvaee Dowran upgrade for Project F-4 Phantoms. Iran’s A MAIDEN FLIGHT A MAIDEN FLIGHT AND A FINAL DEPLOYMENT 24 18 USTRALIA’S TROJANS USTRALIA’S Advertisement Manager Ian Maxwell [email protected] HE SWISS SPACE SHUTTLE HE SWISS SPACE A Despite early teething problems, T S3 wants to put Switzerland on Lockheed Martin’s SR-72. Lockheed Martin FRONT COVER: Lockheed Martin’s Danijel Jovanovic/AirTeamImages LEFT INSET: Swiss Space Systems MIDDLE INSET: Mr Alan RIGHT INSET: the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-130J-30 the Royal Australian Air Force’s operated by No.37 Squadron Hercules has developed into a valuable workhorse, as Nigel Pittaway discovers. the map in the emerging world of com- the map in the emerging ight, as Mark Broadbent spacefl mercial nds out. fi sure. Andreas Spaeth explains. Andreas sure. 92 88 +44 (0)1780 480404 +44 (0)1780 757812 . • Please refer toMidlands PLC. • Please refer main Subscriptions Advertisement within the magazine or Email: keypublishing.com T F Readers in USA may place subscriptions by telephone toll-free 800-676-4049. Air International is distributed in the USA by Mail Right Int., 1637 Stelton Road B4, NJ 08854. Periodicals Piscataway, NJ Postage Paid at Piscataway, ces and additional mailing offi

SR-72 THE NEW BLACKBIRD BLACK BOMBER, RAPID RAPTOR LEADING NEWS STORIES Lockheed Martin is devel- its oping a successor to legendary SR-71. Mark on reports Broadbent the SR-72. Despite crippling budget is pro- cuts, the US air Force ceeding with its Long-Range Robert F Dorr Strike Bomber. sheds light on the proposal. AND ARMY ANXIETY 04 14 part of it may be reproduced in any part of it may be reproduced on any form of retrieval form or stored system without the prior permission of All items submitted for the publisher. subject to our termspublication are regularly and conditions, which are updated without prior notice and are Key Publishing available from freely Ltd or downloadable from www.keypublishing.com Distribution by Seymour Distribution +44 (0)020 7429 4000 • Ltd • T. Printed in England by Warners Editor’s Secretary Julie Lawson Secretary Editor’s [email protected] UD MOVER NDER PRESSURE ELL 407: LONG-LIVED M on the Robert F Dorr reports B UTILITY SUCCESS U dent in its busi- Airberlin is confi ness model, despite being under pres- Rafael Treviño profi les the Bell 407 and profi Rafael Treviño focuses on the latest civil incarnation of the GX. this utility helicopter, 25-year career of the US Air Force F-15E of the US Air Force 25-year career Strike Eagle and the advances being made for its future. at RAF Brize Norton, Ian Harding con- at RAF Brize Norton, Ian Harding cludes his two-part account of the RAF’s tanker. brand new Voyager 74 68 84 +44 (0)1780 755131 +44 (0)1780 757261 • ISSN 0306-5634 • is published monthly by: Key Publishing Ltd, Lincs,PO Box 100, Stamford, PE9 1XQ, UK T F contents of AIRThe entire International is © copyright, and no GENERAL NEWS First RAF RC-135W arrives in the UK, Angola arrives in the UK, Angola buys Flankers, Mozambique its air force, rebuilds PC-12s in Afghanistan, ‘yes’ the Netherlands says to F-35A and partially re- verses cuts, Lineage 1000E unveiled, second Airbus FlyNon- ies, A350XWB fl ot launch- stop stops, Aerofl , Norway selects es Aurora an- , Bell 429WLG AW101 rst Sky fi nounced, Taiwan’s Eagles, and a new Chinese ‘Dragon’ emerges. 10

News Editor David Willis [email protected]

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EFENDING THE OYAGER: ON HER OYAGER: HE PRIDE OF PAKISTAN HARPENING SKILLS BREAKING NEWS Boeing launches D NORDIC NICHE T The JF-17 Thunder is maturing Roberto Yáñez and Alex Rod- Roberto Yáñez V MAJESTY’S SERVICE S 777X and takes large AgustaWestland AW189 AgustaWestland Dave Robinson the at Dubai - as doesorders unmanned Airbus. Piaggio’s HammerHead takes to the SMS mystery Dassault’s air, Airbus in secret, UCAV Military looks at the potential ghter, refi of the C295 as a fi the to single order gets it largest eyesdate and South Korea former US Navy Lockheed S-3B Vikings. revealed as the Falcon 5X, revealed ies the Taranis BAE Systems fl in Pakistan Air Force service, as Tomislav service, as Tomislav in Pakistan Air Force Mesaric reports. ríguez outline the latest Tactical Leader- ríguez outline the latest Tactical in Spain. ship Programme Following an exclusive visit to AirTanker Following an exclusive visit to AirTanker Finnair still has its niche of direct fl ights to fl Finnair still has its niche of direct Scandinavia but for how long? Asia from Spaeth investigates. Andreas 06 48 40 52 58 Features News Production ManagerProduction Janet Watkins ControllerProduction Danielle Tempest Subscriptions/ ManagerMail Order Roz Condé Marketing Manager Martin Steele Sub Editors Randall Sue Blunt, Carol Designer Editor Mark Ayton [email protected] Breaking News The New Blackbird governed by the laws of orbital Combined Cycle (TBCC) engine mechanics. The Blackbird was not system. “The SR-72 will feature similarly encumbered. Its speed twin nacelles. Each of these and altitude capabilities meant propulsion systems will include a it could y whenever, wherever  ghter-class turbojet engine and a – giving the United States a very Dual Mode Ramjet (DMRJ) to reach exible intelligence, surveillance and Mach 6,” Lockheed Martin told AIR reconnaissance (ISR) platform. International. “The turbine engine will Hypersonic aircraft – classed propel the aircraft at lower speeds, as those that travel at more than and then turn off around Mach 3 to Mach 5 – are seen as the way to allow the DMRJ to take over. restore speed and exibility to ISR. “Unlike turbine engines, DMRJs The US Air Force (USAF) wants do not have rotating compressors such capabilities: it plans to have a to compress the air. Instead, they hypersonic ISR aircraft in service by compress air moving at supersonic around 2030. speeds through a contracting inlet, Lockheed Martin told AIR which decelerates air so that it can International: “The SR-72 could  ll be burned in the engine combustor. gaps in coverage of fast-reaction The DMRJ initially operates in Above: The SR-72 will have a intelligence. Potentially dangerous ramjet mode, then transitions to distinctive delta planform. and increasingly mobile threats scramjet [supersonic combustion Below: A diagram of the are emerging in areas of denied ramjet] operation, as the vehicle SR-72’s Turbine-Based or contested airspace and in accelerates to hypersonic speeds.” Combined Cycle engine. countries with sophisticated air defences and detailed knowledge ‘Thrust Chasm’ he SR-71 Blackbird This unmanned aircraft will travel of satellite movements. The SR-72 Combining supersonic and ramjet is an aviation icon. at hypersonic speeds, cruising could operate in an instance where technologies in a single propulsion The Mach 3-capable at Mach 6 – six times the speed there are no communication and system has for decades been a reconnaissance aircraft of sound (around 3,600mph or navigation satellites, and would be challenge. That’s because there’s a set speed and altitude 5,800km/h), twice as fast as the able to penetrate denied areas.” gap – what Lockheed Martin terms records that still stand. Blackbird. Artists’ impressions The company also envisages a a ‘thrust chasm’ – between the DuringT one 1974 ight, a Blackbird reveal a striking planform of sharply secondary strike role for the SR-72: turbine engines’ upper performance ew from New York to London in swept-back delta wings blended “A hypersonic ISR/strike platform limit of Mach 2.5 and the critical less than two hours and, in 1976, into a hump-backed fuselage would enable a new capability, what Mach 3-3.5 point where a ramjet another travelled from London to we call ‘unavoidable ISR’, because takes over propulsion. Los Angeles in under four. Speed the adversary would have no time But now Lockheed Martin says Now, 15 years after the The high-altitude reconnaissance to react or hide due to the speed.” that it’s Skunk Works division, Blackbird’s last ight at the end of its role formerly provided by the following a seven-year collaboration  ve-year reactivation in the 1990s, Blackbird is now undertaken with Aerojet Rocketdyne (which Lockheed Martin’s famous Skunk by unmanned systems and Engine Technology designed the engines that powered Works division has revealed that it’s satellites. But the former have The SR-72 will achieve hypersonic the Apollo programme’s Saturn working on a successor – the SR-72. speed limitations and the latter are speeds through a Turbine-Based V rocket and the Space Shuttle), has made a major technological TURBINE-BASED COMBINED CYCLE PROPULSION breakthrough. “We have developed a method to integrate an off-the- shelf turbine with a scramjet,” Lockheed Martin told AIR International. “The ‘thrust chasm’ has been bridged between the upper Mach limit of turbine engines and the low Mach limit of a scramjet.” The details on how the TBCC achieves this haven’t been disclosed, but the company says the engine will make the SR-72 an “affordable, near-term hypersonic aircraft”. Hypersonic Research The SR-72 stems from a number of hypersonic research projects in which Lockheed Martin was involved. One of these was the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2), which assessed aerodynamics, guidance, controllability and aerothermal

4 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Breaking News

Lockheed Martin is developing a successor to its legendary SR-71. The New Blackbird Mark Broadbent reports on the SR-72

The SR-72 will cruise at Mach 6 and be powered by a Turbine-Based Combined Cycle engine. All images Lockheed Martin

effects on aircraft components at greatly advanced Lockheed Martin’s hypersonic technology. This potential options to deal with hypersonic speeds. understanding of hypersonic would prove that a hypersonic the thermal stress of sustained The subsequent HTV-3X technologies. The company demonstrator doesn’t have to high-speed  ight: one is having programme provided further says the subsequent crucial be expensive. Our approach a cold structure similar to the important steps. This developed breakthrough of integrating an will cut the costs by an order tiles on the Space Shuttle, the the methodology for a TBCC off-the-shelf turbine with a scramjet of magnitude... the hypersonic other is a warm structure using engine and, said Lockheed Martin, allows for the practical application missile would prove that there’s materials like titanium. We prefer achieved the decisive step of of hypersonic technology and “is only an incremental cost the warm structure and have a lot producing “a controllable low-drag the key to affordability”. compared to a subsonic missile. of experience with [those], with the aerodynamic con guration capable [It] would provide the con dence SR-71 for example.” of stable operation from take-off to Towards the SR-72 needed in the customer But Lockheed Martin’s message subsonic, transonic, supersonic, So, what happens next? “The community to proceed with a  ight is that it has an advanced and hypersonic to Mach 6”. rst step to get to the operational research vehicle and, ultimately, understanding of hypersonics HTV-3X was set to lead into an hypersonic aircraft is the high- the SR-72.” and that an affordable hypersonic unmanned hypersonic demonstrator speed strike weapon (HSSW), a platform is within reach. It told AIR called the Blackswift, which would US hypersonic missile programme Thermal Management International: “As of now, there are have been jointly produced by taking shape under the USAF and There will clearly be much no technologies to be invented. We Skunk Works, ATK and Boeing in DARPA,” explained Lockheed development work to build up to the are ready to proceed – the only thing collaboration with DARPA, but that Martin. “[This] will demonstrate the HSSW demo and what will follow. holding us back is the perception was cancelled in October 2008 as technologies…for a high-speed “The most signi cant technical that hypersonic platforms are always part of Fiscal Year 2009 budget missile [and] would be transitional hurdle facing the SR-72 is thermal expensive, large and exotic.” cuts. “The small, Mach 4-capable to the aircraft. Think of it as a small- management,” said Lockheed It may yet be some way turbines were the technical issue scale expendable demonstrator.” Martin. The HTV-2 and HTV-3X from reality, but the so-called that held back the programme,” A HSSW demonstration is programmes have already provided ‘son of Blackbird’ captures the said Lockheed Martin. “They were planned for 2018. The company important lessons in this area. imagination. Its futuristic design not ready and even if they were, the says this will be an important “Skin friction at Mach 6 is and technologies and, simply, the technology would need to be scaled milestone because it will “provide immense and generates incredible fact that it will  y at Mach 6, all up at the cost of billions of dollars.”  ight data necessary to de ect amounts of heat,” the company mean the SR-72 will be making Nonetheless, HTV-3X and HTV-2 the ‘giggle factor’ that surrounds pointed out. “There are two headlines for years to come.

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 5 Breaking News Large Airliner Orders at Dubai His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates Airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive, and Fabrice Brégier, Airbus’ President, were present at the signing of an order for 50 Airbus A380s for Emirates at the Dubai Airshow on November 17. The deal takes the airline’s orders for the aircraft to 140, of which 38 have been delivered; the 39th was present at the airshow. The order is the fi rst Boeing Launches 777X at Dubai for A380 this year. Emirates also placed a commitment at the show to order 150 Boeing 777Xs (see left). Three more Middle East airlines placed large orders on the fi rst day at Dubai. Etihad Airways signed for 40 Airbus A350-900s, ten A350-1000s, 10 A320neos, 26 A321neos and a single A330-200F freighter. It also became a launch customer for the Boeing 777X, with a commitment for 17 777-9Xs and eight 777-8Xs, plus options and The Boeing 777-9X and 777-8X (at rear) were offi cially launched on November 17 with commitments from four airlines. Boeing purchase rights for a further 12; and On the fi rst day of the Dubai replacement plans (see 777-9X for It will be given a formal name as placed a fi rm order for 30 787-10s Airshow, November 17, Boeing Lufthansa, November, p20). development progresses. All plus 12 options and purchase rights launched its 777X – with 259 The 777X family comprises the 350- previous Boeing jet airliner designs – which, when added to 41 787- commitments from four launch seat 777-8X with a range of more have ‘added ten’ to 707, the 787 9s due to be delivered, will make customers. Etihad Airways has than 9,300nm (17,220km), designed Dreamliner being the latest (717 Etihad’s the largest Dreamliner fl eet. placed fi rm orders for 25 (17 777- to compete with the Airbus A350- was originally allocated to the KC- Its recent contract includes the 9Xs and eight 777-8Xs) and options 1000; and the 777-9X, able to fl y 135 Stratotanker and the 720 1,000th Dreamliner ordered since and purchase rights for 12 more. 8,200-plus nm (15,185km) carrying was originally known as the 717- the type was launched in April 2004. Emirates committed to purchasing 400 passengers. Powered by the 020 – before 717 was reissued to The carrier also contracted for one 115 777-9Xs and 35 777-8Xs, plus GE Aviation GE9X and featuring the MD-95 when Boeing acquired 777 Freighter and placed options purchase rights for another 50, and a composite wing with a longer McDonnell Douglas). If the for a further pair on November 17. Qatar Airways has signed a letter span than the current generation of progression is continued the 777X Meanwhile, in addition to of intent for up to 50 777-9Xs. A 777s, tipped with a raked winglet, will become the 797. Production committing to 50 Boeing 777- Lufthansa deal for 34 777-9Xs was the 777X will be 12% more fuel is scheduled to begin in 2017 and 9Xs, Qatar Airways signed for fi ve revealed on September 19 when effi cient than any competing airliner, the fi rst aircraft will be handed over Airbus A330-200F freighters and the airline announced its widebody according to the manufacturer. in 2020. has taken options on a further eight. If all are fi rmed up, previous commitments to the type will lead to a fl eet of 16, of which three are HammerHead Takes to the Skies already in service. FlyDubai also Piaggio completed the fi rst full fl ight announced a commitment for up to of the P.1HH HammerHead medium- 100 Boeing 737 MAXs and 11 737- altitude long-endurance unmanned 800s on November 17. air system on November 14 at Trapani-Birgi AB. The technology demonstrator completed a 12-minute Taranis Flown sortie over the Mediterranean around The BAE Systems Taranis unmanned 12 miles (19km) from the base, fl own combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology by a pilot at a ground control station, demonstrator has made its fi rst fl ight. with the landing gear remaining down The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) throughout the fl ight. A maximum The Piaggio P.1HH HammerHead technology demonstrator during its fi rst revealed in a written submission to altitude of 2,000ft (610m) and speed fl ight on November 14. Piaggio Aero the UK Parliament’s Defence Select of 170kts (315km/h) were recorded. system and the ground control station. to Trapani in early October. Details Committee on October 25 that “fl ight The test, undertaken by Piaggio Low-speed taxi trials of the of the maiden fl ight were revealed trials took place in 2013” – but did and Selex ES, its partner on the HammerHead started on February on November 17, the opening day not disclose details about where and HammerHead project, with support 14 at Decimomannu, Sardinia, of the Dubai Airshow. when or how many times it has fl own. from the Aeronautica Militare Italiana four days before the programme Certifi cation is expected before the BAE Systems has previously used (Italian Air Force), evaluated the was announced at IDEX in Abu end of 2014 and the aircraft is planned the Royal Australian Air Force’s navigation system and the aircraft’s Dhabi. On August 8 the technology to enter service in the second half of Woomera Test Range in South manoeuvring in both manual and demonstrator completed a short 2015. The Italian Air Force, the lead Australia for fl ight trials of unmanned automatic fl ight modes. It was fl ight along the length of the customer, is seeking to acquire ten with air vehicles and Taranis is understood conducted primarily to confi rm the runway at Decimomannu before an initial operating capacity in 2016 or to have operated from there. The operation of the remote Selex ES being transported under a CH-47C 2017. Piaggio meanwhile envisages a MoD said it would provide further vehicle control and management Chinook and by Italian Navy warship market for 190 HammerHeads. information on the programme at a future date. Mark Broadbent

6 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected]

NEWS Breaking News BY 15 NUMBERS AW189S FOR GULF HELICOPTERS Falcon 5X Breaks Cover Gulf Helicopters of Qatar ordered 15 AgustaWestland AW189s on November 18, the single largest order to date for the type. The deal fi rms up a preliminary contract signed in early 2012. The helicopters will be delivered between 2014 and 2017 and used to support offshore energy production. 20 VIKINGS FOR SOUTH KOREA More than 20 former US Navy Lockheed S-3B Viking aircraft are being sought by the Republic of Korea to bolster its maritime surveillance, anti-shipping and anti- An artist’s impression of the submarine warfare capabilities. Dassault Falcon 5X, unveiled They would be acquired under the in Las Vegas, Nevada, in late third phase of the Maritime Patrol October. Dassault Aviation Aircraft programme, following two batches of Lockheed P-3C/ “A new benchmark for the creative use used in the tail unit, engine nacelles passenger seats will have Wi-Fi and CK Orions. The Vikings would be of advanced technology in business and secondary items such as facilities for using iPads and iPhones cheaper to acquire than additional aviation... A game-changer, an all- fairings. The wing design is all-new, as infl ight entertainment monitors. Orions or new Airbus Military new, ultra-effi cient, most advanced and is the fi rst in the Falcon range to Cabin altitude will be maintained C295s, Lockheed Martin SC-130J technology and largest Falcon jet incorporate winglets from the outset. at 6,000ft (1,829m) at the aircraft’s Hercules or Boeing P-8 Poseidons, the alternatives considered. Only yet.” So said Dassault CEO Eric Power comes from two 11,450lb maximum operating altitude of two S-3Bs remain airworthy with Trappier, when revealing the Falcon st (50.93kN) Safran-SNECMA 51,000ft (15,545m). the US Navy as test aircraft and 5X at October’s National Business Silvercrest turbofans. The fl ight deck Performance predictions include NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Aviation Association’s Convention in features Honeywell’s EASy all-digital a balanced fi eld take-off length Ohio operates one. More than 100 Las Vegas, Nevada. cockpit, with sidestick controls and of 5,250ft (1,600m), maximum remain stored at Davis-Monthan In 2006 the French manufacturer an Elbit Systems head-up display operating Mach number of M0.90, AFB, Arizona. started design studies for the aircraft, combining enhanced vision and and range at M0.80 with eight which was then known as ‘SMS’ synthetic vision systems. passengers, three crew and NBAA (for Super Mid-Size) and intended The 5X’s passenger cabin, while fi ve IFR reserves of 5,200nm (9,630km), GOT A NEWS STORY, to rival the Bombardier Challenger inches (127mm) shorter than that in enabling it to fl y non-stop between PHOTO OR FEATURE ? 300, Gulfstream G250 and Embraer Dassault’s current top-of-range 7X, New York and Tel Aviv, Israel; London Legacy 600. When the market for is 8in (203mm) larger in diameter and Tokyo, Japan; or Beijing in China AIR International is keen mid-size/super mid-size business jets than any previous Falcon, providing to Minneapolis. to hear from readers who slowed two years later, the company 14% more volume, more headroom Components for the prototype have news stories, photos or revised its thinking and began work and greater width than the 7X’s. Falcon 5X are under construction features of modern civil and on a large cabin business jet which The jet will accommodate up to 16 at several Dassault plants. Maiden military aviation for inclusion has now emerged as the 5X, the passengers in a three-compartment fl ight is scheduled for the fi rst quarter in the magazine. Please largest member of the Falcon family cabin which includes an aft area of 2015, with certifi cation in late contact AIR International at to date. for up to six, with full fl at berths for 2016 and fi rst customer deliveries in the following address The bulk of the 5X’s airframe is a overnight fl ights. It will have 28 mid-2017. The aircraft is expected [email protected] conventional semi-monocoque oval-shaped cabin windows, the to sell for $45 million in 2013-value aluminium structure with composites largest ever fi tted to a Falcon, and all dollars. Mike Jerram Firefi ghting C295

A fi refi ghting modifi cation for the Airbus Military C295 recently conducted a fl ight test from the manufacturer’s airfi eld at San Pablo in Seville, Spain. The C295 prototype (EC-295, c/n P-001) was noted making a test fl ight on October 17, returning an hour later with the rear emergency door and newly-installed under fuselage hatches open. Five days later the company announced it had begun water- bombing trials at a site near Cordoba. Further tests are planned to evaluate the aircraft’s potential in the fi refi ghting role. Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 7 NEWS REPORT Fat Albert’s Fond Farewell Ian Harding reports on the retirement of the C-130K Hercules from RAF service

ffectionately known Building up the No.30 and No.47 (the type’s final unit) at RAF as ‘Fat Albert’, the Lyneham, Wiltshire. By 1971, No.24 and Lockheed C-130K Lyneham Transport Wing No.36 had relocated to the Hercules fleet’s Hercules proved to Lockheed built 66 C-130K Hercules C1s ‘spiritual’ home at the Wiltshire base. A fifth be a dependable for the RAF between 1966 and 1969. The unit, No.70 Squadron, also moved there from tactical transport first aircraft, XV176 (c/n 4169), made its Cyprus during 1975, operating the Hercules that supported UK maiden flight at the company’s Marietta plant as part of the Lyneham Transport Wing. operations around in Georgia on October 19, 1966. The first Marshall of Cambridge converted 30 Hercules the globe during a RAF unit to fly the Hercules was No.242 C1s to C3 configuration in the 1980s. The distinguished career Operational Conversion Unit based at RAF modification work involved inserting two spanning almost 50 years. In keeping with Thorney Island, Hampshire, in August 1967, extension plugs into each aircraft’s fuselage: theA type’s dependable service record the followed by the first operational unit, No.48 a 100-inch (2.54m) plug aft of the cockpit last C-130Ks assigned to No.47 Squadron Squadron based at RAF Changi, Singapore, and another, 80 inches (2.03m) long, at the continued to support operations from Brize that October. Four further squadrons stood rear of the fuselage. A further six C1s were Norton up to the type’s final out of service date up in the UK within a year – No.24 and converted to tankers following the Falklands at the end of October 2013. No.36 at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, and War and designated Hercules C1Ps.

8 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] NEWS REPORT

Taking centre stage in a night photo-shoot at RAF Northolt, West London, on October 17, was the RAF’s sole surviving Hercules C1, XV295. Five days later XV295 departed RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, for St Athan airfield in South Wales for storage. The event was organised by Phil Dawe and station commander Gp Capt Andy Bacon to support the rebuilding of Northolt’s famous Battle of Britain Sector Operations Building (Building 27), now renamed the Sir Keith Park Building. Fat Albert’s Fond Ian Harding Farewell

By the time flying operations ceased at Lyneham over many locations linked with the C-130K, On October 29, XV177 and XV214 departed on September 30, 2011, all RAF C-130K and including Cambridge, Colerne, Filton, Thorney Brize for the last time, bound for St Athan. No C-130J aircraft had relocated to the RAF’s Island, RAF Valley in Anglesey, RAF Lossiemouth official announcement on the fate of the four tactical transport hub at nearby Brize Norton. in Morayshire and their former ‘principle’ home , Hercules has been made. RAF Lyneham. Herculean Final Mission Just before 17.00, XV177 and XV214 conducted THE FINAL FOUR RAF C-130Ks Appearance at RAF Northolt’s night photo-shoot a final flypast over Brize Norton before landing on was the prelude to the C-130K’s final operational runway 26. Fittingly, the sun came out as both XV177 Hercules C3A delivered on mission. After the retirement of XV295 and aircraft taxied to their respective parking bays. December 19, 1966 XV303 on October 22, 2013, the final two aircraft, After shaking hands with the crew members, Wg XV214 Hercules C3A delivered during XV177 and XV214, flew a series of local missions Cdr Graeme Gault, Officer Commanding No.47 November 1967 from Brize Norton. For the type’s final operational Squadron, said: “It’s a fantastic aircraft, and on XV295 Hercules C1 delivered on low flight (OLF) on October 25 the two aircraft, this last sortie we took the aircraft around all the March 8, 1969 call signs ‘Reynard 1 and 2’, took off from Brize places that have been poignant in its history. It’s mid-morning for an epic mission lasting for more done a lot over the years, so it’s very sad to see XV303 Hercules C3A delivered on May 5, 1968 than six hours. During that time the pair flew it go.”

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 9 UK

Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint ZZ664 touches down ‘Dambusters’ Last Stand at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, on November On November 2, No.617 Squadron Afghanistan. The unit will return to RAF 12. Crown copyright/Senior Aircraftman Blake Carruthers ‘Dambusters’ took over the Panavia Lossiemouth, Morayshire, to disband Tornado GR4 detachment at Kandahar when the deployment is completed. airfi eld in Afghanistan from No.12(B) Under current plans, the ‘Dambusters’ Squadron, to support Operation will reform in 2016 at RAF Marham, Herrick. The handover marked the Norfolk, as the RAF’s fi rst frontline unit beginning of the unit’s fi nal four month equipped with the Lockheed F-35B operational deployment, during which Lightning II (see Two Tornado GR4 it will provide armed overwatch and Squadrons to Disband, September, aerial reconnaissance for allied forces in p8). Ian Harding RAF Rivet Joint Arrives On November 12 Boeing Capable Eagles at RAF Leeming RC-135W Rivet Joint ZZ664 (c/n 18773, ex 64-14833) touched down at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, on its delivery fl ight from the United States. The aircraft departed Majors Field in Greenville, Texas, where it was modifi ed from a KC-135R Stratotanker, for Bangor in Maine, before crossing the Atlantic. The aircraft is the fi rst of three for the RAF acquired under the Airseeker programme that will be assigned to No.51 Squadron in the electronic intelligence gathering role, reinstating a capability lost when the last of the British Aerospace Nimrod R1s was retired in June 2011. The aircraft was rolled out in May following conversion and fl ew in late July (further to Ai rseeker Programme Advancing, July, p8). Acceptance trials will be completed at RAF Waddington before it enters service in October Typhoon FGR4 ZK329/‘FH’ of No.1(F) Squadron and Mirage 2000N 369/‘125-AG’ of Escadron de Chasse 2/4 2014, half a century after the together during Exercise Capable Eagle. Crown Copyright/Sergeant Ralph Merry airframe was ordered by the US Air Force as a KC-135A. A corner of RAF Leeming in (housing a French Navy Dassault and in doing so we have looked at The second RC-135W will be North Yorkshire was transformed Atlantique 2, Canadian Lockheed the Expeditionary Air Wing concept delivered in November 2014 and into Deployed Operating Base CP-140 Aurora, Cobham Dassault and tried to reinvigorate a training the third in November 2016, with (DOB) ‘Dragonia’ during Exercise Falcon 20s and Royal Navy British process to enable our people to the type achieving its full operating Capable Eagle, a Combined Aerospace Hawk T1As); and RAF face contingency in [any] operational capability between mid-2017 and Joint Anglo-French Expeditionary Leuchars, Fife (No.100 Squadron environment they are given.” early the following year. Force. It was occupied between Hawks, usually based at RAF The deployment of the Typhoons While old, the airframes will be October 7 and 17 by eight RAF Leeming). Air-to-air refuelling to RAF Leeming was a major equipped with the latest standard of Eurofi ghter Typhoons from No.1(F) was provided by an Istres-based feature of the exercise. According signals and electronic interception Squadron at RAF Leuchars, Fife Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker from to No.1(F) Squadron’s Offi cer and processing equipment currently and four Armée de l’Air (French Air Groupe de Ravitaillement en Vol Commanding, Wg Cdr Mark Flewin, installed in the US Air Force’s Force) Dassault Mirage 2000Ns 2/91, deployed to RAF Mildenhall, “we’ve been involved in a diverse RC-135V/W Rivet Joint fl eet. from Escadron de Chasse 2/4 Suffolk, for the duration, and RAF range of mission sets from close ZZ664 is fi tted with Baseline 10.2, ‘Lafayette’ (EC.02.004) from Base Airbus Military Voyagers of No.10 air support to air interjection to while ZZ665 will have Baseline 11 Aérienne 125 at Istres le Tube in Squadron and No.216 Squadron’s defensive counter air.” Concerning and ZZ666 Baseline 12. They will southern France. More than 700 Lockheed TriStars at RAF Brize the French deployment, he added: return to the United States every British and French personnel were Norton, Oxfordshire. The tankers “We planned together, we swept four years for an 18-month overhaul based at RAF Leeming as part of provided support to the aircraft them in to allow them clear and upgrade, during which the the exercise. operating from RAF Leeming, as passage to their target and then latest baseline standard will be Capable Eagle was the air well as Panavia Tornado GR4s we protected the four Mirages on installed. By the time ZZ666 is component of Joint Warrior 13- and EC 01.002 Mirage 2000F-5s their way out.” French Air Force delivered, ZZ664 should be having 2, a biannual, multinational, tri- fl ying missions from RAF Marham, commander Lt Colonel David Baseline 13 installed and No.51 service military exercise. This Norfolk and Luxeuil in eastern Marty said: “It is great experience Squadron will operate with two year it was led for the fi rst time by France respectively. to fl y with our RAF allies and it has different versions of the system in a joint team of French and British Wing Commander Mike Bracken, deepened our understanding of the aircraft at any one point. air commanders, strengthening the head of Expeditionary Air Wing how we fl y and fi ght together. Our RAF crew have accumulated more cooperation and training between Operational Training led the exercise training modes are similar so there than 32,000 fl ight hours in over the nations at a strategic level. planning. “Over the last 18 months is no specifi c adaptation required 1,800 sorties on US Air Force RC- Other participants included: we’ve been tasked to re-engage with for joint participation in this sort of 135V/Ws at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire contingency operations for the RAF, exercise.” Ian Harding

10 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Europe

Rafale F3 aircraft from EC1/91 ‘Gascogne’ based at BA113 Saint Dizier in north-eastern France. In October 2009, the first AdlA ASMP-A unit was declared operational with the ASMP-A, this unit being EC3/4 ‘Limousin’, which flies Mirage 2000NK3 aircraft from its Tested base at BA125 Istres on France’s Mediterranean coast. The ASMP-A replaces the earlier ASMP, which has been operational in AdlA and Marine Nationale (French Navy) service since 1986. The ASMP in turn replaced the AN22 and AN53 free-fall nuclear bombs in service from the 1960s. The introduction of the ASMP-A is part of a wider modernisation of France’s nuclear deterrent, A French Navy Dassault Rafale takes off from the fl ight deck of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier with an inert ASMP-A including the Marine Nationale’s air-to-ground nuclear missile on its central fuselage weapons station. MBDA nuclear submarines equipped with new ballistic missiles. The The Armée de l’Air (AdlA, French Air September 23 with the weapon General Armaments Directorate) ASMP-A’s specifications, such as Force) has completed a test launch being launched from a Dassault missile test facilities at Biscarosse, its explosive yield, are classified, of an inert version of France’s new Mirage 2000NK3 combat aircraft on the Atlantic coast. although unofficial sources report MBDA ASMP-A (Air-Sol Moyenne belonging to Escadron de Chasse The purpose of the test was to that the weapon has a range of Porte-Amélioré, or Upgraded Air-to- (EC) 2/4 ‘La Fayette’ at BA702 validate the missile’s technical up to 500km (270 nautical miles), Surface Medium-Range) medium- Avord in central France. The and operational capabilities. A and between 50-300 kilotons of range air-to-surface nuclear missile. launch took place at the Direction previous test was performed on explosive power in a selectable The test was performed on Générale de l’Armement’s (DGA - June 19, 2012 involving a Dassault yield warhead. Tom Withington Netherlands and Belgium Plan Joint QRA The Netherlands and Belgium will Crem, signed a letter of intent (LoI) Declaration of the Benelux Defence airspace will also be protected by jointly monitor Benelux airspace to implement the plan. According Ministers of April 18, 2012, after the arrangement. from 2016. Meeting in Brussels on to the Dutch Ministry of Defence a which the Dutch and Belgian air The Netherlands and Belgium each October 23, Dutch defence minister formal treaty should be completed forces stated that there were no maintain a pair of F-16 Fighting Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and soon. technical or operational barriers to Falcons 24 hours a day, seven days her Belgian counterpart, Pieter de The LoI builds on the Ministerial the collaboration. Luxembourg’s a week for QRA. Bob Fischer Dutch Parliament Exercise Nube Griz 2013 Approves F-35 Acquisition A majority in the Dutch Parliament on November 6 approved the acquisition of 35 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs for the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force, RNLAF) to replace its current F-16 MLU Fighting Falcon fl eet. The new aircraft are in addition to two F-35A test aircraft already delivered to participate in the operational test and evaluation (OT&E) programme at Edwards AFB, California, from early 2015. Current plans envisage eight F-35As delivered annually from EF-18M Hornet C15-41/‘15-28’ carrying inert AGM-88 HARM and IRIS-T missiles on approach to Albacete AB on 2019 to 2022, with the fi nal three October 8 during Nube Griz. The aircraft still carries the 25th anniversary markings applied in 2010. Roberto Yáñez entering service in 2023. At the Nube Griz, the Ejército del Aire’s Ala 15; Eurofi ghter Typhoons army’s airmobile force) Eurocopter same time, the RNLAF’s F-16 fl eet (Spanish Air Force’s) annual air from Ala 11 and Ala 14; CASA EC135T2+s and Boeing will gradually be reduced from 61 defence exercise, ran during the C212ECM Aviocar and Falcon CH-47D Chinooks from Colmenar in 2019 to 55 in 2020, 45 in 2021, second week of October, with 20ECMs from 47 Grupo; Airbus Viejo. Also participating in the 34 in 2022 and 24 in 2023, before units from all three Spanish armed Military CN235s from Ala 35; exercise were army air defence being withdrawn from service in forces taking part. Albacete AB Boeing AV-8B+ Harrier IIs from the units equipped with Roland and 2024. Most of the F-35s will be hosted a number of detachments, Armada’s (navy’s) 9th Escuadrilla; NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced operating from Leeuwarden and including McDonnell Douglas and Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Surface-to-Air Missile System). Volkel, while another fi ve will be EF-18M Hornets from Ala 12 and Ejército de Tierra (the Spanish Roberto Yáñez used for pilot training in the US. Kees van der Mark and Bob Fischer

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 11 Europe

Dutch Defence Cuts Partially RNLAF’s 131 EMVO Squadron Reversed In an effort to have its latest defence Marks 25th Anniversary plans approved by parliament, the Dutch coalition cabinet – which currently has a majority in the lower, but not the upper, house – revised some of the measures announced on September 17 (see Dutch OK F-35, Cut RNLAF, October, p12). In a letter dated October 25, Dutch defence minister Jeanine Hennis- Plasschaert told the parliament in The Hague that structural cuts in the annual defence budget of €348 million were reduced by €115 million, enabling some installations earmarked for closure to remain open and various assets to stay in service. An important revision for the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force, RNLAF) is that Leeuwarden AB will not become a deployed operating base as of January 1, 2015, but will keep its status as a main operating base. The reduction of Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer L-02 (c/n 539, ex HB-HLV) received special markings for the 25th anniversary of 131 EMVO the F-16 Fighting Falcon fl eet from (Elementaire Militaire Vlieger Opleiding, elementary military pilot training) Squadron, celebrated on October 10 at its 68 to 61, however, will go ahead home base, Woensdrecht AB. The unit took delivery of ten PC-7s (L-01 to L-10, c/n 638 to 647) between January 26 as planned. The revised plans also and September 14, 1989; a further three (L-11 to L-13, c/n 610 to 612) were added on July 11, 1997, in response to a include the acquisition of a Boeing need for more pilots. The aircraft were repainted from their original yellow, red and white colours to the current black CH-47 Chinook simulator, which will with yellow in 2005/2006. Arnoud Schoor/Dutch MoD via Kees van der Mark improve the operational availability of 298 Squadron’s fl eet of 11 CH-47Ds and three CH-47Fs (the Upgraded other three CH-47Fs are assigned Final C295M for to the Joint Netherlands Training Aviojet Detachment at Fort Hood, Texas). Poland Delivered The fi rst upgraded CASA C101EB The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Aviojet (E25-31) was redelivered to the Netherlands Navy) will see its joint Ejército del Aire’s (Spanish Air Force’s) logistic support ship HNLMS Karel Academia General del Aire (Ala 79) Doorman enter service in 2015 after at Murcia-San Javier AB on October all, instead of being sold immediately 30. The aircraft was modernised by after completion as announced in the Maestranza Aérea at Albacete September. The vessel will have a Airbus Military C295M 028 AB. Seven modifi cations are being large helicopter deck and hanger (c/n S-104) completing a test fl ight implemented on the fl eet while structural space to accommodate up to at San Pablo Airport, Seville in Spain, on October 28. The transport, the components prone to corrosion or fi fth of fi ve ordered for the Polish Air Force in mid-2012 (see Five Additional six NHIndustries NH90 NFHs or fatigue are replaced as required. The C295s For Poland, August 2012, p9), was delivered along with the fourth on Boeing AH-64D Apaches, or two November 2, taking the total number for Poland to 17. Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta work extends the service life of the Chinooks. Kees van der Mark Aviojet beyond 6,000 fl ight hours.

under contract to the mission suite, tactical Interior Ministry. NEWS mission systems and 1 BY sensors, including an L-3 12,000 BOMBARDIER 415 FOR SPAIN Wescam MX-20 electro- HEAVY AIRLIFT WING Spain’s agriculture, food and 15 NUMBERS optical/infrared turret, FLIGHT HOURS environment ministry ordered a ATLANTIQUE 2S TO will be installed. The fi rst One of three Boeing C–17A single Bombardier 415 amphibious BE UPGRADED is due to re-enter service Globemaster IIIs with the 12-nation fi refi ghting aircraft on October 17 French defence minister in 2018 and the last in 2023. Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) at Pápa AB for $37 million, including spares, Jean-Yves Le Drian has signed Kieran Velon in Hungary passed the fleet’s 12,000 engineering support and optional a contract to begin the upgrade of flight hour on November 13 during equipment. The aircraft was 15 of the Marine Nationale’s (French a combined mission for Finland, registered as C-GWEQ (c/n 2090) Navy’s) Dassault Atlantique 2 maritime 6 Sweden and Norway. The HAW on September 3 and was due to be patrol aircraft in early October. Under F-35AS FOR NORWAY was launched on July 2009 and delivered as AIR International went the €400 million project Dassault The Norwegian defence budget declared fully operational in to press. The Spanish Government Aviation and Thales, in partnership proposal for 2014 includes funding for November 2012. It has carried previously received three B415s plus with DCNS and Service Industriel de six Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning some 36,220 tonnes and more than 16 Canadair CL-215Ts (two of which l’Aéronautique, will modernise the IIs as part of the country’s planned 47,000 passengers, and have been destroyed). Five CL-215s aircraft to enable them to fl y until at procurement of 52. Norway had the Globemasters are expected are operated by the Compañia de least 2030 – the current out of service previously approved funding for ten. to accumulate 3,165 flight hours Extincion General de Incendios SA date – and possibly beyond. A new David C Isby in 2013.

12 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Russia & CIS NEWS BY 5 NUMBERS T-50S Deliveries of Su-30SM Under Way FLYING The fi fth prototype of the Sukhoi T-50 has made its fi rst fl ight at the Komsomolsk-on- Amur factory in Khabarovsk Kray in the hands of test pilot Roman Kondratiev. The fi ghter was airborne for 50 minutes on October 27 to confi rm stability and undertake propulsion checks. It is due to join the other four T-50s at Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, after completing its initial factory tests. The prototypes have fl own more than 450 fl ights since the fi rst on January 29, 2010. David C Isby

14 The fi fth to seventh production Sukhoi Su-30SMs for the Russian Air Force arrived at Domna AB on November 11. A total of 14 are due to be delivered to the base by the end of the year to form the fi rst operational unit with the type. Among those SU-34S TO BE DELIVERED IN 2013 that will be assigned to the unit are the two (at least) currently at Lipetsk, ‘56’ (c/n 10MK51005) and ‘57’ (c/n 10MK51006), Fourteen Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback the third and fourth production aircraft. Su-30SM ‘56’ is pictured arriving at Lipetsk in late October. Sergy Aleksandrov bombers are to be delivered to the Russian Air Force by the end of 2013. Four were ferried to their base at Morozovsk, Rostov Oblast, on October 23. A further 16 will Blackjacks Return to Venezuela be delivered by the end of 2014, Two Russian Air Force Tupolev Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H bombers into Colombian airspace. On the from the new production line at the Tu-160 Blackjack strategic acted as communications relays for fl ight back to Venezuela two days Novosibirsk factory, part of the Sukhoi bombers, based at Engels in the fl ight. The Tu-160s fl ew over later they again entered Colombian holding company. David C Isby the Saratov Oblast, landed in the Caribbean, the eastern Pacifi c airspace and were intercepted by Maiquetía International Airport in and along the south-western coast a pair of IAI Kfi r fi ghters, which Venezuela on October 28 following of the North American continent to escorted the Tu-160s until they Russian Bases a 13-hour fl ight. The bombers arrive in Venezuelan airspace. An were outside its territory. They Upgraded (RF-94115 Vitaliy Kopylov and Antonov An-124 heavy-lift transport returned to Engels on November 5, RF-94104 Alexander Golovanov) and an Ilyushin Il-96-300 also fl ew to refuelling over the Norwegian Sea Plans to enhance existing operational were escorted part of the way by Maiquetía International Airport with from Ilyushin Il-78s. air bases are continuing in Russia. New Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 support equipment and personnel. Two Tu-160s conducted a similar runways are under construction at Fighting Falcons from Bodø when The bombers fl ew on to Managua in fl ight to Venezuela in September Russian Air Force bases at Aktyubinsk they passed by Norway and Two Nicaragua on October 30, crossing 2008. David C Isby and Privolzhskiy (Astrakhan Oblast), Engels (Saratov Oblast), Korenovsk and Krymsk (Krasnodar Kray), Chkalovskiy (Moscow Oblast) and Chkalovsk More Kazakh (Kaliningrad Oblast). Work is planned to C295M Orders start soon on a new runway at Baltimor Airbus Military is to deliver an airbase near Voronezh. additional pair of C295M tactical Russia is planning to double the transports to the Kazakhstan Air numbers of aircraft based at Kant, Defence Force. The fi rm contract near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Taxiways was signed with Kazspecexport, and support facilities there will also a state company belonging to the be expanded and new Volvo fuel Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan. tanker vehicles have been delivered. The manufacturer announced on Russian Tupolev Tu-95SM Bear-H October 24 that the aircraft would Air and Space Defence bombers based at Engels recently be delivered in 2014 and 2015. deployed to Kant for an exercise, but Both are included in a memorandum it is unconfi rmed if a detachment will Troops Curl of understanding (MoU) signed in Antonov An-26 Curl RF-36009 (c/n 4304) is operated by the Voyska be established there permanently. February 2012 for up to eight C295Ms, Vozdushno-Kosmicheskoy Oborony (Air and Space Defence Troops), an Russia will repair and make two of which were fi rm orders, plus independent branch of the Russian military. The aircraft has a small, non- operational the Arctic airstrip on six options (see Two C295s for standard pannier under the centre fuselage. The force was formed on Graham [Greem] Bell island in Franz Kazakhstan, April 2012, p5). The December 1, 2011, and replaced the Kosmicheskie Voyska Rossii (Russian Space Forces), with responsibility for operating military satellites and launch Josef Land – built on sandy soil some fi rst two C295Ms were delivered to facilities as well as air and missile defence. Sergy Aleksandrov 900km (560 miles) south of the North Kazakhstan in early January this year. Pole. In the 1980s Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors were forward deployed to the strip, which Military An-148 was abandoned at the end of the ASW Exercise New Su-25UTGs Cold War. The runway at the civil- Pacifi c Fleet anti-submarine Completes Tests Russia is planning to order “several” military Rogachevo (Amderma-2) warfare aircraft held a two-week The military version of the Antonov new Sukhoi Su-25UTG Frogfoots airfi eld on Novaya Zemlya has been training exercise at Yelizovo AB An-148 has completed for use in aircraft carrier training. repaired, while the airfi eld at Temp in Kamchatka Kray in October. manufacturer’s trials in readiness for The aircraft will be built to current on Kotelnyy island was re-opened on The exercise included Tupolev Tu- six customer demonstration fl ights. Su-25UTG confi guration, but may October 29. On that day an Antonov 142 Bear and Ilyushin Il-38 May The fourth production An-148- incorporate Su-25SM/SM3 variant An-72 became the fi rst aircraft to aircraft. David C Isby 100 airliner was modifi ed to military upgrades. David C Isby land on it for 30 years. David C Isby standards for the tests. David C Isby

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 13 NEWS COLUMN Black Bomber, Rapid Raptor and Army Anxiety to operate in a high-density by Robert F Dorr combat environment, the pilots wanted to reduce the logistics The US Air Force is proceeding ‘tail’ that accompanies F-22s as quickly as it can with its Long when they span oceans – supplies, spare parts, Range Strike-Bomber (LRS-B). weapons, materials used to maintain the Raptor’s stealth Offi cials acknowledge that a com- properties. petition has been launched. Boeing and Lock- Under the no-frills rapid Raptor scheme, four F-22s heed Martin have announced a partnership to move overseas accompanied by a single C-17 Globemaster build the aircraft. Otherwise, almost no details III carrying a tailored about LRS-B have been announced. Penta- maintenance package and key ground-support personnel. gon offi cials won’t even say whether they’ve The arrangement cuts through planning, logistics opened a programme offi ce or conducted an and overhead and gives the analysis of alternatives, which is usually the air force an option of placing its superfi ghter at a location fi rst step in a competition for a new warplane. where adversaries wouldn’t traditionally expect it. Public documents reveal will move ahead without a Rapid Raptor was tested that the air force wants 80 competitor. during an exercise in Alaska to 100 LRS-B bombers and and then used in a real-world TSgt Dana Rosso/US Air Force would like the fi rst to become Rapid Raptors situation when F-22s deployed four that have yet to be built operational in the mid-2020s, to Al Dhafra AB in the United and that are scheduled for with a fi xed-price ceiling of A plan that originated with Arab Emirates in early 2013. delivery by December 2014. $550 million per aircraft. The F-22 pilots at Joint Base The Pentagon decided in service received $300 million Elmendorf-Richardson, Tell it to the Spartans November that seven of the for LRS-B in the fi scal year that Alaska, has streamlined and C-27Js would be transferred began on October 1, 2012 and simplifi ed the process of The US Air Force is fi nding it to US Special Operations has received an undisclosed deploying Raptors overseas diffi cult to dispose of aircraft it Command. Three of these amount of additional funds on short-notice, short-duration doesn’t want, some examples are now at Pope Field, Fort since then. The new bomber operations during a crisis. have yet to leave the assembly Bragg, North Carolina and are will employ stealth, will be Offi cials were looking for line. expected to go to an Air Force manned, and will be developed ways to reduce the amount The C-27J Spartan twin- Special Operations Command to the extent possible from of logistics needed to put turboprop, tactical airlifter has unit along with the four on existing technologies. Just the fi ghters into the fi eld. been around a long time. It Alenia’s production line in about everything else about They also wanted ways to received its out-of-sequence Turin. There is speculation that LRS-B is ‘black’, meaning enable the F-22 to operate ‘J’ suffi x under a long- AFSOC could convert all seven even the existence of from smaller airfi elds with defunct arrangement where into MC-27J gunships (see A information is, itself, classifi ed. limited resources. Planners Lockheed Martin was the Gunship from Italy, May 2013, The industry partnership recognise that large airfi elds, prime contractor and wanted p40-41). was announced on October such as Andersen AFB, Guam a term parallel to that of the Other C-27Js are expected 25, 2013, with Boeing as the or Kadena AB, Japan, are C-130J Super Hercules. L-3 to go to the US Coast Guard lead contractor and Lockheed vulnerable to ballistic missile Communications is the prime and the US Forest Service, the Martin as the ‘primary partner’. attack and that an ability to contractor today, partnered latter for fi re-fi ghting duties, The two companies – the two disperse small cells of fi ghters with Italy’s Alenia. but legal and administrative largest US defence contractors to unpredictable locations After wresting the hurdles haven’t been overcome – pooled resources for an could be vital in a ‘peer’ war programme away from the and the aircraft are going to earlier effort to produce a Next with a modern nation-state like US Army in a shameless turf the Aerospace Maintenance Generation Bomber, which China. battle, the air force wanted to and Regeneration Center at was set aside when new The rapid Raptor buy 78 C-27J Spartans, later Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, requirements were established deployment began with pilots reduced its requirement to 38, Arizona in the interim. The in 2010. It remains unclear at a bar scratching notes on paid for 21, and then decided US Army’s Golden Knights whether Northrop Grumman a napkin. With enemy missile to cancel the programme. parachute demonstration team will weigh in with a separate forces putting airfi elds at risk Included among the airframes needs replacements for its proposal or whether the and anti-access/area-denial already paid for, but later two C-31As – military versions Boeing-Lockheed team threats making it more diffi cult deemed unwanted are at least of the Fokker F27 – but the

14 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] NEWS COLUMN Black Bomber, Rapid Raptor and Army Anxiety proposing a different tilt-rotor design. Critics say the army’s aviation plan for the future lacks focus and that leaders need to narrow their requirements. With the exception of the UH- 72 Lakota, which was a commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) procurement, the army has not had a successful programme for a new aircraft type since it established a separate aviation branch (equal to infantry and artillery) in 1981. Two programmes that were far less ambitious than JMR/ FVL – the RAH-66 Comanche attack helicopter and the ARH-70 Arapaho armed reconnaissance helicopter – reached an advanced stage of development before being scrapped under circumstances C-27J is larger than what is Future Vertical Lift (FVL). The an aircraft that can fl y at 230 that raised serious questions required and probably won’t army is looking for a faster knots (425km/h), much faster about army leadership. be offered to the team. aircraft with increased range than current helicopters which Mangum, who wasn’t involved and payload that can operate have top speeds ranging in those projects, told Army Aviation in higher altitudes and in hotter from 90 to 145 knots (166 to reporters the army is “anxious temperatures than current 268km/h). to get it right this time”. Struggle AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black On October 2, the army The V-280 Valor, which Bell The US Army is struggling Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks. issued agreements to four calls “the future of vertical with budget uncertainties Maj Gen Kevin Mangum, companies to develop lift”, was unveiled in the form in Washington – so familiar, commander of the US Army technology demonstrators in of a full-scale mock-up on now, to everyone trying to do Aviation Center of Excellence what it calls the Joint Multi- October 21 and may be the military planning – and trying to at Fort Rucker, Alabama, told Role Technology Demonstrator best defi ned of the JMR/FVL pave the way for a new family reporters last April that speed (JMR-TD) Phase 1. The candidates. Bell also calls of aircraft, interchangeably is of the essence. The goal, agreements give the four teams the Valor a “third generation” called Joint Multi Role (JMR) or Mangum said, is to develop until June 30, 2014 to complete tilt-rotor: unlike the V-22, preliminary design of their whose engines tilt along with rotorcraft, at which time the the rotors, the engines of the army will select two to be built V-280 remain fi xed horizontally, as demonstrators to fl y in 2017. while the rotors and drive AVX Aircraft and Sikorsky, system tilt. In the company which is partnered with designation, the ‘V’ means Boeing, are both offering ‘vertical’ while the 280 refers gyrocopter-like designs to a objective cruising speed of with immobile vertical rotors 280 knots (518km/h). and separate rear-mounted Partnered with Boeing propellers. AVX is working on the V-22, Bell is now on a coaxial-rotor, ducted-fan competing against Boeing with compound helicopter. The the V-280 (although the Valor Sikorsky-Boeing candidate will fuselage will be assembled by C-27J 08-27013, a former Ohio Air National Guard aircraft operated be a coaxial rigid-rotor, pusher- Spirit Aerosystems, by the 179th Airlift Wing based at Mansfi eld Lahm municipal airport, arrived at David-Monthan on August 7, 2013. The aircraft is currently propeller design drawing from which is linked to the now- awaiting a parking allocation for Type 1000 storage, which requires the experience with Sikorsky’s X2 defunct Boeing presence airframe to be kept in near-active condition. Other C-27Js, the fi rst of technology demonstrator, while in Wichita, Kansas). The which (serial number 09-27021) arrived on July 23, have been retired Bell is offering its V-280 Valor manufacturer is promoting from Maryland, Michigan, and the US Army. Matthew Clements tilt-rotor, and Karem Aircraft is the V-280 vigorously.

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 15 North America

US Government Crisis Raising Questions About Future of Airpower The 17-day US Government US Air Force to Retire Whole Its terms would also prevent the that, if it is left in place, sequestration shutdown in October has left Fleets, November, p5). Service implementation of any new multi- may eventually require the USAF unanswered questions about offi cials have told Congress that year production agreements, to reduce its tactical aircraft fl eet its impact on the future of US if a continuing resolution is left in including those for variants of structure from 1,493 to 1,157, while airpower. It came on top of place for a year, rather than the the Lockheed Martin C-130J its senior offi cials have said the budget sequestration that, under normal sequence of a budget Hercules and Northrop Grumman cuts in their service may amount to the terms of the Budget Control followed by authorisation and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye carrier- up to 550 aircraft. In addition, the Act of 2011, requires half of all appropriation bills, the impact will borne early warning and control navy could be reduced to seven or automatic budget cuts to come be “devastating”. aircraft. The US Air Force may eight aircraft carriers. The report from the Department of Defense The continuing resolution approved have to cancel four or fi ve of the 19 said “the impact of the defence (DoD). Industry and the DoD are in October to provide funding for Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning sequester… will double in fi scal now concerned that sequestration the US Government through to IIs it had planned to buy in FY 2014 [year] 2014 and triple in fi scal 2015 is likely to continue, unaffected January 2014 prohibits production (while the US Navy will lose one compared to fi scal 2013”. by the agreement restarting quantities of aircraft being F-35B and one F-35C). Meanwhile, One change approved is that government operations on increased from the levels approved Lieutenant General Michael Moeller, in FY 2014 the US Air Force October 17. during fi scal year (FY) 2013. This the chief of the Air Staff’s strategic Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Cutbacks and rising costs have a will limit production for more than plans and programmes, said the Angels fl ight demonstration teams potential to reduce force structure 20 major programmes, including budget crisis could do “irreversible will resume displays, albeit with (by up to 50% by fi scal year 2021 the Boeing P-8A Poseidon damage” to the Boeing KC-46A a limited schedule. Flyovers and according to some estimates) while maritime patrol aircraft, which had tanker programme. airshow static display participation cutting readiness and efforts to been planned to increase from 13 A report from the non-governmental by other units, however, will still be modernise (see Cuts May Force to 16 a year. Bipartisan Policy Center estimated barred. David C Isby

California ANG Bids Farewell EMARSS Transferred to to the Fighting Falcon Army Aviation PEO The US Army’s Boeing MC- manufacturing development 12S Enhanced Medium Altitude (EMD) aircraft, intended for Reconnaissance and Surveillance deployment to Afghanistan. System (EMARSS) will be Further orders are expected, developed by the service’s Aviation Congress having approved the Program Executive Offi ce (PEO) fifth and sixth EMD aircraft in at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. fiscal year 2013; the army wants Responsibility for EMARSS was to acquire 24. transferred from the Intelligence, Of the four current aircraft, two are Electronic Warfare and Sensors currently being tested by Boeing PEO on October 1. at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in The last Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 32 Fighting Falcon assigned to the EMARSS is a modified Beech Maryland (see Two EMARSS Begin 194th Fighter Squadron (FS), 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National 350 twin turboprop configured Tests at Aberdeen, October, p15) Guard (ANG) left Fresno-Yosemite International Airport on November 2. for signals intelligence and and the other pair is completing Painted with a stylised rendition of the unit’s emblem on its black tail, the multi-spectral intelligence, conversion at Boeing’s Wichita aircraft (87-0301) was fl own by the 194th FS’s commander, Col Sean Navin, for its fi nal sortie. The unit has re-equipped with the McDonnell Douglas surveillance and reconnaissance. factory in Kansas. The US Army F-15C/D Eagle, transferring its F-16s to the 162nd Fighter Wing at Tuscon, The programme is currently has yet to formally take delivery of Arizona. MSgt David Loeffl er/Califonia Air National Guard limited to four engineering and any MC-12Ss. David C Isby

C-27Js in Demand Requests for transfer of the USAF’s ‘Hurricane Hunters’ to Receive Alenia C-27J Spartans to other US services are currently being evaluated by the US Department of Defense. T56 Upgrade US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) will receive seven to replace its C-41As (C212-200 Aviocars). Four are already based at Pope AAF and were due to be turned over to SOCOM during November. The other three are due to be transferred from Davis-Monthan AFB between December and February 2014. The US Coast Guard has offered to take all 21 C-27Js and convert them for maritime surveillance missions. The US Forest Service has Lockheed WP-3D Orion N42RF (c/n 5622, ex BuNo 159773) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requested seven for conversion as (NOAA), visited King County International Airport/Boeing Field, Washington, on October 19. The WP-3D weather research platforms will become the fi rst aircraft to receive the Allison T56 Series 3.5 enhancement. Developed by fi refi ghting tankers. Unconfi rmed Rolls-Royce, the modifi cation has demonstrated 10% reductions in fuel consumption during tests on a Lockheed reports suggest the aircraft are also C-130 Hercules. The fi rst WP-3D to be upgraded will re-enter service in early 2015. The administration’s two WP-3Ds sought by foreign military services. (the other being N43RF, c/n 5633, ex BuNo 159875) are based at MacDill AFB, Florida. Joe G Walker David C Isby

16 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] North America

Lightning Launches Live AMRAAM

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 07-0744/‘ED’ (b/n AF-6) of the 461st Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, completed the fi rst live-fi re launch of a guided air-to-air missile over a military test range off the Californian coast on October 30. Operating from the unit’s base at Edwards AFB, California, the jet launched an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM). Paul Weatherman/Lockheed Martin Upgraded B-1B Enters Service As AIR International went to due to be equipped by 2019. LC-130Hs Depart for Antarctic press the first Rockwell B-1B Full-size fatigue testing of the B-1B Lancer bomber equipped with the undertaken by Boeing currently Integrated Battle Station (IBS) was supports the 19,900-hour design due to enter service. IBS, part service life predicted for the of the wider SB-16 (sustainment bomber (further to B-1B Fatigue block) upgrade, installs four Tests Commence, October 2012, multifunction flight displays in place p18). The testing will run through of monochrome units for the pilots, 2015. NATO-standard datalinks and a The predicated service life will central integrated test system. enable heavily utilised B-1Bs to It has undergone 12 months of fly until approximately 2040, while tests at Edwards AFB, California, those with an average rate of use and Dyess AFB, Texas (see IBS could be flown until 2060 or later. Three Lockheed LC-130H Hercules of the 139th Airlift Squadron, 109th Airlift Upgraded Lancer, December By comparison, the Boeing B-52H Wing, New York Air National Guard deployed to Antarctica in October in 2012, p12). Stratofortress has a service life of support of the annual Operation Deep Freeze. The fi rst (73-3300, c/n 4508, Boeing will supply IBS kits 27,700 hours, which will enable the ex BuNo 159129) left Stratton Air National Guard Base at Schenectady County Airport, New York, on October 18, with another pair following for installation at Tinker AFB, type to remain in service for another four days later. Three more will deploy before the end of the year. The Oklahoma, and the whole fleet is 25 years. David C Isby transports will support the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic missions into February 2014. MSgt William Gizara/New York Air National Guard operates the world’s largest fl eet of tactical 1 NEWS aircraft, including former F-35A TRAINING BY Royal New Zealand SQUADRON Air Force Douglas ‘Warlocks’ Still Operating MZ-3A CREATED NUMBERS A-4K Skyhawks and The US Air Force stood Aermacchi MB339CBs up its initial Lockheed as well as single and two- Martin F-35A Lightning seat MiG-21s and Aero L-39 II formal training unit, the Albatros acquired from other 61st Fighter Squadron, at Luke sources. They are used by test pilot AFB, Arizona, on October 25. The schools and to provide adversary squadron will start training F-35A services to the DoD. David C Isby instructors this year and its fi rst class of operational pilots in 2014. Six squadrons equipped with 144 F-35As at Luke AFB will eventually fulfi l most 300,000 of the air force’s Lightning II training COMBAT HOURS FOR MC-12W requirements. David C Isby The USAF’s fl eet of Beechcraft MC- 12W Liberty intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft has 25 fl own 300,000 combat fl ight hours, MIG-21S FOR DRAKEN it was announced on October 8. In American Blimp MZ-3A BuNo 167811 being prepared for an orientation fl ight INTERNATIONAL 2012 MC-12Ws fl ew 20,016 sorties from its home base on November 6. Operated by Scientifi c Development Draken International, based at – 24% of all US Air Force combat Squadron 1 (VXS-1) ‘Warlocks’ from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland (further to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, sorties and 73% of ISR fl ights in American Blimp MZ-3A with the ‘Warlocks’, August 2011, p12), it was formally Florida, has acquired 25 former Afghanistan. Despite the record, the accepted into US Navy service on October 26, 2011, but was due to be Polish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MC-12W has been identifi ed as one withdrawn and stored in February 2012. But the following month the decision MiG-21bis/UMs. The aircraft were of the types that may be removed was reversed, enabling it to be used in a research programme lasting three to transported to the US where they are from the service’s inventory because six months – the blimp has however remained in service ever since as a testbed being reassembled. The company of budget cuts. David C Isby for sensors for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and a science and technology platform. John F Williams/Naval Air Systems Command

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 17 NEWS COLUMN A Christening, a Maiden Flight and a Final Deployment by Rick Burgess MQ-8C Fire Scout Completes First Flight A crowd of thousands of shipyard The newest version of the workers, sailors and their families navy’s Fire Scout vertical take-off unmanned aerial joined dignitaries at the Huntington vehicle (VTUAV), the Northrop Grumman-built MQ-8C, Ingalls Industries’ Newport News completed its fi rst fl ight on Shipbuilding (NNS) shipyard in Newport News, October 31 – 18 months after its development contract was Virginia, on November 9, 2013, to witness the awarded. The fi rst of two christening of the fi rst of a new class of aircraft developmental MQ-8Cs fl ew carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). for seven minutes over the controlled range at Naval Base Susan Ford Bales, daughter tons, CVN 78 is “the heaviest Ventura County, Point Mugu, of former US President Gerald we’ve ever launched”. California, followed by another R. Ford, smashed a bottle of After launch, the carrier shortly afterwards. champagne against the bow was moved to a pier to begin The Navy-Northrop Grumman as she named the ship for her a 27-month outfi tting period, test team had intended one father, who served on the light after which it is scheduled to be fl ight, but when landing they aircraft carrier USS Monterey commissioned during the second noticed an imbalance in one of during World War Two. quarter of fi scal year 2016. its two weight-on-skid switches. The six phased-array The engines were shut down Seventy Percent antennas of the ship’s dual- to allow technicians to adjust band radar have been installed the switches, and a second by an urgent needs statement Construction of the US Navy’s on the island superstructure fl ight was conducted for nine from US Africa Command for next nuclear-powered aircraft and the below-deck minutes. a longer-endurance VTUAV. carrier (CVN) is 70% complete components of the new-design The MQ-8C combines The concept already had at the NNS yard. EMALS (electromagnetic the MQ-8B’s avionics and already been developed by Rear Admiral Thomas aircraft launching system) mission systems in a different, Northrop Grumman in its Fire-X Moore, the navy’s programme catapults and the advanced larger Bell 407 airframe, with programme, which fl ew in executive offi cer for aircraft arresting gear are already in additional fuel tanks and an 2010 and gave the MQ-8C a carriers, speaking to reporters place. uprated engine. The greater head start in development. during a November 5 Moore put the cost of CVN size enables the Fire Scout to “A lot of [the MQ-8C teleconference, said the ships 78 at $12.9 billion, compared fl y 150 nautical miles (240km) success] has to do with of the Ford class will serve for to an original estimate of $10.5 to a radius from a ship and Northrop Grumman’s forward- 94 years from 2016 to 2110. billion. He estimated the next maintain an eight-hour orbit, leaning investment of its own,” CVN 78, the lead ship and the carrier, USS John F. Kennedy said Capt Patrick Smith, Smith said. fi rst carrier built after the ten- (CVN 79), will cost $1.2 billion the US Navy’s Fire Scout The navy plans to procure ship Nimitz class, is expected less than CVN 78 because of programme manager, in a two developmental MQ-8Cs to serve 50 years, 23 before lessons learned in processes November 1 teleconference and 28 production aircraft. a four-year refuelling and 23 and of the technology already with reporters. The focus of the next series years beyond. The last Nimitz- developed. The MQ-8C has twice the of fl ights is envelope expansion class carrier will leave the fl eet Because the ship’s crew and endurance and three times and validation. Payload in 2057. air wing is 900 to 1,200 fewer the payload of the MQ-8B integration is scheduled Moore said the ceremonies personnel than the 5,500 of while using the same control for December and January were delayed by four months a Nimitz-class carrier, Moore system and datalinks. A fully Dynamic interface testing to enable the shipyard to expects $4 billion savings in crew fuelled MQ-8C weighs 6,000lb will follow on a tilt table, a complete more of the ship in costs over the life of the ship. (2,721kg) compared to the platform that simulates the the convenience of the graving He said the labour for MQ-8B at 3,200lb (1,451kg). roll of a shipboard helicopter dock. The ship, currently at CVN 78 will total 50 million The MQ-8C uses more than pad. Deployment on a frigate 77,000 tons, could not accept man-hours, compared to the 80% of the software developed is scheduled for late 2014, any more weight until it was 40 million used to build the for the MQ-8B, said George followed by deployment on a launched the following week Nimitz-class ships. CVN 79 Vardoulakis, vice president for littoral combat ship in 2016. from the graving dock, in order is expected to require 43 medium-range tactical systems Production of the 30 for it to clear the dock’s lip. million to 44 million man- for Northrop Grumman. MQ-8Bs ordered by the navy Moore said that at 77,000 hours to build. The MQ-8C was initiated is nearing an end, with the last

18 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] NEWS COLUMN A Christening, a Maiden Flight and a Final Deployment HMLA-467 years ago when sister squadron VFA-125 was deactivated. Completes Last Hornets have been fl own from Active-Duty Lemoore for 33 years. Deployment of the F/A-18 Hornet training UH-1N Huey continues with VFA-106 ‘Gladiators’ at NAS Oceana, The return of the USS Kearsarge Virginia, and Marine Fighter Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) Attack Training Squadron 101 to the US east coast during the (VMFAT-101) ‘Sharpshooters’ fi rst week of November marked at Marine Corps Air Station the fi nal active-duty squadron Miramar, California. deployment of the UH-1N version of the famous ‘Huey’ VP-16 Takes P-8A helicopter. Marine Light Attack Poseidon on Maiden Helicopter Squadron 467 Deployment (HMLA-467), based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry The Boeing-built P-8A Point, North Carolina, sent a Poseidon maritime patrol detachment of UH-1N and aircraft embarked on its AH-1W helicopters as part fi rst major deployment on of Marine Medium Tiltrotor December 1, 2013, when Squadron 266 (Reinforced) Patrol Squadron 16 (VP-16) with the ARG to the areas of ‘War Eagles’ departed Naval Service members, crew, their families and distinguished guests bow operations of the US Fifth and Air Station Jacksonville, their heads as Navy Capt Jerome Hinson gives a benediction during Sixth Fleets. Florida, for Naval Air Facility the Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) christening ceremony. Mass Communication When the detachment Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. Specialist 1st Class Patrick Grieco/US Navy returned home on November 5, Boeing delivered the 12th two yet to be delivered from Squadron 35. the event marked the end of the production P-8A on October 25 the Northrop Grumman facility The MQ-8B has made seven UH-1N in the active-duty marine and expects to deliver one more at Moss Point, Mississippi. deployments over three years corps and its replacement by before the end of 2013. Boeing Smith said the MQ-8B will aboard frigates, as well as a the new UH-1Y Venom version. is on contract to build 37 P-8As deploy in 2014 on the Littoral deployment to Afghanistan. HMLA-467 has already begun in the fi rst four low-rate initial Combat Ship USS Fort Worth. Its full-motion video is used to transition to the UH-1Y. production lots. The navy plans In early November, an MQ-8B track pirates and shipping, as The only reserve HMLA to purchase 117 P-8As. will operate from Fort Worth well as high-value targets at squadron, HMLA-773, still fl ies with Helicopter Sea Strike sea or on land. the UH-1N. The squadron has Navy Awards two UH-1Ns on deployment off West Africa aboard a Royal Contract for ex- Netherlands Navy amphibious Forrestal Scrapping transport dock ship. Upon return, it will mark the fi nal The US Navy has awarded a deployment of the UH-1N. contract for 1 cent to All Star Metals LLC of Brownsville, VFA-122 Gives Up Texas, for the towing, dismantling and recycling of Legacy Hornets ex-USS Forrestal (AVT 59). The navy’s west coast strike Forrestal, the fi rst fi ghter readiness squadron has ‘supercarrier’, was retired its F/A-18C/D Hornet decommissioned on aircraft and now is solely September 11, 1993, after equipped with F/A-18E and more than 38 years of service. F/A-18F Super Hornets. The navy expects to award Strike Fighter Squadron contracts for the scrapping of A US Marine Corps UH-1N Huey assigned to Marine Light Attack 122 (VFA-122) ‘Eagles’, based two additional conventional Helicopter Squadron 467 (HMLA-467), lands on the fl ight deck of the at Naval Air Station (NAS) carriers, ex-USS Saratoga USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during the type’s fi nal active-duty squadron Lemoore, California, added (CV 60) and ex-USS deployment. Sgt Christopher Stone/US Marine Corps legacy Hornets to its fl eet three Constellation (CV 64).

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 19 North America Vampire Specials

EA-6B Prowler BuNo 163886/’AJ500’ of VAQ-134 ‘Garudas’ is the squadron’s CAG- bird. Matthew Clements Final Prowler Detachment

VX-9’s F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 166857/’XE111’ was unveiled in its new colour scheme at NAWS China Lake in November. Paul Ridgway

VAQ-134 deployed all fi ve of its assigned aircraft to NAS Fallon in October. Matthew Clements

EA-6B Prowler-equipped Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134) ‘Garudas’ made the type’s fi nal air wing detachment to NAS Fallon, Nevada, during October. VAQ-134 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) and will embark aboard Fire Tanker Prior to the unveiling of XE111, VX-9 already had one colour bird – F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 166791/’XE260’ – which features a green fi n band outlined in white with the squadron’s ‘XE’ tail code inset. Paul Ridgway

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron the side. fuel tank). 9 (VX-9) ‘Vampires’, based at The scheme was designed by Aircraft 111 and other specially- NAWS China Lake in California, VX-9’s AM2 Clifford Craft who marked aircraft assigned to VX-9 recently unveiled its latest colour submitted it in a contest run by the were all painted by the squadron’s bird, F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo squadron. corrosion control shop. Since 166857/’XE111’. The paint The bat represents the squadron’s VX-9 was formed in June 1993 by scheme features a glossy black nickname, ‘The Vampires’, and the amalgamation of VX-4 and VX- fuselage, vampire bat artwork on the stars represent the respective 5, this latest paint scheme is the Former US Navy EC-130Q BuNo 161495 by the Coulson Group, which also owns the outer fi n surfaces, a series of squadron numbers for VX-4 (four one that most closely replicates at McClellan Field in Sacramento, and operates Martin Mars fi re bombers. blue bands outlined in red with stars on stabilisers and fins), VX-4’s all-black F-14D Tomcat California, on August 28 awaiting Tanker 131, N130FF, is now equipped fi nal approval as an air tanker. After with a 3,500-gallon internal retardant white stars inset, fi ve large grey VX-5 (five stars on the wings and BuNo 164604/’XF1’, known as spending ten years on display in delivery system, and is expected to be stars on the top of the fuselage on top of fuselage) and VX-9 (nine ‘Vandy 1’, which made its final Racine, Wisconsin, it was obtained for the fi rst in a series of new civilian C-130 and the squadron’s nickname on stars on the forward fuselage and flight in July 2004. Paul Ridgway conversion to the fi refi ghting mission air tankers. Jim Dunn

F-5 Tiger-equipped Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC-13) ‘Saints’ based at NAS Fallon, Nevada, celebrated its 40th anniversary as a US Navy fi ghter squadron on Saints’ Anniversary Tiger September 1. The unit was commissioned as Fleet Composite Squadron 13 (VC-13) at NAS New Orleans, Belle Chasse, Louisiana, on September 1, 1973, with F-8H Crusaders. The original composition of the squadron combined the personnel, aircraft and equipment of VSF-76 and VSF-86, both of which were disestablished on August 31, 1973. The unit has always provided fl eet squadrons with adversary training and has fl own various models of the A-4 Skyhawk and F-5 Tiger. Today, VFC-13 operates a fl eet of F-5Ns and a sole F-5F Tiger aircraft. F-5N BuNo 761544 is currently painted in the lizard colour scheme shown. The aircraft wears the legend ‘1973-2013 40 Years’ on the tail and side number 40 to celebrate the anniversary. Matthew Clements

20 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] North America

Team Ocho at NAS Fallon E-2C Hawkeye Group 2 BuNo 164353/’AJ600’ of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124 (VAW-124) ‘Bear Aces’ based at NS Norfolk, Virginia. The squadron acquired its nickname as a result of its crews’ directing numerous interceptions of Soviet Tu-95 Bear bombers during a deployment to NAS Kefl avik, Iceland, in 1981.On August 19 that year, two F-14A Tomcats under the control of VAW-124 intercepted and shot down two Libyan Su-22 Fitter fi ghter aircraft over the Mediterranean. The US Navy aircraft were all assigned to CVW-8 operating from the USS Nimitz (CVN Final Prowler Detachment 68) which was under way in the Gulf of Sidra. In June 1985, VAW-124 provided tracking of hijacked TWA Flight 847 as it crisscrossed the Mediterranean while deployed with CVW-8 on USS Nimitz. Jim Dunn Despite the US Government USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Navy where an entire CVW can shutdown it was business as usual to the US Navy 5th and 6th Fleets’ conduct comprehensive training at NAS Fallon during October as areas of responsibility. CVN 77 is while integrating every element Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) ‘Team due to deploy in February 2014 of the air wing into realistic battle Ocho’ undertook a detachment and will relieve the USS Harry scenarios prior to a sea-based to NAS Fallon, Nevada. The S. Truman (CVN 75) which is deployment. CVW-8 squadron training was in preparation for an currently forward-deployed. NAS CAG-birds seen at Fallon for the upcoming deployment aboard the Fallon is the only facility in the US detachment were: Left: MH-60S BuNo 167901/’AJ610’ the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN of Helicopter Sea Combat 77) in February 2014 for the Prowler Squadron 9 (HSC-9) ‘Tridents’ aircraft’s fi nal cruise with the US based at NS Norfolk, Virginia. Atlantic Fleet. HSC-9 traces its history back Prior to joining CVW-8 the ‘Garudas’ to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 3 (HS-3) which was were assigned to CVW-17 and the established on June 18, 1952, at USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). NAF Elizabeth City, North Carolina, equipped with the Piaseki UH-25B helicopter. Jim Dunn

Right: F/A-18E BuNo 166776/’AJ100’ of Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA- 31) ‘Tomcatters’ based at NAS Fire Tanker Oceana, Virginia, touches down on Fallon’s 14,005ft-long runway 31L. The stylish colour scheme includes the CVW-8 badge on the inner tail fi n and ‘Felix the Cat’ artwork on the outside fi n surfaces. VFA-31 is the second-oldest continuously active US Navy squadron. Matthew Clements

Left: F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 166663/’AJ200’ of Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213) ‘Black Lions’ based at NAS Oceana, Virginia, seen Former US Navy EC-130Q BuNo 161495 by the Coulson Group, which also owns landing at NAS Fallon. VFA-213, at McClellan Field in Sacramento, and operates Martin Mars fi re bombers. formerly F-14 Tomcat-equipped California, on August 28 awaiting Tanker 131, N130FF, is now equipped Fighter Squadron 213, transitioned to fi nal approval as an air tanker. After with a 3,500-gallon internal retardant the F/A-18F in May 2006, becoming spending ten years on display in delivery system, and is expected to be the fi rst fl eet squadron to fl y APG-79 Racine, Wisconsin, it was obtained for the fi rst in a series of new civilian C-130 AESA radar-equipped Super Hornets. conversion to the fi refi ghting mission air tankers. Jim Dunn Matthew Clements ‘Bat Rack’ P-3C Arriving at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis- Monthan AFB, Arizona, on October 1, was P-3C BuNo 158206. The aircraft was painted in this heritage scheme for the Centennial of Naval Aviation in 2011 to represent EP-3B ‘Bat Rack’ aircraft of the 1960s. The airframe was last operated by Patrol Wing 10 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. Matthew Clements

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 21 Asia & Australasia

Australian Spartan Flight Imminent The Royal Australian Air Force’s July 2014, although along with two Indian Navy Hawks (RAAF’s) fi rst Alenia Aermacchi others (A34-002 and A34-005) it C-27J Spartan is nearing completion will remain in the US for training Enters Service in Turin, Italy, and was set to make (updating Australian C-27J Buy its maiden fl ight as AIR International Approved, October, p20). went to press, two months ahead The fi rst aircraft due to arrive in of schedule. The aircraft (A34-001, Australia (A34-003 and -004) will c/n NC179) will then be ferried to be delivered to No.35 Squadron L-3 Communications’ facility in at RAAF Base Richmond, New Waco, Texas, for completion under South Wales, in March 2015. Final a Foreign Military Sales arrangement operating capability for the transport with the US Government. It is due will be achieved towards the end of to be handed over to the RAAF in 2017. Nigel Pittaway HAL Hawk Mk 132 IN032, one of 17 that will be delivered to the Indian Navy. Indian Ministry of Defence The Indian Navy inducted the first The Chief of the Naval Staff, P-1 Cleared for Flight four of its Hindustan Aeronautics Admiral D K Joshi, noted during Japan has cleared the Kawasaki and a September 27 announcement Limited (HAL)-assembled the ceremony, which included P-1 maritime patrol aircraft to by the ministry said the incident Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet a fl ypast of other Indian Navy restart fl ight operations. The type was caused by the inability of the Trainers into service during a aircraft, that with the forthcoming was grounded following a transient engines’ fuel nozzles to deliver an ceremony at INS Dega, near induction of the aircraft carriers fl ame-out of all four engines during adequate supply. Vishakhapatnam in Andhra INS Vikramaditya, INS Vikrant and a test fl ight on May 13 (see P-1 Following modifi cations by the Pradesh, on November 6. The others, “the AJT is expected to Grounded and Deliveries Halted, manufacturer to the fi ve aircraft first five of 17 aircraft for the play a pivotal role in moulding the August, p21). The aircraft suffered currently built, the type was expected navy had been handed over by future generation of fi ghter pilots, what the defence ministry termed to resume fl ying during November. HAL at Bangalore on September who would be in the forefront of ‘unstable combustion’ in its four IHI The P-1 is scheduled to achieve an 23 (see Indian Navy Receives its our carrier-centric operational Corporation XF7-10 engines during initial operational capability in fi scal First Hawk, November, p10). philosophy”. Nigel Pittaway a descent over the Pacifi c Ocean year 2015. Nigel Pittaway RAAF Starts Growler Training The fi rst Royal Australian Air Force Whidbey Island, Washington. Flt to our ability to establish a when we begin flying our own pilot destined to fl y the Boeing Lt Sean Rutledge is the fi rst of an credible airborne electronic attack EA-18G in 2017.” EA-18G Growler has begun training eventual six aircrew (pilots and capability,” said Wing Commander Australia is acquiring 12 with the US Navy’s Electronic Attack electronic warfare offi cers) to start Paul Jarvis, Deputy Director EA-18Gs which will be operated Wing, US Pacifi c Fleet (CVWP) training in the US ahead of delivery EA-18G Transition Team. “We’ve by No.6 Squadron from RAAF and Electronic Attack Squadron of Australia’s fi rst Growler in 2017. started early as there is an awful Base Amberley, Queensland. One Two Nine (VAQ-129) at NAS “Training with CVWP is essential lot to learn between now and Nigel Pittaway

Indian Globemaster Delivered via RAF Brize Norton IJT Problems The fourth Boeing C-17A Globemaster III for the Indian Air Force (CB-8004, b/n F261 ex 11-0104) left Long Beach, Remain California, on October 19 on its delivery fl ight to Hindon, near Delhi. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is It transited through RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire (where it is seen continuing to experience problems on October 21) using the call sign IFC3413. Boeing will deliver another Globemaster to India before the end of the year with its HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate and the remaining fi ve on order during 2014. Paul Kyte Jet Trainer (IJT), almost ten years after its fi rst fl ight – which may lead to the aim of achieving initial operational clearance by the end of 2013 being postponed to 2014. HAL has brought in BAE Systems as a consultant to help address problems with the IJT’s stall and spin characteristics. Other tests, including crosswind and climactic testing, will run concurrently. The fi fth limited service production (LSP-5) IJT joined the test programme in September. Indian Air Force plans were for HAL to produce 12 LSP aircraft followed by 73 production examples, which were to be delivered from Korean Tanker Programme 2012. The IJT was scheduled to begin South Korea’s Defense Acquisition conduct the competition, with Aerospace Industries based on replacing the HAL HJT-16 Kiran trainer Program Administration (DAPA) a view to receiving the aircraft second-hand Boeing 767s. from 2014, but the delay in testing will plans to launch a competition between 2017 and 2019. A DAPA spokesperson said postpone this by three to four years. next February to acquire four air- Competitors are expected to evaluation would be conducted The Kirans have, on average, only to-air refuelling aircraft. The arms include the Airbus Military A330 between March and May, with a some 20% of their service life remaining, procurement agency has allocated MRTT and Boeing KC-46A, as successful bidder to be selected and may have to be withdrawn before 6.9 billion won ($6.6 million) to well as a proposal from Israel by the end of 2014. Nigel Pittaway the IJT is fully ready to take over the intermediate training role. David C Isby

22 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected]

NEWS Asia & Australasia BY 3 NUMBERS ISR PC-12S ARRIVE AT KABUL Bersama Lima The fi rst three Pilatus PC-12/47E intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to be supplied to 2013 Afghanistan have arrived at Kabul. The fi rst (YA1378ET, c/n 1378, ex N378NX) was delivered in late September; N383NX (c/n 1383) followed in October and N357NX (c/n 1387) in early November. A total of 18 will be operated by the Afghanistan Air Force’s Special Missions Wing (see Modifi ed PC- 12/47Es for Afghanistan, December 2012, p15). They are equipped with a Sierra Nevada multi-spectral sensor suite and were ordered under a Foreign Military Sales deal announced on October 16, 2012. Republic of Singapore Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcons of 140 Squadron arriving at David C Isby Kuantan AB in Malaysia on November 7 for the start of Bersama Lima 2013. Malaysian Ministry of Defence A major Five Power Defence 208s to Changi Air Base (East) integrated air support. 13.5 Arrangement exercise, Bersama in Singapore. Malaysian Armed No.3 Squadron’s CO, Wing SU-30MKI SQUADRONS Lima 2013, began on November Forces Chief Tan Sri Zulkifeli Commander Tim Alsop, The Indian Air Force plans to have 7 involving aircraft from the Royal Mohd Zin said the cross-basing explained: “This year we 13 full squadrons and a further unit Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Royal was “aimed at enhancing ties and have brought an integrated half equipped with Sukhoi Su- Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the understanding among members of fighting package, including the 30MKI Flankers by 2017, with 18 to 20 aircraft each. David C Isby Republic of Singapore Air Force the RMAF and RSAF”. KC-30A MRTT to keep us in (RSAF). The exercise, which was The RAAF contributed No.3 the fight longer, and the E-7A due to run for two weeks, included Squadron McDonnell Douglas Wedgetail which will provide 185 the fi rst cross-deployment of F/A-18A Hornets, a No.2 greatly increased battlespace SCRAMBLES BY Malaysian and Singapore fi ghter Squadron Boeing E-7A Wedgetail, awareness. This is the first time JASDF FIGHTERS aircraft since 1998. No.33 Squadron Airbus we’ve had this level of support In the third quarter of 2013 the The RSAF deployed fi ve Lockheed KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker on a Malaysian deployment.” Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fi ghters 80 times in Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons Transport (MRTT), No.92 Wing Bersama Lima 2013 also involves response to Chinese aircraft from 140 Squadron at Tengah to Lockheed AP-3C Orions and a personnel from the UK and New activity in or near its airspace. RMAF Kuantan, supported by a No.32 Squadron Beechcraft King Zealand and was due to take Scrambles due to Russia activity 122 Squadron Lockheed C-130H Air 350 – representing the first place in various locations over the increased to 105, up from 31 in the Hercules. The RMAF meanwhile time the RAAF has deployed to an Malaysian Peninsular and South previous quarter. David C Isby sent fi ve BAE Systems Hawk Mk exercise with a full complement of China Sea. Nigel Pittaway Major Exercises Under Way in New Zealand Transport aircraft from fi ve countries exercise for fi xed-wing aircraft and a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III; and an descended on RNZAF Base Ohakea the latter, centred upon Timaru on the C-130J-30 from No.37 Squadron at Armée de l’Air Armée de l’Air in New Zealand in early November South Island, is a fi eld training activity. RAAF Base Richmond, New South (French Air Force) Airbus Military for two major New Zealand Defence Aircraft taking part included Royal Wales; Republic of Singapore Air CN235M from BAN Toutouta, New Force exercises, Kiwi Flag and New Zealand Air Force Lockheed Force C-130H from 122 Squadron Caledonia. Kiwi Flag began on Southern Katipo. The former, held C-130H Hercules from No.40 at Paya Lebar; US Marine Corps November 6 and was due to run at Ohakea, is a tactical fl ying training Squadron based at Whenuapai; KC-130J and US Air Force Boeing until November 29. Nigel Pittaway Upgraded Indian RAAF F-35A Assembly Advancing Mirage 2000 Flown The first Indian Air Force to integrate the Mica air-to-air Dassault Mirage 2000H Vajra to missile with the fl eet. be upgraded completed its first India confi rmed plans to upgrade flight at Istres le Tubé on October 51 Mirage 2000s on July 16, 2011 5. The aircraft is the first of two (see 51 Indian Mirage Upgrades, (2000H KF-103 and two-seat August 2011, p16), comprising 2000TH KT-207) modernised 39 2000Hs and 12 2000THs. The in France by Dassault Aviation loss of two 2000THs on February and Thales, with the balance 24 and March 5, 2012, reduced The fi rst Lockheed Martin F-35A for the Royal Australian Air Force (A35-1, c/n to be completed by Hindustan the operational fl eet to 49 aircraft. AU-1) is now in fi nal assembly and due to be rolled out on July 1 next year. Aeronautics Limited in India. On September 23, 2012, it was AU-1 began the fuselage ‘mate’ process at Fort Worth, Texas, on October 7, The upgrade adds a glass cockpit, revealed that a pair of second-hand marked by a ceremony attended by Head of New Air Combat Capability Air electronic warfare systems and a two-seaters were being sought, Vice-Marshal Kym Osley. The second aircraft (A35-2, AU-2) will be rolled out on August 1 and both will be delivered to Luke AFB, Arizona, in early 2015 helmet-mounted display. The which will also be upgraded (see to support pilot and maintenance training. Initial operating capability for the existing radar is replaced with the Attrition Replacement Mirage F-35A in Australia is set for late 2020, by which time the fi rst of three Thales RDY-2 multi-mode unit and 2000s Sought by India, December F/A-18A/B Hornet squadrons, No.3 Squadron, will have completed conversion India has also contracted MDBA 2012, p15). Nigel Pittaway and been declared operational. Lockheed Martin/Beth Groom

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 23 NEWS REPORT

IrPhantomsan’s Babak Taghvaee reports on the Project Dowran upgrade for Iran’s F-4s

he Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is one of the last operators of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, along with the Hellenic Air Force, Japanese Air Self Defense Force, Republic of Korea Air Force and the Turkish Air Force. Iran’s F-4Ds, F-4Es and RF-4Es, theirT armament systems and avionics are quite old compared to those of other air forces, which have all modernised their fleets. Following a modernisation Chinese Source Live-fire tests began a few weeks later programme called F-4E 2020, Turkey on June 3, 1997, when the first C-801K was intends to keep its F-4Es flying until the end Part-way through the Iran-Iraq War, Iran launched from an F-4E against a dummy of the decade, and Iran is also improving looked to China as a source of weapons. target (an empty oil tanker) in the Persian its Phantoms with a series of weapons and Between 1986 and 1987 the Iranian Navy Gulf. A second test followed three days avionics improvements. received, seven HY-2 Silkworm missiles and a later. With the US Navy Fifth Fleet operating The IRIAF still operates approximately 70 handful of C-801 surface-to-surface missiles in the region, the tests led the US Clinton Phantoms out of the 177 F-4Es, 32 F-4Ds for initial evaluation. Subsequently 50 HY-2s administration to begin working on sanctions and 16 RF-4Es delivered to the country and 100 C-801s were ordered to be used against China over the supply of C-801Ks between 1967 and 1979. Around 50 aircraft for coastal defence systems in the Strait of and C-802s to Iran. The IRIAF was planning are reportedly airworthy at any one time, Hormuz. Deliveries started in 1988, the same to modify more F-4Es to carry C-801Ks and with the others usually under programme year as a further 100 HY-2s were ordered. C-802s but China elected to decrease its depot maintenance, periodical inspections These missiles were all delivered by 1994. cooperation due to US pressure. or modernisation. Iran subsequently ordered 100 more The IRIAF decided to continue Project Qaem C-801s and 340 C-802s (the successor without Chinese assistance. Three other Mavericks to the C-801) for the navy, then in 1992 it F-4Es, one from the 61st TFS and two others Following a US$57 million deal between Iran purchased 25 C-801K air-to-surface variants from the 91st TFS, were modified to launch and the United States in 1972, some 2,500 of the C-801 for use by the IRIAF. This was C-801Ks and C-802s. Their modifications were Hughes AGM-65A Maverick air-to-ground followed by an order for around 100 extended undertaken during their scheduled program missiles were delivered to the IRIAF from range air-launched C-802As. A few of these depot maintenance at the TFB-1 Phantom 1973 to 1975. The IRIAF had plans to acquire missiles were delivered directly from China, Maintenance Centre. The work on the three AGM-53A Condor air-to-surface missiles and but others were assembled by Babaee aircraft was complete by 2005. This led to live AGM-65B Mavericks for use by the F-4Es and Industries in Iran between 1998 and 2010. tests of four C-802s by the two 61st TFS aircraft its F-14As, but after the Islamic Revolution of With the co-operation of a group of and took place in the Persian Gulf that year. 1979 negotiations stopped. technicians from the China Hai-ying The AGM-65A therefore became the sole Electromechanical Technology Academy, Iran Domestic Upgrades air-to-ground armament for Iran’s F-4s. They began integrating C-802As onto its Phantoms While these programmes were under way, were used during the Iran-Iraq War against under a programme called Project Qaem. An the poor quality of maintenance meant the Iraqi battle tanks and trucks, Iraq Navy Osa- F-4E (serial 3-6634, c/n 4674) from the 61st Phantom fleet’s combat readiness fell to 30% class missile boats during Operation Pearl Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) became the at the end of the century. This resulted in the Morvarid in 1981 and to attack vital Iraqi first Iranian Phantom to receive this upgrade. IRIAF undertaking its own domestic upgrades infrastructure such as bridges, as well as the A control computer was designed by the to improve the F-4Es. Most of these activities oil terminals at Al-Bakr and Al-Oumayyah. Chinese to translate both input and output focused on adopting new armaments for The Maverick was effective against data for the C-801K to the Phantom’s missions, such as air interception, ground unprotected Iraqi targets such as the tankers Westinghouse AN/APQ-120 fire control attack and anti-shipping. In the air-to-ground and gun boats. But due to the short range radar. Two launchers were designed and role this led to the development of free-fall of the AGM-65A, the F-4s had to fly close manufactured and carried on the outboard bombs, such as the KITE 2000 and, later, the to their targets, increasing their vulnerability pylons of an F-4E. Finally, after the delivery Qader, Qased, Sattar and Zoubin precision to enemy fire. And the IRIAF found that to the IRIAF of the first C-802As in January laser-guided munitions and their related Type 99 the missile was ineffective for anti-shipping and February 1997, ground tests were laser designator pod. For the air-to-air role, the missions against large battleships with undertaken before the clearance to carry the Fater (a development of the AIM-9J Sidewinder powerful air defences. missile was gained in the spring of that year. with an AIM-9P seeker) was developed. In the

24 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] NEWS REPORT

Right: F-4E Phantom 3-6541 of the 91st TFS prior to take-off for a test flight over the Semnan missile test range on January 19, 2012 to integrate the C-802A and AN/APQ-120 radar. All images Babak Taghvaee Below left: F-4E 3-6649 loaded with a C-801K missile at Mehrabad on September 25, 2013. During a ceremony at the IACI facility that day, domestic production of air-launched C-801K and C-802A missiles was officially announced by the Minister of Defence. Below middle: F-4E Phantom 3-6541 prior to a test flight from Mehrabad loaded with a C-802A missile. Below right: During an IRIAF exercise at Tabirz in September 2008 F-4E 3-6634 (c/n 4674) launches an R-73E Vympel missile.

late 1990s work also began on integrating the project for its Phantoms with new avionics and undergo the upgrade was a 31st TFS F-4E Russian Vympel R-73E Archer infra-red guided armaments and incorporating the weapons (serial 3-6556, c/n 4333), the aircraft which air-to-air missile onto the Phantoms, under upgrades already under way, it decided to the was already being used for Project Fallah to a programme called Project Fallah. Iran had name the project after Dowran. The programme integrate the R-73E onto the Phantom. It acquired 350 R-73Es from the-then USSR in began in 2008 after the IRIAF accepted a arrived at the IACI’s facility at Mehrabad near 1989. They were delivered in 1990 and 1991, proposal from Iranian Aircraft Industries (IACI) to Tehran on December 30, 2008. In addition and were initially used for the IRIAF’s MiG-29s. upgrade the F-4Ds and F-4Es in two phases. to the modification under Phase I, the aircraft The modernisations in the late 1990s Phase I of Project Dowran covers the also received a new radio. After successful also included IRIAF technicians upgrading installation in the front and aft cockpits of ground tests it undertook its first flight by the Phantom’s fire control radar system. Chinese multi-function displays (MFDs), 31st TFS test pilots in March 2011. Artwork After a three-year development period, produced under licence by IACI, to show was subsequently painted on its intakes to two computers and a control panel were engine performance and armaments system show its modernised status. designed and installed in a 31st TFS status. The instrument panel in the aft cockpit The Phase I upgrade of the second F-4E that had been selected as a test- has a second MFD giving flight management Phantom an F-4D (serial 3-6714, c/n bed. The first tests were unsuccessful, system data and a moving map integrated 3564) was completed in March 2012. The but development work continued – with with GPS. Phase I also includes integration third modernised jet was 91st TFS F-4E a second 31st TFS F-4E joining the of a new indigenous UHF/VHF radio system, serial 3-6634, the same aircraft that was programme – until 2008 when acceptable a Chinese-designed tactical air navigation previously modified to carry the C-802 test results were finally achieved. system, chaff/flare dispensers and digitalised under Project Qaem. This jet was also the AN/ALR-46 radar warning receivers. first to receive the Phase II upgrade and Project Dowran Phase II includes additional weapons, was delivered back to its unit in March Abbas Dowran was a war hero and one of the among them a new Iranian-produced semi- 2013. Work on four more Phantoms – an IRIAF’s bravest F-4 pilots of the Iran-Iraq War, active air-to-air radar-guided missile. The F-4D from the 101st TFS, two 91st TFS usually volunteering for the most dangerous work to integrate the Vympel R-73E Archer F-4Es and a 61st TFS F-4E respectively – is missions during the conflict. On July 21, infrared guided air-to-air missile, which initially now under way. The target is to complete 1982, he was tasked with one of the most started in the late 1990s under Project Fallah, the Phase I and Phase II upgrades of the important missions against Iraq – an attack on was also incorporated into Project Dowran. IRIAF’s entire F-4D and F-4E fleet by 2020. the Al-Dourah oil refinery. He and his weapons IACI is also making new launchers for On September 25, 2013, a ceremony system operator (WSO), Mansur Kazemian, the C-801s and C-802s and adaptors was held in the ‘Dowran’ hangar at the flew F-4E 3-6537 (c/n 4165) from the 31st TFS. for existing APU-73 missile launchers IACI’s facility at Mehrabad. Iran’s Minister They departed Noujeh AB (formerly Shahrokhi (designed for the R-73 missile) on the of Defence, Brig General Hossein Dehghan, AB) towards Baghdad and flew through several inboard pylons of the F-4Es. Furthermore, was present at the ceremony to officially layers of Iraqi air defences, including SA-2 Project Dowran Phase II incorporates announce that the C-802As and C-801Ks are Guideline and Crotale surface-to-air missiles, Chinese-developed avionics systems now being licence-produced by Iran under to successfully attack Al-Dourah. However, including: a head-up display and new the names Qader and Nasr respectively. One the F-4E was hit by an SA-2 at 0600 local time. fire control system, self-defence and of the two 91st TFS F-4Es next in line for Dowran ejected his WSO from the stricken navigation systems, all from China’s the Project Dowran upgrade – incidentally Phantom – Kazemian became a military Shenyang F-8IIM Finback multi-role fighter. another machine that was modified to carry prisoner – but Dowran elected to remain in the C-801K and C-802A during Project Qaem in aircraft and it crashed to the ground. Modified Aircraft the 1990s – undertook a live test of a C-802A During the 2000s, when the IRIAF decided to IACI has now undertaken some of the Phase in July 2013 as the weapons integration launch a more comprehensive modernisation I modifications on a handful of F-4s. First to element of Project Dowran continues.

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 25 Africa Spartans for Tanzania Government Chad Soon F28 in the Netherlands The Force Aérienne Tchadienne At Fokker Services’ facility in Woensdrecht on (Chad Air Force) has ordered two October 24 was Fokker F28-3000 5H-CCM (c/n C-27J Spartan transport aircraft 11137) of the Tanzania Government Flight Agency. from Alenia Aermacchi, which will The aircraft arrived in the Netherlands three days deliver the fi rst in mid-December earlier for scheduled maintenance. It has been operated (further to Two Spartans for Chad, by the Tanzania Government ever since it was delivered November, p4). Training of fl ight in November 1978. Kees van der Mark crew and technicians is currently under way. Alenia said that the fi rst aircraft is mostly complete, with avionics and other systems yet to be installed, while the second was due at the C-27J fi nal assembly line at Caselle in Turin. Chad explored the purchase of C-27Js or Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules several years ago, opting for the cheaper C-27J, as it can land at more, smaller airstrips than the larger C-130J. It is believed the new transports will replace two Antonov An-26s that entered service in 1994. They will also complement its single C-130H-30 Hercules, which it has fl own since November 1989, and was overhauled by OGMA in Portugal in 2007. Guy Martin Indian Flankers for Angola The Força Aérea Nacional de Angola in 2006 and returned to Russia after Mozambique Rebuilding (National Air Force of Angola) has replacement by more advanced Su- bought 18 former Indian Air Force 30MKIs. They were sent to Belarus its Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker combat aircraft. in 2011, where they remain stored by The sale was concluded by Russian the Irkut Corporation at Baranovichi. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin They were offered to several countries during a visit to Angola between before Angola, including Vietnam, October 7 and 9. According to reports Sudan and Ethiopia (see Indian in the Russian newspaper Vedomosti ‘Flankers’ for Ethiopia?, August, p5). (‘the Record’), the $1 billion deal In June, Rosoboronexport deputy includes spares and maintenance for general director Alexander Mikheyev Russian hardware already in service said that if a customer is willing to with Angola’s armed forces, including buy the Su-30s, the Russian arms Mil Mi-17 helicopters. export agency was ready to repair, The ten Su-30MKs and eight Su- upgrade and deliver them within 30Ks were originally delivered to the four to six months. At that time, Hawker 850XP FAM-002 was recently delivered to the Mozambique Air Indian Air Force between May 1997 four ex-Indian Su-30s were being Force. It visited Lanseria in South Africa on October 25. Michael Flebbe and December 1999, being retired refurbished. Guy Martin The Força Aérea de Moçambique reassembled in Mozambique by (FAM, Mozambique Air Force) is in October for service as primary the process of introducing several trainers with the Escola Prática de Congolese Air Force CN235 in Service new aircraft types into service to Aviação (EPA, School of Practical rebuild its combat capability. Six Aviation) at Maputo. Pilot and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis ground crew training at the EPA Fishbeds and two tandem-seat has been assisted by Portuguese MiG-21UM Mongol-Bs are being advisors. Brazil has also offered overhauled by Aerostar of Bacáu, to transfer three second-hand Romania. Mozambique operated Embraer T-27 Tucano basic MiG-21bis until 2004, but it is trainers to Mozambique, which unconfi rmed if the overhauled would bridge the gap between the examples are those previously Festivals and Albatros for the FAM’s noted derelict at Beira and Maputo prospective pilots. or from another source. The The FAM has also recently taken existence of the deal was revealed delivery of a Hawker 850XP Force Aérienne Congolaise (Congolese Air Force) CASA CN235M-10 after a MiG-21UM crashed at business jet. The aircraft (FAM- TN-228 (c/n C009, ex N833CA) at its home base at Brazzaville-Maya-Maya Bacáu on August 27. 002, c/n 258750, ex N1776A) was Airport on October 25. The transport was one of two previously operated Aerostar has also supplied an Aero cancelled from the US civil register by the Botswana Defence Force Air Wing that were replaced by new L-39ZO Albatros advanced trainer, on September 18, after it was sold CN235M-300s. Both were initially stored at Lanseria in South Africa, with one (5V-MBM/N820CA, c/n C008, ex OG1) due to go to the Togolese Air in which Mozambique pilots were by trustee Strong Tower Services. Force (see Togolese Air Force Acquires CN235, September 2012, p23), fl ying in Romania in early November. It had left Fort Lauderdale Airport, although it never entered service with it. TN-228 was delivered to the Two Aerostar R40S Festival light Florida, on its delivery fl ight ten days Congo by March. Benoît Denet sport aircraft were delivered and earlier. David C Isby and David Willis

26 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Rest of the World NEWS BY 2 NUMBERS LEBANESE Upgraded Saudi Sentry Emerges ARMED Royal Saudi Air Force Boeing E-3A Sentry 1803 (c/n 23417) has begun taxi tests at King County CARAVANS DELIVERED International Airport/Boeing Field, Washington, following a year of upgrades at the airfi eld. The Saudi fl eet of fi ve is having Radar System Improvement Program The United States offi cially handed components installed. The airborne early warning and over a second Cessna AC208 command and control aircraft is seen during one ‘Armed Caravan’ to the Lebanese of the tests on November 6. Joe G Walker Air Force on November 6. ATK Systems modifi ed a second-hand Caravan built in 2007 under the terms of a contract announced on January 13, 2012 (see One Additional Caravan for Lebanon, March 2012, p20). The work equipped it for surveillance and strike roles armed with the AGM-114 Hellfi re air-to-surface missile. It arrived in Lebanon in mid-August and joins the fi rst aircraft, delivered in April 2009, at Beirut International airport (further to CN235 Gunship and Lebanese Tanker-Transport Hercules Ordered for Saudi Arabia ‘Armed Caravan’ Programmes Lockheed Martin has received a but had been fi nalised 15 days earlier. variants. A FMS for the 25 aircraft was Advance, August, p22). contract to build two KC-130J Hercules Work is due to be completed by April announced in November 2012 (see for the Royal Saudi Air Force. The 2016. The deal makes the kingdom C-130Js for Saudi Arabia, December 2 tanker-transports are being acquired the 16th nation to order the second- 2012, p18) and included spare JETSTREAMS FOR BOLIVIA via a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) generation Hercules. powerplants, Link 16 multifunctional A pair of British Aerospace programme worth approximately $181 Saudi Arabia has a declared information distribution systems, Jetstream 3101s will enter service million. It was announced by the US requirement for up to 25 C-130Js, training and logistical support, worth with the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana Department of Defense on October 18, including fi ve tanker-transport up to $6.7 billion. (Bolivian Air Force). One of the aircraft (FAB-045) had been delivered by October. F-15I Upgrade The Israeli upgrade programme Lavi Assembly Advances 6 for its 25 two-seat Boeing F-15I ADDITIONAL T-6C+S Ra’am fi ghters will add a second FOR MEXICO mission computer to integrate the The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana new systems installed. The new (Mexican Air Force) has ordered a second batch of six Beechcraft unit handles the additional systems T-6C+ Texan II armed trainers to in the aircraft, leaving the original replace Pilatus PC-7s. They will in place to manage those installed be delivered to a training base when delivered. The F-15Is have in northern Mexico later this been upgraded incrementally since year. Details of the order were delivery and are now capable of announced by Beechcraft on delivering Boeing Small Diameter October 24. The fi rst batch of six, ordered in January 2012, was Bomb and Rafael Zanit/Spice delivered in August and September precision-guided munitions. of that year (see Mexican T-6C+ The upgrade package is understood Trainers Delivered, October 2012, to be a scaled-down version of that p23). The T-6C+ is distinguished originally proposed before Israel from the basic C model by having decided to procure two squadrons of underwing hardpoints and Esterline Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs. CMC Cockpit 4000 digital avionics. David C Isby Few details have been released on the scope of the work, although the air force says it will allow the aircraft 10 to undertake ‘larger scale’ missions. ZLIN 242LS FOR Depot 22 at Hatzerim AB is responsible MEXICAN NAVY for upgrading the fi ghters, assigned The first Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Lavi for Israel has entered final The Fuerza Aeronaval (Mexican assembly at the manufacturer’s facility at Venegono Superiore in Italy. there to 69 Squadron. David C Isby Naval Air Arm) has ordered ten Work to combine the three major components of the aircraft’s structure Zlin 242Ls from Zlin Aircraft of started in early November. The aircraft (build number D0001, c/n 0019) is the Czech Republic. Five will be Qatar’s Mirage Det the first of 30 due to be delivered to the Israel Air and Space Force from delivered by the end of this year, Four Dassault Mirage 2000-5s of the mid-2014 to replace Douglas TA-4 Ahits. Israel ordered the advanced with the others due to enter service Qatar Emiri Air Force deployed to trainer in February 2012 (see M-346 Master Selected by Israel, April 2012, next year. All will be operated Tanagra AB in Greece for training with p4). Alenia Aermacchi by Escuela de Aviación Naval (Naval Aviation School) at BAN La the 114 Combat Wing of the Hellenic Paz, Baja California Sur, as basic Air Force (HAF). The deployment took trainers. The deal was revealed place between September 12 and Mirage F1s for Argentina by the manufacturer on October October 11. In addition to extensive Argentina’s Government has accompanied the 2014 budget 31. Mexico received its fi rst batch training with the HAF, live fi ring of both approved purchase of 16 Dassault submission. of ten Zlin 242Ls in 2001 and put radar-guided Mica and infrared Magic Mirage F1M fi ghters from Spain An initial payment for the the type into service in May of II air-to-air missiles was conducted at (further to Spanish Mirage F1Ms procurement will be 715.9 million the following year; seven or eight for Argentina?, October, p13). The pesos, with total costs of 1.2 billion remain operational. Zlin is also the NATO Missile Firing Installation offering the aircraft to Argentina, in Crete and over another similar deal was announced in a message, pesos ($217 million). The Mirages Chile and Peru. facility off the neighbouring island of signed by the Chief of the Cabinet, are estimated to have a further ten Zakynthos. David C Isby Juan Manuel Abal Medina, which years of service life. David C Isby

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 27 Unmanned Aerial Systems US Moves MQ-8C Fire Scout Djibouti UAVs The US military has recently moved its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Begins Flight Trials operations from Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti to a small airfi eld near the capital (also called Djibouti) after concerns were raised by the local authorities over crashes. In late 2010, the US dispatched eight General Atomics MQ-1B Predators to the small African nation and turned Camp Lemonnier into a full-time base for the UAVs. They have been used to strike targets in Yemen and Somalia. Five incidents involving Predators since the beginning of 2011 resulted in Djiboutian offi cials requesting that the American military halt The prototype Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout (BuNo 168455) made its maiden fl ight at Naval Base Ventura UAV fl ights from the site. As a County, California, on October 31. For further details see pages 18 and 19 in this issue. Northrop Grumman/Alan Radecki result, operations have moved to Chabelley airfi eld. Guy Martin Marines Conduct Further Predator Electronic Attack Test The US Marine Corp’s Cyber/ to be integrated with the Marine The test was undertaken on Marine Corps, General Atomics and Electronic Warfare Coordination Aviation Command and Control October 22 during a Weapons Northrop Grumman during a WTI Cell has conducted a test using (C2) network, which controlled and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course course held on April 12. That trial a General Atomics Aeronautical the aircraft’s electronic warfare and the results are being analysed saw the Predator used to suppress Systems Predator B in the payload. According to General by the Marines to determine the enemy air defences in support of electronic attack role from MCAS Atomics, the combination was effectiveness of the air vehicle tactical strike aircraft. The recent Yuma, Arizona. The manufacturer- used against “simulated targets and payload combination in the trial increased the complexity of owned airframe was equipped located hundreds of miles north at electronic attack role. It followed the target and introduced the C2 with a Northrop Grumman Naval Air Weapons Station China an initial demonstration of the network to direct the electronic produced system that allowed it Lake [in California]”. system carried out by the US attack. Mark Broadbent

those roles. The General NEWS Atomic Aeronautical Emergence of a New Dragon 3 Systems Predator B may MORE GLOBAL BY be under consideration HAWKS FOR US AIR NUMBERS for the acquisition, FORCE while the ministry has The US Department of mentioned Leeuwarden Defense has contracted AB as the possible base for Northrop Grumman to supply the fl eet. Bob Fischer the US Air Force with three additional RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawks. Details of the $144 million deal were 10 announced by the manufacturer on ANKAS ORDERED BY TURKEY November 8. It covers the advanced Ten Turkish Aerospace Industries procurement of long lead-time Anka medium-altitude, long- The new Chinese unmanned air vehicle – either a new programme or a items for the air vehicles, including endurance unmanned air vehicles radical redesign of the Xianglong. Chinese Internet three enhanced integrated sensor were ordered by the Savunma suites and three Airborne Signals Sanayii Müstefarlıgı (Undersecretariat In early November clear images different aircraft than that revealed Intelligence Payloads (ASIP), as well for the Defence Industry) on October and a short video of a new Chinese in 2011. It has a smaller wingspan as two new ASIP kits to be retrofi tted 25. In addition to the air vehicles, military unmanned air vehicle began and a shorter, re-profi led fuselage, on RQ-4s already in service. Work is the order includes ground control to appear on the internet. The with a ‘chine’ around its nose scheduled to be completed by 2015. stations, with deliveries due to be aircraft features a ‘boxed wing’, a extending from the leading edge Mark Broadbent completed by 2018. The deal is the feature previously associated with of the wings. Unlike what was fi rst order for the UAV. the Xianglong (Soaring Dragon) reported to be the Xianglong 4 developed by 611 Aircraft Design demonstrator, which had a single ADDITIONAL UAVS FOR THE 24 Institute, Guizhou and Chengdu fi n and traditional tailplanes, the NETHERLANDS? REAPERS ORDERED Aircraft. Images of a large black- latest images are of an aircraft As part of its Battlefi eld 2.0 vision, General Atomics Aeronautical painted UAV, which may have been with outwardly cantered twin tails the Dutch Ministry of Defence is Systems recently received a $377.4 a technology demonstrator or mock- and ventral strakes. The rear looking at a requirement for medium- million order to provide 24 MQ-9 up for the Xianglong programme, ‘boxed wings’ have a high degree altitude long-endurance unmanned Block 5 Reapers, shipping containers fi rst appeared in mid-2011 (see New of anhedral and are joined to the aerial vehicles. Four of a yet-to- and initial spares and support. The be-determined type will be ordered deal was announced by the US Chinese UAVs, August 2011, p24). mainplanes at a ‘Küchemann next year. They will be used to Department of Defense on October The relationship between the Carrots’-like fairing, while the improve intelligence, surveillance and 18 as an extension of fi scal year 2013 Xianglong and new UAV has not earlier aircraft’s wings were linked reconnaissance coverage and free Reaper production. Work is due to be been confi rmed, as the recent by near vertical sections at the end up other platforms currently used in completed on July 29, 2016. images show a signifi cantly of the rear forward-swept wings.

28 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Business Aviation

Initial Wheels Up King Air 350i Delivered Improvement Beechcraft Corporation delivered the fi rst King Air 350i to Wheels Up during a ceremony October 21, the day before the opening of the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. As reported in the for the September issue (see Wheels Up Places Record King Air Order, p30), the membership-based private ownership operator has ordered up to 105 King Air 350is valued at $1.4 billion, including support services. The aircraft Lineage (N800UP) is the fi rst of 35 scheduled for delivery by mid-2015, including a further eight that will be handed over by year’s end. Mike Jerram and Legacy Embraer Executive Jets has unveiled the Lineage 1000E as its top-of-range executive jet. The new ‘E’ model has extended range, increased from 4,400nm (8,149km) to 4,600nm (8,519km) with eight passengers aboard (or can carry a higher payload for the same range); greater fuel efficiency; and the latest generation in-flight entertainment, enhanced cockpit options, and a distinctive exterior design. At its maximum range, Embraer says the 1000E “will operate exceptionally well New Citation X is Fastest Civilian Jet: Of cial at restrictive airports like Aspen, In October Cessna completed all Thacker said that “responses from More than 1,300 hours have been Colorado, where flights to Gander high-speed certifi cation fl ights on the high-speed certifi cation testing fl own in the aircraft’s test programme [Canada] will become viable, and the new-model Citation X, validating were well within the expected for FAA certifi cation, which is at Teterboro Airport, New Jersey, its maximum operating speed of performance envelope [and] while expected in early 2014. The Citation from which destinations as far Mach 0.935 (617mph/1,147km/h), these are the results our engineers X has a range of 3,242nm (6,004km), away as Vancouver, Canada, thus confi rming the manufacturer’s fully anticipated, this fi nal round of enabling it to fl y non-stop between Quito, Ecuador, or Los Angeles, claim that it is the world’s fastest testing went so smoothly that they such city pairs as New York-London, California, will be well within civilian aircraft. Cessna Senior Vice- were completed in fewer fl ights and Dubai-Singapore, or Panama City- reach, [while] its steep approach President of Engineering Michael hours than planned.” São Paulo, Brazil. Mike Jerram capability enables it to operate into and out of London City Airport to reach destinations such as Return of the Eclipse Kuwait.” equipment, a dual and redundant- In the cabin the aircraft has new channel fl ight management seats, electric doors, new galley system, anti-skid brakes, and a and cabinet designs, automatic full-situation independent standby tables, and Honeywell’s Ovation display. Synthetic vision and Select digital entertainment and enhanced vision systems to aid cabin management system, which situational awareness for the pilot, can be controlled from each and autothrottles – a fi rst in the seat, or wirelessly via an iPad. light jet market – to further reduce A fully integrated media centre pilot workload, according to the concentrates multiple devices The Eclipse 550 is an improved version of the 500, incorporating many of the manufacturer. and video inputs such as Blu-ray features originally envisaged for the earlier type. Eclipse Aerospace The aircraft’s two Pratt & Whitney players, iPod docks and HDMI Eclipse Aerospace unveiled the “all development, fl ight test and Canada PW610F jet engines give or USB ports, and delivers high fi rst new production Eclipse 550 certifi cation plans have been a maximum cruising speed of defi nition video and 5.1 surround at the National Business Aviation completed and fi nal acceptance 430mph (692km/h) at altitudes of sound on larger, slimmer displays. Association Convention in Las from the Federal Aviation up to 41,000ft (12,497m) while On the fl ight deck the Lineage Vegas, Nevada, between October Administration is in process, burning 59 US gallons (223 litres) 1000E offers optional autoland, 22 and 24. Claiming it to be “the and upon receipt, deliveries to of fuel per hour, “making the similar to that aboard the Embraer only sub-$3 million dollar jet aircraft customers are planned to begin Eclipse 550 the most fuel effi cient 190 airliner, and Embraer’s in active production worldwide,” within a few weeks.” twin-engine jet in production Enhanced Vision System. Eclipse Chief Executive Offi cer The single-pilot certifi ed Eclipse today,” according to the builder. The Brazilian manufacturer has also Mason Holland announced that 550 includes, as standard Mike Jerram announced a 200nm (370km) range increase for the Legacy 450, which will now be able to fl y 2,500nm Sovereign (4,630km) with four passengers. The aircraft’s fuselage has been Gains Winglets extended to provide more cabin The maiden fl ight of a Cessna 680 space. Citation Sovereign fi tted with Winglet Hong Kong-born actor and Technology’s Elliptical Winglets took philanthropist Jackie Chan, star of place on October 19 at Wichita’s numerous martial arts movies, has Mid-Continent Airport, Kansas. been named as launch customer Launch of the upgrade programme Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign (N605CS, c/n 680-0001, ex N681CS) is the test- for the Legacy 500 executive jet was announced several days later bed for Elliptical Winglets, which are due to enter service in 2015. Cessna in China, with delivery scheduled at the National Business Aviation Service Center network. In addition incorporated. The launch customer for 2015. He was the fi rst Chinese Association Convention, Las Vegas, to the winglets, a 350lb (159kg) is Anderson Air of Vancouver, British customer for the Legacy and is Nevada, as a joint venture between maximum take-off weight increase Colombia, which has ordered sets for Embraer Executive Jets’ Brand Winglet Technology and the Cessna to 30,650lb (13,903kg) will also be its three Sovereigns. Ambassador. Mike Jerram

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 29 Commercial

Initial Air Full Stop for FlyNonstop Namibia A330s Delivered Air Namibia received its fi rst Airbus A330-200 (V5-ANO, msn 1451) during a ceremony at the company’s Toulouse facility on September 25. It is the fi rst of two A330s being leased for 12 years from US lessor Intrepid Aviation, and will replace Air Namibia’s leased Airbus A340-300s, which have been in operation since 2006. The second aircraft (V5- Embraer 190-100LR PH-FNS (c/n 19000616) was the sole airliner operated by FlyNonstop. It was parked at the ANP, msn 1466) was due to be carrier’s base, Kjevik Airport in Kristiansand, Norway, on October 30, the day before the carrier declared itself bankrupt. Glenn Bøhn Melhus delivered as AIR International went to press. The aircraft are FlyNonstop of Kristiansand, Norway, FlyNonstop was announced the summer period FlyNonstop outfi tted with a two-class cabin declared itself bankrupt on October in October 2012 and began managed to fi ll 69% of its seats, with 214 economy class and 30 29 after several attempts to secure operations on April 25. It but the average load over its short business class seats additional funding failed. The introduced several new routes life was approximately 45%. Theopoltina M Namases, carrier said its total debt at the time from Kristiansand, in southern The airline used a single Embraer Managing Director of Air Namibia, of the bankruptcy was NOK53.7 Norway, of which London City 190 leased for eight years from CIT said: “The high effi ciency and million ($8.8 million). Its board was and Dubrovnik were among the Aerospace, which was operated low operating costs of the A330 determined to halt operations in more successful. The company by Dutch carrier Denim Air. On makes it a perfect fi t into our August, but owner Espen Henning- also served Ålesund, and was due November 1 it was fl own to Exeter fl eet. With an aircraft we know to Olsen continued with efforts to attract to start a link between London International Airport, Devon, for be both reliable and comfortable investors until operations ceased. and Bodø. At its peak during storage. Glenn Bøhn Melhus it will offer the best fl ight experience to our passengers.” Air Namibia currently fl ies four MC-21 Renamed Airbus A319s on regional routes, as well as two A340-300s on its The Irkut MC-21 twin-jet airliner will fl agship service from Windhoek Air Congo MA60 be known as the Yak-242 when it to Frankfurt, Germany. The enters series production, Russian carrier took delivery of two new Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin A319-100s in December last announced recently. He revealed a year. Fleet renewal is part of the revival of the Yak-242 designation carrier’s turnaround strategy – during a visit to the Irkut factory where the new aircraft are expected to the aircraft will be manufactured. reduce fuel costs by 13%, saving It was initially used for a derivative of up to N$8.5 million per month. the Yak-42 tri-jet airliner, which was The new aircraft will give the planned but not developed. The 150 airline’s fl eet an average age to 210-seat MC-21 was designed to of six years, making it one of compete with the Airbus A320 and Xian MA60 TN-AJF of Société Nouvelle Air Congo at Brazaville-Maya-Maya the youngest in the region. Its Boeing 737. It currently has 241 Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 25. The aircraft average fl eet age was 18 years in orders and is due to make its fi rst fl ight was handed over to the airline on June 20 (see One MA60 Delivered to the December 2010. Guy Martin Congo, August, p28) and is understood to be its fourth MA60. The other in 2015. Mark Broadbent three (TN-AHL, -AHN and -AHO, c/ns 04-05, 04-06 and 04-08) were delivered in 2006 and 2007. Benoît Den et Avianca ATR 72-600 ASKY Q400 in Burkina Faso Deliveries

Bombardier DHC-8-402Q ET-AQE (c/n 4428, ex C-GRUC) is one of approximately fi ve of the regional turboprops operated by ASKY Airlines, based at Lomé-Tokoin Airport in Togo. The carrier began services on January 15, 2010, after being formed by Ethiopian Airlines, which holds a ATR 72-600 F-WWEC (msn 1114) conducting a test fl ight at Toulouse- 40% stake. The Q400 is seen on October 14 at Ouagadougou Airport in Blagnac in France on October 23. The regional airliner was delivered to Burkina Faso, one of 22 destinations served by the company in west and Avianca of Colombia as HK-4955 on November 2, the second of three on central Africa. ET-AQE was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines on December order. The third (HK-4956, msn 1116, ex F-WWEE) was handed over fi ve 10, 2012, and is leased to ASKY. Benoît Denet days later. Olivier Gregoire

30 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Commercial

Chinese Budget Carriers Lion Air Group Receives 100th to Bloom 737 Next-Generation A new wave of low-cost carriers (LCCs) is set to emerge in China as the country reforms its air travel market to make it easier for budget carriers to start operations. The South China Morning Post reports that Hainan Airlines and Shanghai- based Juneyao Airlines will start LCC operations in Chongqing and Guangzhou respectively, although no timescales for the Indonesia’s Lion Air Group took delivery of its 100th 737 Next-Generation airliner from Boeing on November 4. The aircraft, 737-9GPER PK-LOF (c/n 38741), is one of 67 Dash 900ERs now operated by the company’s main Lion Air beginning of services for either unit, the largest low-cost carrier in the country. It is pictured at King County Airport/Boeing Field two days after being has been announced. handed over. Lion Air also fl ies 19 737-800s, with the group’s other 14 737NGs operated by Batik Air, Thai Lion Air and Civil Aviation Administration of Malindo Air. The Lion Air Group also holds fi rm orders for 201 737 MAX airliners plus 150 options. Joe G Walker China (CAAC) administrator, Xia Xinhua, told the Beijing Youth Daily that the country’s government will build a dedicated Assembly of Prototype MRJ Begun LCC terminal at Beijing’s new The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation sections, including the wings, will Postponed, October, p29). Service airport, scheduled to open in (MITAC) has started assembling the be delivered before the sections are entry with launch customer All 2018, and encourage airports fi rst fl ight-test MRJ regional airliner. joined and electrical wiring, hydraulic Nippon Airways is now expected in other major Chinese cities to The mid-fuselage section of the aircraft and other sub-systems are installed. in the second quarter of 2017. US do the same. The government arrived at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ MITAC recently delayed the MRJ’s regional carrier SkyWest Airlines’ states it will also introduce market Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works fi rst fl ight to the second quarter of president, Brad Rich, has said his reforms to reduce operating in October from the Tobishima Plant, 2015, the third major delay to the company may cancel its order for 100 costs for LCCs. also located in Aichi Prefecture on aircraft which was originally due to MRJs (with a further 100 options) if China’s only LCC currently the island of Honshu. The other main fl y in 2012 (see MRJ Maiden Flight delays continue. Mark Broadbent is Spring Airlines, which was recently granted permission by the nation’s authorities to fl y the direct Low-Cost Long Hauls from the Philippines routes from its Shanghai base to Philippine budget carrier Cebu confi guration of 436 seats, arranged Gulf region for contract employment. Taipei and Kaohsiung, although in Pacifi c Air (CEB) has begun long-haul nine abreast at a seat pitch of 30in CEB initially competed on its new 2012 China Eastern announced services, connecting its main base in (760mm), they have the highest seat Dubai route with Emirates and other that it would take a 33% stake Manila with Dubai in the UAE. The count of any scheduled A330 operator. full-service carriers from the Gulf. in the proposed Jetstar Hong carrier previously confi ned itself to CEB wants its A330s to have the lowest On November 6, national carrier Kong, the latest unit of Australian domestic and regional Asian routes cost per seat on the routes it fl ies, Philippine Airlines (PAL) joined the carrier Qantas’ LCC. According using a 45-strong fl eet of Airbus enabling it to offer fares 35% lower than fray, launching its own low-cost to Chinese media reports there A320s, A319s and ATR 72s. other carriers’. It claims its promotional Dubai service and using its low-cost is untapped demand for low-cost The scheduled non-stop service to fares will be up to 80% lower. offshoot, PAL Express, to operate the air travel in China, where LCCs Dubai began on October 7 with a pair The attraction of Dubai for CEB lies fl ights with brand new 414-seater constitute less than 5% of the of new Airbus A330-300s, the fi rst of with the large numbers of migrant A330-300s – which include 39 market. Mark Broadbent eight on lease. With an all-economy Filipino workers who travel to the premium economy seats. Guy Neville Air Serbia Begins Operations The fi rst airliner for the new Serbian fl ag carrier, Air Serbia, arrived at Belgrade-Nikola Tesla Airport on October 19. Airbus A319-131 YU-APC (msn 2621, EI-EYA) was escorted on the fi nal leg of its delivery fl ight from Düsseldorf in Germany by a pair of Serbian Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrums. It had been in Düsseldorf for pre-delivery work by airberlin technik. It then fl ew the carrier’s inaugural service, to Abu Dhabi, on October 26. Air Serbia is 49% owned by Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates, the Serbian Government holding the majority share (see Jat Becomes Air Serbia, September, Air Serbia Airbus A319-131 YU-APC approaching Runway 26 at Stockholm-Arlanda on November 8 after fl ying from p4). David C Isby Belgrade. Stefan Sjögren

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 31 Commercial An-124 Revival Airberlin ‘Returns’ Niki’s Embraer 190s Russia and Ukraine have agreed to restart Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan heavy-lift transport production. The Ukrainian Government approved a draft intergovernmental agreement on October 25. Production is expected to start between 2015 and 2020 and Russian sources estimate a market for 40 to 100 new production An-124s. Ukraine’s Antonov and Russia’s United Aircraft Company (UAC) are entering a joint venture to produce the aircraft, while Ukraine’s Motor Sich will build the D-18 powerplants. Work share is expected to be 74% Embraer 190-100LR D-ARJF (c/n 19000420, ex OE-IXF) of Niki at Düsseldorf Airport in Germany on October 19, while to 26% in Russia’s favour, with it was operated by airberlin. Niki is a subsidiary of airberlin. Airberlin fl ew three of Niki’s ERJ-190s from March 2011, returning the airliners in September, October and November. D-ARJF served the German carrier from March 11 until fi nal assembly at UAC’s Ulyanovsk November 5, when it adopted its previous Austrian registration. Marcus Steidele facility. David C Isby Second A350XWB Joins Flight Test Programme The second Airbus A350XWB engineers, Tuan Do, Robert Lignée the next 12 months, are currently at The fi rm aims to receive the prototype completed its first flight and Stéphane Vaux. different stages of assembly on the A350-900’s type certifi cation in on October 14 from Toulouse- A350-941 (F-WZGG, msn 003) Toulouse-Blagnac fi nal assembly the second half of 2014. By mid- Blagnac, France. The five-hour was equipped with a heavy fl ight- line. Final assembly recently November both prototypes had sortie was flown by test pilots test equipment installation and will started on msn 5, which will carry fl own more than 100 combined Frank Chapman and Thierry be used for high-altitude, hot and out the early long-haul fl ight trials test sorties and logged 500-plus Bourges, who were joined cold weather tests. Three more and be outfi tted with a passenger fl ight hours. Airbus says the fl ight by test flight engineer Gérard fl ight test A350s (msns 2, 4 and cabin. Airbus says it should fl y in test programme will require a total Maisonneuve and three flight test 5), due to join the programme over the spring of 2014. of 2,500 fl ight hours. Mark Broadbent

COMMERCIAL ORDERS Aegean Cleared Airbus Customer Aircraft Number Date to Buy Olympic JetBlue A321ceo 23 (8 converted from existing A320ceo order) October 29 The European Commission (EC) has A321neo 30 (10 converted from existing A320neo order) October 29 cleared Aegean Airlines to acquire SAS A330-300 4 ( rms up MoU) October 3 Olympic Air. After conducting what A350-900 8, plus 6 options ( rms up MoU) October 3 VivaAerobus A320ceo 12, purchase agreement October 21 it called an “in-depth investigation”, A320neo 40, purchase agreement October 21 the EC ruled that Olympic Air’s ATR fi nancial diffi culties would force Customer Aircraft Number Date its closure “in the near future” if it Garuda ATR 72-600 5, plus 10 options October 1 (undisclosed order was not purchased by Aegean. at Paris Air Show, June) The EC said that if Olympic went Boeing out of business, Aegean would be Customer Aircraft Number Date Greece’s, “only signifi cant domestic Aerolíneas Argentinas 737-800 15, purchase agreement October 21 service provider…thus the merger Korean Air Lines 747-8I 5 ( rms June 18 purchase agreement) October 24 causes no harm to competition that 777-300ER 6 ( rms June 18 purchase agreement) October 24 would not have occurred anyway”. 787 1 October 24 Aegean has long had an ambition to El Al 737-900ER 2 ( rms purchase agreement) October 24 take over Olympic; the recent go-ahead Southwest Airlines 737 MAX 8 20 (conversion of existing 737NG orders) November 7 for the purchase came two years after Unidenti ed 737 MAX 42 October 23 the EC blocked its previous attempt Unidenti ed 737 (unspeci ed) 26 November 5 to acquire the fl ag carrier. The EC had Unidenti ed 787 (unspeci ed) 2 November 5 originally highlighted that the airlines Bombardier Customer Aircraft Number Date competed on 17 routes and it judged CDB Leasing CS100 5, plus 5 options (previously undisclosed July 8, 2012) October 18 that a purchase would have a negative CS300 10, plus 10 options (previously undisclosed July 8, 2012) October 18 impact on competition. The airlines COMAC now compete directly only on two Customer Aircraft Number Date routes, removing the original objection. Industrial Bank C919 20 October 29 Greece’s economic crisis and the Financial Leasing resulting decline in demand for Irkut fl ights have impacted both Olympic Customer Aircraft Number Date and Aegean. Olympic has not made Ilyushin Finance Company MC-21-300 22 (exercised options) August 27 a profi t since being privatised in IrAero MC-21 10 August 28 2009 and its losses have increased. VEB-Leasing MC-21 30 August 27 Aegean has also suffered losses, Viking Air although in the fi rst half of 2013 it Customer Aircraft Number Date posted revenues of €278.6 million Air Seychelles Twin Otter 400 3 October 29 and says it is on course to reduce Key: MoU – Memorandum of Understanding, Compiled by Mark Broadbent its debt this year. Mark Broadbent

32 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Commercial CS100 Tests The Bombardier CSeries CS100 Golden Myanmar A320 Deliveries has moved into the product certifi cation testing phase it was announced on October 30. Flight Test Vehicle 1 (FTV-1, C-FBCS, c/n 50001) completed its fourth fl ight the previous day. Bombardier said it would soon begin supplying customers with test data about the aircraft’s in-fl ight performance and that the second fl ight test aircraft (FTV-2, C-GWYD, c/n 50002) would fl y “within weeks”. The company’s target is to certify and deliver the fi rst CS100 one year after the fi rst fl ight, at the conclusion of a 2,400 hour fl ight test campaign. Bombardier Recently delivered Airbus A320-232 XY-AGT (msn 2128, ex P4-PAS) is the second of its type for Golden Myanmar President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin Airlines. It arrived for maintenance at London Southend Airport, Essex, on September 23 from Bournemouth insists the CSeries is on schedule Airport, Dorset, where it was painted in Golden Myanmar’s livery, and is seen departing on October 14 on delivery and a 27-day gap between FTV- via Dubai. It was previously operated by Air Astana. The carrier’s fi rst A320 (XY-AGS, msn 1407, ex EI-EUE) was 1’s third and fourth test fl ights was delivered on December 19, 2012. Keith Burton planned. Mark Broadbent Aurora Launched by Aero ot Flybe Restructures Aerofl ot has launched a new around Russia and serving 2.4 UK regional carrier Flybe is to cut this year and £26 million per year subsidiary called Aurora Airlines. million passengers per year. In 500 more jobs as it continues from 2014. Plans to cut £40 million The airline aims to improve travel addition to narrowbodies, Aurora a re-structuring programme. in the current fi nancial year and £45 connectivity to the most easterly will also operate 50 to 78-seat Announcing its fi rst-half results, the million in 2014-15 were on track, the parts of the country and, according turboprops and smaller 20-seaters airline said the cuts are part of a plan carrier stated. to Aerofl ot, “contribute to Russia’s of undisclosed types, with the latter of ‘immediate actions’ designed to For the fi rst time in many years, Flybe Far East social and economic being used for services to more make further cost savings. It did not will not receive any new aircraft in development”. Aurora began remote communities. disclose where the job losses would 2014. It has deferred delivery of 14 operations with a Boeing 737 and Aurora was created by merging the fall, but they are additional to the 600 new Embraer 175s from 2014-17 to on November 6 received the fi rst operations of two existing carriers – posts slashed at the airline since last 2017-19. Flybe posted a rise in fi rst- of three new Airbus A319s it was SAT Airlines and Vladivostok Avia – year. half fi scal year 2013-14 revenues due to receive by the end of the within the Aerofl ot Group. The new Further ‘immediate actions’ include to £351.1 million, up from £340.8 year. During 2014 the airline will carrier is 51% owned by Aerofl ot, rationalising the route network and million in the same timeframe last add a further four A319s to the fl eet with the remaining 49% possessed cutting surplus capacity. Earlier this year, and £13.8 million in profi ts for and by 2018 it plans to have 40 by federal district governments in year Flybe announced it was closing the period compared with a £1.6m aircraft connecting 128 destinations the Far East. Mark Broadbent its Gatwick hub to save £7 million loss the previous year. Mark Broadbent SAS Retires its Tenax Takes 50th Bombardier Last MD-80 Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has retired its last three McDonnell 415 Built at North Bay Douglas MD-80s. The last service on October 26 was a special two- hour charter fl ight undertaken in MD-82 LN-RMM Nora Viking from Stockholm, which performed fl ypasts over Aalborg and Billund airports and the Storebælt and Øresund bridges, before landing at Copenhagen. Once the most numerous operator of the MD-80 family in Europe – SAS fl ew 66 of the type at its height – it had entered service with the airline in 1985. Rising fuel prices, fl eet operating costs, and the introduction of new Airbus A320 family aircraft and the airline’s more recent cost-cutting On November 3 Bombardier delivered the fi rst Model 415 Superscooper to be acquired by an American operator. plan, led SAS to progressively phase The water bomber (C-GUZF, c/n 2089) was handed over at the Canadian manufacturer’s North Bay facility in Ontario, Canada, to Tenax Aerospace of Ridgeland, Mississippi, and will be operated by Aero-Flite of Kingman, Arizona, out the MD-80. Four were sold to an under contract to the US Forest Service from December. The B415 is the 50th built at North Bay, where production undisclosed buyer last year (see Four moved after 39 had been built at the Dorval plant at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Quebec. SAS MD-82/87s Sold, November Aero-Flite currently operates three earlier Canadair CL-215s for the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land 2012, p27) and the remaining 19 Management in Alaska as well as two owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Andrew H Cline were gradually withdrawn during the course of this year. Mark Broadbent

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 33 Rotary Wing

Bell Wheels Out New Model 429 Production AW189 Flies as Sales Accrue AgustaWestland recently completed the maiden fl ight of the fi rst production AW189 from its Vergiate facility in Italy. The helicopter (I-RAID, c/n 49007) made its fi rst fl ight on October 10 and will be delivered before the end of the year, after the award of its type certifi cate by the European Aviation Safety Agency. It will be handed over to Bristow Helicopters to support that company’s contracts fl ying workers to offshore energy production platforms. Bell 429WLG prototype C-FCTA was unveiled at Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 22. Bell Helicopters Two other AW189s are currently At October’s National Business “We have listened to several save time and effort getting where being assembled at Vergiate. A Aviation Association (NBAA) customers who have needed the they need to go.” In addition, the second production line will be Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, manoeuvrability of this option for elimination of the skids has reduced created at Yeovil, Somerset, Bell Helicopter introduced the their missions. The Bell 429WLG drag and increases the helicopter’s initially to build the 11 AW189s new Model 429WLG. The suffi x can land in a larger number of cruising speed to 152kts (281km/h). also due to be delivered to indicates it has a wheeled landing environments and conditions, Bell modifi ed the fi rst production Bristow Helicopters for use in gear in place of the skids used on providing operators of all mission standard Bell 429 (C-FCTA, c/n the UK’s new search and rescue earlier versions. “Offering a wheeled profi les with additional fl exibility. Its 57001) as the prototype 429WLG. (SAR) service (see 11 AW189s landing gear option builds on our taxiing capability is ideal for both Rio Iruya of Buenos Aires, Ordered by Bristow, September, ongoing efforts to innovate our repositioning in limited spaces Argentina, was announced as the p41). The British line will be current products as we introduce and situations that require ground fi rst customer for the 429WLG responsible for building AW189s new ones,” said Danny Maldonado, taxi, such as positioning closer to at the NBAA Convention. The for SAR, of which a market Bell Helicopter’s Executive Vice- fi xed-base operators [so that] both company will use it for corporate of 200 is envisaged by the President of Sales and Marketing. fl ight crews and passengers can and VIP transport. Mike Jerram manufacturer throughout the production life of the helicopter. The company has also been Dauphins for in talks with Embraer about Peruvian Police Accepts EC145 a Brazilian assembly facility, Lithuania possibly at the AgustaWestland The Lithuanian Air Force has Do Brasil plant in São Paulo. ordered three Eurocopter AS365N3 More than 80 AW189s had been Dauphins for a countrywide, round- sold by the start of November. the-clock search-and-rescue (SAR) Recent orders have came from service. The deal was announced the Avincis Group (two, to be on October 25 and is worth 180 operated by Bond Offshore million litas ($72 million), including Helicopters) on September pilot and technician training and 25, while on the same day the three years of maintenance support. lessor Milestone Aviation Group In addition to SAR duties, the announced a multi-aircraft, Dauphins will be used to monitor multi-year framework agreement environmental conditions, the state for an undisclosed number of of crops, and plant diseases in the AW139, AW169 and AW189s, country, as well as marine pollution. which the manufacturer states All three will be delivered in 2015, is its largest civilian helicopter The four Eurocopter EC145s for the Peruvian National Police Force’s Aviation Unit at replacing Mil Mi-8 Hips with the air ever. Also in September, Donauwórth prior to delivery, headed by PNP-128 (c/n 9621). Eurocopter/Charles Abarr force, and joining EC120s, EC135s Sino-US Intercontinental The Peruvian Interior Ministry disaster relief missions. The $36.7 and EC145s currently used by the Helicopter Investment, the has accepted the fi rst of four million deal for the helicopters was Lithuanian Border Guard for security Chinese distributor for the Eurocopter EC145s to modernise announced in January 2013. The and law enforcement. Dauphins have AgustaWestland range, ordered the fl eet of its National Police remaining three will be handed been delivered to 300 customers in 20 helicopters, comprising Force’s Aviation Unit. A handover over before the end of 2013. 69 countries, and 200 of them serve an undisclosed quantity of ceremony took place in Lima, Peru, More than 500 EC145s have been in the SAR role. Worldwide, the AW109 GrandNew, AW119Kx, on November 4. The new aircraft delivered, and the type serves with 26 Dauphin fl eet has accumulated more AW139 and AW169s, as well will be used for public security and police forces worldwide. Mike Jerram than fi ve million fl ight hours. Mike as AW189s. Jerram and David C Isby

34 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Rotary Wing Indian AW101 MRH-90 at Riverfi re 2013 Dispute Continues The Indian Defence Ministry has issued AgustaWestland with a fi nal ‘show cause’ notice for cancelling its contract to acquire 12 AW101 helicopters in VVIP confi guration. Issued on October 21, the step is the latest in a series of escalating moves and counter moves between the Indian Government and the manufacturer, following allegations of bribery in the selection process (further to India Suspends AW101 Purchase Over Bribery Allegations, March, p4). Three AW101 have been delivered so far (see Three AW101s Delivered to India, February, p30), but the Rs4,670 crore (€556 million) contract remains frozen. AgustaWestland had earlier asked for arbitration under the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act and had 21 days from the date of NHIndustries MRH-90 A40-010 (c/n 1191) was one of the Australian Army Air Corps helicopters participating in the show cause notice to respond. Riverfi re 2013 in Brisbane, Queensland – the closing ceremony of the city’s annual festival, so called because of the This was extended by 15 days, until large fi reworks display held over the river. The Australian Defence Force performs air displays at the event, and this November 26 (after AIR International year’s – on September 28 – was the fi rst time the MRH-90 participated, the helicopter having been commissioned into went to press). Nigel Pittaway service in July. Roy RX

October. In July a further opportunities in the growing Chinese NEWS US Government contract market. Nigel Pittaway 2 6 BY for 30 Mi-17V-5s was US ARMY AH-64E BATTALIONS OSPREYS announced (see 30 The US Army is currently equipping FOR ISRAEL NUMBERS Mi-17s for Afghanistan, its second Boeing AH-64E Apache Israel has been August, p36), raising the 60,000 Guardian attack helicopter battalion, confi rmed as the fi rst total that will be delivered HOURS PASSED BY the 1-25th Aviation Battalion at Fort export customer for the Bell- to the Afghan military by the AGUSTAWESTLAND Carson, Colorado. By October, Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. US US Government to 63. The latest MEDEVAC FLEET 43 AH-64Es had been delivered to Defense Secretary Charles ‘Chuck’ batch will be handed over in 2014. American medevac operator TriState the US Army, all part of a low-rate Hagel announced during the annual Afghanistan also received ten Mi-17V- CareFlight’s fl eet of helicopters has initial production order for 51. Total Anti-Defamation League meeting in 5s in 2010, taking the total currently reached 60,000 fl ight hours in 11 years AH-64E production in 2013 will New York on October 31 that six will on order or delivered to 73. of operations. The 40-strong fl eet comprise 52 helicopters – 30 for the be sold to Israel. The aircraft will includes 22 AgustaWestland AW119s US Army and 22 for international come from the next production batch and ten AW109 Powers, all confi gured customers (primarily, if not solely, and be delivered within two years. 14 with emergency medical services Taiwan). The fi rst AH-64E battalion, They will be modifi ed to meet Israeli CHINESE SALES OF interiors. The company provides critical the 1-229th Aviation, based at Fort requirements, although the exact BELL HELICOPTERS care transport services in the western Lewis, Washington, has received its nature of the changes has not been Bell announced the sale of 14 United States from 35 bases in Arizona, full allocation and was expected to revealed. helicopters at the 15th annual Aviation Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, achieve initial operational capability in Expo China, held in Beijing between Oregon and Washington. Mike Jerram November. David C Isby September 25 and 28. During the 12 show, the company signed a contract MI-17V-5S DELIVERED with Reignwood Investments for the 2 TO AFGHANISTAN supply of 12 helicopters – ten 407s 100,000 MORE SEAHAWKS FOR BRAZIL During October Rosoboronexport, and two 429s – and sold two 407GXs DHRUV FLIGHT HOURS Sikorsky has received a Foreign the Russian arms export agency, to General Dynamics Aero Industry. India’s indigenous Hindustan Military Sales (FMS) order worth $86.8 delivered the last of a batch of 12 Mil Chris Jaran, Bell’s Managing Aeronautical Ltd Dhruv Advanced million to produce an additional pair Mi-17V-5 Hip-Hs ordered by the US Director China, said: “Our customers Light Helicopter reached 100,000 of Sikorsky S-70B Lot II Seahawks for Government for supply to Afghanistan. continue to diversify their operations fl ying hours on October 9 during the Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy). The helicopters were ordered in May and require aircraft that can meet an early morning sortie fl own by The sale was announced by the US by converting options placed in May multiple mission criteria. We Lt Col Kapil Agarwal of the 301 Department of Defense in October 30 26, 2011 (see 12 More Mi-17Vs for customised General Dynamics’ Army Aviation (Special Operations) and work is expected to be completed Afghanistan, July, p32). The original Bell 407GXs with a multi-mission squadron. The helicopter that by June 2017. Earlier FMS deals May 2011 deal covered delivery of confi guration so they can take achieved the milestone (IA-3104) was for Brazil covered the production of 21 helicopters that were handed full advantage of the aircraft’s operated by the Army Aviation Corps; four helicopters in December 2009 over by mid-2012. The options capabilities.” Earlier, Bell announced others serve with other branches of (see Four S-70Bs For Brazilian Navy, were converted to fi rm orders in the sale of one Bell 407GX each to the Indian military as well as those February 2010, p18), followed by February 2012 involving two aircraft the companies Nanying and Dayou of Ecuador, Mauritius, Nepal and another pair in June 2011 (see Two and the fi nal ten in June 2012 (see and two 206L-4s to Jiangxi-Tianren. the Maldives. In addition to the 132 More S-70Bs For Brazil, August 2011, 10 Additional Mi-17s for Afghan Air It also signed a memorandum of military Dhruvs in service, 12 are p34). The S-70B is designated MH-16 Force, September 2012, p42). All understanding with Reignwood fl own by civil operators. Nigel Pittaway by the Brazilian Navy. 12 were delivered in September and Investments to explore business and David C Isby

Please send all news correspondence [email protected] AI.12.13 35 Rotary Wing

Congolese Hind and Hips

Two Mil Mi-17V-5 Hip-Hs, a Mi-17 Hip-H and a single Mi-24 Hind of the Force Aérienne Congolaise (Congolese Air Force) at Brazzaville-Maya-Maya Airport on October 25. The Mi-17V-5s (on the right) are equipped with a rear loading ramp and have a rescue hoist mounted above the front door. The Mi-17 (possibly serial TN-368) wears a green and brown scheme, different from that on the example noted at Pointe Noire on June 25 (see Congolese Hip-H, August, p13), confi rming that a minimum of two are in Congolese service. At least one Mi-24P Hind-F was delivered to the Congo from the Ukraine in 2005. However, the aircraft illustrated appears to be a Mi-24V Hind-E variant, with a nose-turret mounted machine-gun rather than the fi xed cannons of the Hind-F, indicating further deliveries have occurred. It is armed with a rocket pod under the stub wing. Benoît Denet RNLAF Apaches to Mali Four Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal deployment of 380 personnel the Last British Flying Unit Netherlands Air Force) Boeing Dutch Government announced on AH-64D Apache Longbows from 301 November 1 it would send to the Leaves Germany Squadron will deploy to Mali to support African nation, after a request by the the United Nations Multidimensional UN. In addition, a number of Dutch Integrated Stabilisation Mission in unmanned air vehicles will be used Mali (MINUSMA). The helicopters will there. The contingent will arrive be operated and supported by 120 before the end of this year. The personnel from Gilze-Rijen AB. deployment will last at least until the The detachment is part of a end of 2015. Bob Fischer Rejuvenated Halo Delivered to Kazakhstan

A Lynx AH7 departing Princess Royal Barracks, Gütersloh, one of the last three British military aircraft based in Germany. Army Air Corps The last British military aircraft (London Olympic Games) based in Germany left for the and Operation Herrick 18 United Kingdom on October (Afghanistan). During its time in 11 when Westland Lynx AH7 Helmand province, the regiment’s XZ609 of 1 Regiment, Army Air No.661 Squadron flew more than Corps, took off from the Princess 1,000 hours and participated Royal Barracks, Gütersloh. The in more than 40 deliberate departure marked the end of operations supporting UK forces a continuous presence in the and those from the US, Estonia country by British aircraft that and Georgia. Support involved began just before the end of World providing protection to ground War II. The helicopter attempted troops or convoys, identifying to leave Gütersloh with two others possible improvised explosive a week earlier but was forced to devices, firing points and return to base after suffering a countering insurgent movement A Mil Mi-26T Halo heavy-lift helicopter was recently delivered by technical problem. and moving men and equipment Russian Helicopters to the Kazakhstan Ministry of Emergency Situations. The aircraft (UP-MI601, c/n 34001212137, ex CCCP-06007) was ferried The final flight concluded 1 around Helmand and beyond. on delivery from Novosibirsk, the administrative centre of Novosibirsk Regiment’s 20-year association During 2014 the regiment will Oblast in Russia, to Boraldai at Almaty in Kazakhstan on October 13. with Gütersloh. The unit was rebase itself in the UK and It was upgraded and overhauled by the Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair formed in Lower Saxony in convert to the AgustaWestland Plant after being stored at Konotop in the Ukraine with 535 Aviation 1975 and its Lynx and Gazelle AW159 Wildcat AH1, forming Repair Plant for more than 20 years. In May 2012 it was transported to helicopters have deployed 17 part of the army’s new Aviation Novosibirsk from Konotop – more than 2,000km (1,243 miles) – carried times on operations, the most Reconnaissance Force. Ian Harding/ externally by a UTair Mi-26T. A second modernised Halo is due to be recent being Operation Protego David Allen, Information Offi cer AAC delivered to the ministry. Russian Helicopters

36 AI.12.13 Please send all news correspondence [email protected] Rotary Wing

AW101 Norway’s New Rescue Algerian VVIP AW101 Helicopter On November 8 the Norwegian Government announced negotiations will take place with AgustaWestland to provide it with new search and rescue helicopters. The AgustaWestland AW101 was selected in preference to the Eurocopter EC725, which was the other candidate shortlisted for the requirement (see AW101 or EC225 for Norway, August, p10). Other types evaluated were the NH Industries NH90 and the Sikorsky S-92, but both were eliminated earlier this year to leave AgustaWestland and Eurocopter in Conducting a test fl ight from AgustaWestland’s facility in Yeovil, Somerset, in early November was AW101 Mk 641 contention. ZR350 (c/n 50249) destined for the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. Algerian titles are worn on the port side A contract is expected to be signed with English titles currently on the starboard. The aircraft is understood to be one of two on order confi gured for VVIP by the end of the year for 16 AW101s, transport. It is due to become 7T-WVC upon delivery. Ian Harding with options for a further six. The order will be worth approximately 17 billion krone ($2.74 billion) and the fi rst AW101 is due to be delivered by Taiwan Receives First Batch of Sky Eagles 2017, with the replacement of the The fi rst six Boeing AH-64E customer for the AH-64D Block (see Taiwan Commences AH-64E current Westland Sea King Mk 43B Sky Eagles (Apache Guardian) III (later redesignated by the US Sky Eagle Training, January, p25). fl eet by 2020. helicopters for the Republic of Department of Defense as the AH- A further six will arrive in Taiwan Like the Sea Kings, the helicopters China Army arrived as sea cargo at 64E Apache Guardian) with the in December. Deliveries will be will be owned by the Ministry of the southern port of Kaohsiung on local name Sky Eagle. The deal completed with fi ve additional Justice and Public Safety, and November 4. The helicopters were for 31 helicopters was fi nalised in batches by the end of 2014. The operated by 330 Squadron of the reassembled at Kaohsiung and 2008 and confi rmed by Boeing in attack helicopter is expected Luftforsvaret (Royal Norwegian Air fl own to the army base at Tainan, June 2011 (see Taiwanese AH- to achieve its initial operational Force). Currently the unit operates where two made their local debut 64D Apache Longbows Ordered, capability by next April, at the 12 Sea Kings at Rygge, Sola, Florø, in front of VIP guests and local July 2011, p19). Taiwanese crews earliest, and the fl eet will be based Ørlandet, Bodø and Banak. They media on November 7. began training on the type in the in northern Taiwan. Nigel Pittaway have been in service since 1972. The nation was the fi rst export United States in November 2012 and David C Isby Glenn Bøhn Melhus Philippine Air Force Mi-171E Delivered to Kazakhstan SAAF Rooivalks Orders AW109 Powers Heading for AgustaWestland has signed a contract with the Filippino the Congo Government for delivery of eight The South African Air Force is to send AW109 Power helicopters for the three of its 11 Denel AH-2A Rooivalk Philippine Air Force. The company Mk 1F combat helicopters to the announced the deal on November Democratic Republic of Congo as 6 and deliveries will begin in part of United Nations peacekeeping 2014. The helicopters, to be used efforts. They will arrive before the for homeland security, armed end of the year to support the United reconnaissance and close support Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic operations, will be equipped with a Russian Helicopters’ Ulan Ude facility has delivered a new production of the Congo (MONUSCO) and its dedicated mission and equipment Mil Mi-171E helicopter to Kazakhstan’s interior ministry. Aircrew and package, including a range of technicians for Kazakhstan are being trained at Ulan Ude. The Mi-171E Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in weapon systems. variant is equipped for cold weather operations. Russian Helicopters executing its offensive mandate Filippino media quotes against M23 and other rebel forces. government sources that “The [three] aircraft will be deployed the value of the order is Malaysia Still Seeking ASW Helicopters before year-end and will have full SA approximately P430.15 million The Chief of Malaysia’s Navy, base in Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah. Air Force ground support and technical (€7.5 million) per unit, which the Admiral Tan Sri Aziz Jaafar, has said The Royal Malaysian Navy currently staff,” said Navy Captain Zamo Sithole, manufacturer says includes initial that ‘at least’ six anti-submarine operates six AgustaWestland Super South African National Defence logistics support and training for warfare helicopters are needed to Lynx 300s and six Eurocopter Force Joint Operations media liaison air and ground crews. ensure the force remains able to AS555SN Fennecs from its base offi cer. At least one of 16 Squadron’s The air force’s order is in addition perform its role. Speaking at the at Lumut, Perak on the Malaysian Rooivalks was seen painted white to three AW109s ordered for the Royal Malaysian Navy Air Unit’s Peninsula’s east coast. Sikorsky ahead of the UN mission – its fi rst-ever Philippine Navy on March 27 silver jubilee celebrations at Lumut, has proposed the MH-60R Seahawk combat deployment. South Africa has (see ASW for Filippino AW109s, Perak, on November 7, Admiral for Malaysia, while Eurocopter is around 1,000 troops deployed in the April, p23). Nigel Pittaway Aziz said the new squadron would understood to be offering a navalised DRC as part of MONUSCO and the be based at the Kota Kinabalu navy version of the EC725. Nigel Pittaway FIB. Guy Martin

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PakistanThe JF-17 Thunder is maturing in Pakistan Air Force service, as Tomislav Mesaric reports

40 AI.12.13 JF-17 THUNDER MILITARY

ecent appearances at and technicians. large trade air shows When the JF-17 debuted at Farnborough like Farnborough and International in 2010, the PAF had only one Dubai have brought JF-17 unit – 26 Squadron ‘Black Spiders’, the Chengdu Aircraft at PAF Base Peshawar – equipped with 20 Industry Corporation aircraft. The training syllabus for the type (CAC)/Pakistan had only recently been approved and the Aeronautical Complex only weapons it could carry were general- (PAC) JF-17 Thunder to purpose bombs and the short-range PL-5EII of the world stage. The missile. Pride joint Chinese-Pakistani aircraft’s displays, But the situation has changed. Today Rand exhibitions of its sensors and weapons, the JF-17 can carry the SD-10 radar-guided showed it to be comparable to other third- beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile for the air- generation combat fighters like the F-16 to-air role and a number of precision-guided Fighting Falcon and MiG-29 Fulcrum. weapons for air-to-ground missions. And

But what level of operational maturity has the PAF now has a fully-operational frontline Alan Mr images All the jet reached in service with the Pakistan JF-17 unit at Peshawar: 16 Squadron ‘Black Air Force? After all, it has now been in Panthers’ (26 Squadron is responsible for Pakistan frontline PAF service since April 2010. AIR conversion training for pilots). International talked to the only people who “We’re about to [form] the third squadron can really answer that – the aircraft’s pilots but we still haven’t decided which one

AI.12.13 41 MILITARY JF-17 THUNDER

1 A four-ship of JF-17s, each carrying a 1,000lb general purpose bomb. 2 The PAF displayed the JF-17 Thunder at the airshow at Izmir, Turkey in June 2011. 3 In 2010, the PAF painted JF-17 Thunder 09-111 in Pakistan’s national colours.

1 that will be,” said Air Commodore Khalid requirements for a new combat aircraft. Flight Control System Mehmood, the PAF’s JF-17 programme “Our pilots and engineers were Another feature separating the JF-17 from deputy chief project director. “We have responsible for 90% of the JF-17’s system second-generation fighters is its hybrid around 40 JF-17s flying at the moment with architecture and cockpit design,” said Air flight control system. Unlike mechanical a last few from Block 1 in the final stages of Commodore Mehmood. “Their knowledge flight control systems found in earlier the assembly.” and experience was used in the design of types, which mean pilots are reluctant to the hands-on-throttle-and-stick [HOTAS] push to the edge of the envelope, modern National Pride functionalities, switching layout and electronic flight control systems offer greater The JF-17 is a matter of national pride in displays layout. They decided where manoeuvrability. Pakistan. When its development started particular information would be presented But developing such systems doesn’t in the late 1990s the nation was subject to on the displays and how the display setup come cheap – or at least not in the case international trading sanctions over its nuclear would change according to the mission of the JF-17’s development. “Cost control weapons programme. Its economy was in scenario.” was a priority from the beginning so a much dire straits and its air force had little modern simpler, and thus cheaper, hybrid flight equipment. At the same time, neighbouring Man-Machine Interface control system was chosen for the JF-17,” India started recording unprecedented levels The JF-17’s cockpit resembles that of said Zhu Zeng, a CAC representative. “In of economic growth and began one of the the Swedish Saab JAS39 Gripen: in the comparison to modern electronic flight most comprehensive air force modernisation late 1990s the PAF seriously considered control systems it has only one electronic programmes in its history. buying the Gripen and a team of pilots and channel, for pitch. The other two, for bank Abandoned by the West, Pakistan turned engineers were sent to Sweden to thoroughly and yaw, are mechanical. It was a minimum to China. At the time, its Chengdu Aircraft test it. “The Gripen was a great inspiration requirement to have the angle of attack and Industry Corporation didn’t have a modern when we started with the development of the the g-forces, the two most important flight indigenous fighter design, but something JF-17,” said Gp Capt Chaudhry Ahsan Rafiq parameters in manoeuvring flight, under the that could be useful to the PAF: the FC-1 of the JF-17 programme office. control of a computer. However, technology Xiaolong, a light fighter concept similar to the The JF-17’s three colour 200 x 150mm advanced, so now we can offer a fully-digital Northrop F-5 Tiger. The Chinese People’s (8 x 6 in) multifunction displays dominate flight control system that’s only 10% more Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), focused its cockpit, and the relatively small number expensive than the current hybrid one. It’s on the development of the more advanced of switches signifies an advanced level of on the drawing board at the moment but if J-10, had shown little interest in the FC-1 – so automation in the man-machine interface. some prospective customer wants it we can CAC was looking for a buyer. For Pakistan The symbology on the displays is similar have it certified in two years’ time.” the opportunity to have a new modern fighter to that used in the F-16, which the PAF As simple as it is, the hybrid flight control was not to be missed, CAC and the Pakistan also operates. “Why change something system is still a huge improvement over Aeronautical Complex (PAC) striking a deal to if it works?” said one of the PAF JF-17 mechanical systems. “By knowing the develop the aircraft jointly. pilots, who added that keeping the same computer will not allow me to exceed the The terms were good for Pakistan – for symbology across the PAF’s fighter fleet angle of attack and g-force limits – 26 $500 million it not only got a 50% share significantly eases, and lowers the cost degrees or 8g, whichever comes first – I can in the production of components and the of, training – be it for pilots coming from fly this aircraft much more aggressively,” said complete final assembly line but also the flight training or more experienced officers one of the PAF JF-17 pilots who, at the time chance to fully adapt the aircraft to the PAF’s converting from other types. of our interview, had just converted from

42 AI.12.13 JF-17 THUNDER MILITARY the Chengdu F-7 (the Chinese copy of the venerable MiG-21). Proven Engine The engine chosen for the JF-17 was the Russian Klimov RD-93. As an adaptation of the RD-33 turbofan from the MiG-29 it lags behind its Western counterparts in terms of fuel consumption and time between overhauls, but its good build quality stemming from its Soviet origins gives it an excellent reputation for solidity and reliability, especially where an airfield’s infrastructure isn’t modern. “We’ve flown 7,000 hours with the engine and we haven’t had any problems,” said Air Commodore Mehmood. The engine is very robust. While it doesn’t have full authority digital engine control, a digital electronic engine control system (EEC) gives it carefree operation by making the decisions about engine management until the pilot intervenes. A further testament to its reliability comes from the ‘hot and high’ 2 trials conducted from an airfield at 7,000ft [2,133m] above mean sea level in ambient maintain. The hump at the inlet’s opening, to This digital interface eliminates the need to temperatures of between 25 and 30°C (77- slow down the airstream entering the engine, rewire the aircraft every time a new weapon 86°F) where, according to reports, the JF-17 has been designed to hide the face of the is added. “We can buy any weapon on the took off and landed with a full weapons load. engine’s compressor blades, minimising the free market and integrate it on the JF-17 on To further reduce the weight and JF-17’s already low radar signature. our own and in-country,” said Air Commodore complexity of the JF-17, Chinese engineers Mehmood. “We have a team of flight test also found a way to match the RD-93 Weapons Flexibility engineers and pilots who form the flight test engine with a novel inlet design called the The JF-17 affords the PAF flexibility in group as a separate unit so the whole process divertless supersonic inlet (DSI). Compared integrating new weapons and features is done by the Pakistan Air Force.” to a traditional design, the DSI doesn’t have the MIL-STD-1760 aircraft/store electrical With the PL-5EII missile being integrated any moving parts so it’s lighter and easy to interconnection system on all its hardpoints. onto the aircraft, Air Commodore Mehmood 3

AI.12.13 43 MILITARY JF-17 THUNDER

was asked if a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) which two are carried in standard air-to-air is not of Chinese origin. It comes with full will become a part of any future upgrade. He configuration. “We have the capability to ground support equipment – enabling the confirmed the development of this capability carry four but we decided we don’t want to,” PAF to develop threat libraries and jamming for the aircraft is already under way. “We said the air commodore. “The JF-17 is a techniques autonomously – and comprises don’t have a definite time when we’ll end the small aircraft and we decided we need fuel a central control unit and four major sub- process of integration but we [have started it] more than the extra two missiles.” systems: a radar warning receiver (RWR), on the Block 1 aircraft.” In addition to two SD-10 missiles on outer- missile approach warning system (MAWS), wing stations, the JF-17’s standard weapons flare and chaff dispenser and a jammer. Sensors fit includes two PL-5EII missiles on wing-tip “Since it’s a small aircraft the jammer has to The JF-17’s primary sensor for air-to-air stations; two or three external 1000-litre (219 be carried externally,” commented Gp Capt combat is the KLJ-7 radar developed by Imp gallon) fuel tanks on inner-wing stations; Ahsan. the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic and an 800-litre (175 Imp gallon) tank on the At Airshow China in 2012 the JF-17 on Technology. This is reportedly a scaled- centreline station beneath the belly. display was presented with the Chinese KG- down version of the KLJ-10 radar developed For self-defence the JF-17 is equipped 300G jamming pod, but it is not confirmed if for the J-10 with a range that’s supposedly with a fully-integrated electronic warfare this is the type used by the PAF. According matched to that of the SD-10 missile, two of system which, according to Gp Capt Ahsan, to the manufacturers’ brochure the pod is

2

3

44 AI.12.13 JF-17 THUNDER MILITARY adaptable and can be integrated with other range GPS and laser/GPS-guided bombs jet was also presented with the CM-400AKG avionics such as RWRs and MAWSs. developed by the Luoyang Opto-electro land attack missile but it is not known if the For air-to-ground combat the JF-17’s Technology Development Centre (LOEC). weapon is operational with the PAF. primary sensor is an inertial navigation/ Both the LT-2 and LT-6 consist of a tail unit GPS system which provides continuously with a guidance module and a mid-body Networking computed release point (CCRP) and strap-on section with foldable wings for A light fighter doesn’t have the performance constantly computed impact point (CCIP) additional range. According to company of, nor can it carry enough weapons to be, sight modes. These calculate the release representatives the bomb’s route to the an air superiority fighter. But, when large and impact points in relation to the launch target can be pre-programmed so an attack numbers are networked and employed, they aircraft’s movement, the target’s movement can be executed from a stand-off distance. can give any enemy a run for its money. The and the gravity, velocity and drag affecting the But the true value of these weapons Swedish Air Force was aware of that when it weapon after release – and are critical to the comes from their compatibility with China’s started developing the Gripen and the PAF is accurate delivery of general-purpose bombs. satellite navigation system, the Beidou, aware of it now with the JF-17. “[The security which currently covers only China and of] a datalink is a national matter,” said Gp Precision Weapons neighbouring countries. But from 2020, Capt Ahsan. “We don’t want somebody else For more complex scenarios, precision- when more than 30 satellites will be in orbit, reading our information so we developed guided munitions (PGMs) will be carried. the coverage will give China and its allies, our own system for the JF-17. We’re now “At the moment we’re using a combination including Pakistan, total independence from working to connect it with the Link 16 system of PGMs of different origins,” said Air the American GPS system. we have on the AWACS and F-16 fleets.” Commodore Mehmood. For the anti-shipping role two The idea is, reportedly, to use strategically At Airshow China 2012 the JF-17 was C-802A missiles can be carried on dispersed ground relay stations to translate presented with the LT-2 laser-guided bomb the JF-17’s inner-wing stations – and then retransmit signals between and several of the LS-6 family of long- or, for the suppression of enemy different systems. The current status air defence (SEAD) role, two of the programme is unknown. Brazilian MAR-1s. At last year’s Airshow China the Operational Employment JF-17 squadrons are now fully qualified for quick reaction alert duties for air defence, according to Air

1 The hump at the JF-17’s inlet opening is designed to slow down the airstream entering the engine and to hide the face of the engine’s compressor blades as well as minimise the aircraft’s radar signature. 2 JF-17 09-112 fitted with two 1,000 litre underwing fuel tanks and an 800 litre tank on the centreline station. 3 This JF-17 is seen next to a hardened revetment, typical of a PAF air base.

1

AI.12.13 45 MILITARY JF-17 THUNDER

Commodore Mehmood. In the air-to-ground place, so if there’s a problem the technician We’re using a single crew chief concept very role the JF-17 has not seen combat in the just has to open two or three panels and he’ll similar to the F-16.” Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) find all the components together.” Scheduled maintenance is based on in the north of Pakistan; but it has been According to Wg Cdr Ali, components that 100-hour checks. “Each check is a little bit extensively used in exercises, both PAF- have to be checked at a higher frequency, for more demanding than the previous one until organised and in 2011’s Exercise Shaheen 1 example every 100 hours, were strategically the aircraft reaches 400 hours,” Wg Cdr Ali held jointly with the Chinese. placed on the JF-17 so that when a continued. “The 400-hour check is a bit It was reported that during the latter technician opens a panel, they will be directly more demanding than the basic 100-hour exercise, PAF JF-17s flew dissimilar air in front of them. Similarly the items likeliest check while the 800-hour check is the most combat sorties against PLAAF Sukhoi to fail are also positioned for easy access. demanding. After the 800-hour check the Su-27s. “We had a very good experience As a result, the maintenance turnaround aircraft continues operating until it reaches its with the Chinese. We trained in all kinds of time for the JF-17 is shorter than for the designed service life.” scenarios with all the capabilities they have F-7 – even though there are more systems to According to CAC representatives, the and all we have, so it was very good,” said check on the newer jet. JF-17’s service life is currently set at 3,000 the air commodore. Manpower too is reduced. Wg Cdr Ali hours but, as with many modern fighters, said: “In an F-7 squadron we had 170 people fatigue life depends on the use of the aircraft Two-seater? working in maintenance while in the JF-17 during its operational service. The engine is A two-seat version of an operational fighter squadron with 16 aircraft we have 120. checked at 100 hours and Wg Cdr Ali says can greatly assist in successfully converting pilots to the type. But for the PAF a two- 3 seat JF-17 is completely out of the picture. “This aircraft is very easy to fly, even easier than the F-16, so we developed a training concept and won’t need a two-seater,” said Air Commodore Mehmood. “We’re not yet taking pilots for the JF-17 directly from the academy but we are taking young pilots from the F-7 squadrons and developing a full mission simulator with air-to-air, air-to- ground, electronic warfare, aerial refuelling and night-vision goggles capabilities.” Maintenance What’s the JF-17 like to maintain? “Most of the problems on previous platforms like the F-7 were related to the location of the components,” said Wg Cdr Babar Ali, who now works in the JF-17 programme office after ten years as a senior technical officer. “We had to open a lot of panels to access and replace some components. On the JF-17 we’ve tried to gather all the important components of a particular system in one

46 AI.12.13 JF-17 THUNDER MILITARY

2

17’s logistics system, Wg Cdr Ali said hurry. For now we’re just matching their it’s working well. “Every year we define retirement tempo.” logistics requirements based on our previous experience. Based on previous International Prospects spare parts consumption trends we’re For PAC and CAC, selling the JF-17 to ordering in advance to have minimum another overseas customer could create a surprises. Of course, you can’t completely significant return on investment. For China’s eliminate surprises from the logistic foreign policy, selling the aircraft would help system but you can minimise them. We’re the country broaden its influence, especially 1 A No.26 Squadron JF-17 loaded with doing that by assessing consumption in resource-rich African countries which are a single 1,000lb general purpose bomb. trends and modifying our spare parts either ineligible or simply cannot afford the 2 This JF-17 is painted in the darker two-tone requirements twice a year. The reliability more expensive F-16 or MiG-29. grey colour scheme more recently applied was unexpectedly high – above 95%.” “[PAC] has joint sales and marketing to PAF Thunders. 3 A Klimov RD-93 engine agreements with the Chinese,” Air undergoes preparatory work before installation Production Commodore Mehmood said. “It doesn’t on a JF-17 at the PAC Kamra facility. 4 JF-17 Thunder, build number SP34, in the final Another big beneficiary of the programme necessarily mean we all have to sit together assembly hall at PAC Kamra’s production facility. is the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex on every meeting but the Chinese side 1 (PAC) in Kamra. Thanks to the JF-17 will always be informed about what [PAC Thunder it has grown in production is] negotiating and [PAC will] always the time between overhauls is 600 hours. On capacity from a 25% share in the know what they’re negotiating. PAC can reaching that point, the engine is overhauled production of a jet trainer (the K-8 provide everything from manufacturing and can fly for another 1,200 hours. Karakorum) to a 50% share in the to documentation and even help with the The JF-17’s comprehensive maintenance production of a jet fighter (the JF-17 induction of the aircraft in operational service.” and recording system records more than Thunder). “We started with a small pre- Before any JF-17 sales contract is signed 600 parameters and, according to Wg Cdr production batch of eight aircraft, which there’s one big obstacle left – the Russian Ali, indicates to technicians the status of a were used to mature the company’s engine. If the fighter becomes too much component, so they know when to place production processes and for the of a competitor to its MiG-29, Russia a timely order for the new one. “I can assessment of operational capabilities can always veto JF-17 sales by simply give you an example: the fuel filter needs to fine-tune the aircraft,” explained Air not agreeing to supply additional RD-93 to be changed when it reaches a certain Commodore Khalid. “We found that engines. China is well aware of this and differential pressure level – in this case, some areas were not technician-friendly its Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation the figure one.” Technicians can therefore so we want to make them better. The (GAIC) has for some years been working observe the data and monitor how the engine and the airframe will remain the on an alternative engine for the JF-17, the differential pressure rises after each flight, same. As far as manufacturing tempo is WS-13 Taishan – the first flight of which, in giving them a clear indication of when the concerned it is going according to the air an FC-1, was in June 2007. filter has to be replaced. force’s plans, in line with their older types’ But according to Vasily Kashin from Asked about the maturity of the JF- replacement plans. So we’re not in a CAST, a Russian think thank that studies Russian technology transfers to China, this 4 work is far from over. “Chinese engines are still unsatisfactory in terms of reliability and service life,” he said. “The problem with the WS-13 is not in its design but in production technologies and materials used. The WS- 10 Taihang, a replacement engine for the J-10 which is significantly more mature than the WS-13, currently has a time between overhaul of only 300 hours.” Nevertheless representatives of the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation announced at Airshow China in 2012 that delegations from Bangladesh, Egypt and Myanmar were to test the WS- 13-powered FC-1 in China. Whether this is a sign of the WS-13’s maturity, or China and Russia simply reaching agreement over the delivery of RD-93s to export customers, only time will tell. The PAF also wants to acquire up to 250 JF-17s, Air Commodore Mehmood saying agreements are in place between CATIC and Russia over the supply of enough RD-93 engines to meet Pakistan’s requirement.

AI.12.13 47 COMMERCIAL FINNAIR Defending the Nordic Niche Finnair is fighting high costs and new competition – it still has its niche of direct flights to Asia from Scandinavia but for how long? Andreas Spaeth investigates Defending the Nordic Niche Daniel Alaerts/AirTeamImages

AI.12.13 49 ue to Helsinki being not rule out that at some point, Norwegian President of Finnair’s Commercial Division, told on the north-eastern could offer such flights.” AIR International in Helsinki. edge of Europe, Finnair If this idea catches on with consumers, has long reaped the along with the further penetration into the Asian Focus benefits of the shorter market of more efficient 787s and Airbus Finnair has a 30-year history of flying to Asia. flights from its base A350s, long-haul flights could become a viable In 1983 it was the first airline granted rights in the Finnish capital business model in the low-cost market, and to fly over the former Soviet Union non-stop to Asian hub airports Finnair’s lucrative niche could come under to Tokyo, while all other carriers still had to compared to those from threat from the competition. take the long detour via Alaska. Beijing has other major European In 2012 Finnair made a small profit (€49 been served since 1988. Currently, Finnair gateways. In recent months, however, a million) for the first time since 2007. The first has 80 weekly frequencies to Tokyo, Nagoya, Dthreat has emerged in Scandinavia that could quarter of 2013, however, was disappointing Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hong have serious consequences for Finnair and its – it made a net loss of €15.8 million, although Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi and Seoul core Asian business. Low-cost carrier (LCC) this was an improvement on the €19.3 million in its timetable. “Due to Helsinki’s unique Norwegian Air Shuttle has launched services loss in the same period in 2012. This has led geographical location we are able to fly a with its brand new Boeing 787-8s from to further cuts on top of those announced in round-trip within 24 hours to almost any Stockholm and Oslo to Bangkok. 2011 that are designed to save €140 million in Asian destination with just one aircraft, which “Why should one fly via Helsinki at all if, the airline’s annual operating costs by 2014. increases the daily utilisation of our aircraft and for example, Hamburg in Germany offers a There will now be a further cost reduction of optimizes flight schedules,” said Paterson. much bigger passenger potential outbound to €60m per year and another drive to increase Finnair’s long-haul fleet, consisting of eight Asia?” Norwegian’s Chief Executive Officer efficiency. “Seventy percent of our business Airbus A330-300s and seven A340-300s, Bjørn Kjos recently asked when talking to AIR is transfer traffic between Europe and Asia spends up to 20 hours per day in the air. “Only International. “With an aircraft like the 787, and vice versa – half of our current 8.7 million on the Singapore-route is that impossible, it is there will be non-stop services from airports passengers a year are flying on our Asian just too long,” notes Paterson. A fully-loaded like Hamburg to Beijing in the future and I will routes,” explains Allister Paterson, Senior Vice- A330-300 can only reach Bangkok, while the

FINNAIR FACTS AND FIGURES IATA code: AY ICAO code: FIN seasonal destination Phuket is already at the Ownership: State of Finland 55.8%, Skagen Global Verdirpapirfonds 5.3%, furthest range limit for the twin-jet. Finnair’s Local government pensions institution 5.3%, other shareholders 35% Vice Chief Executive Officer Ville Iho told AIR Founded: Winter 1923 International: “That means that in winter, we can’t always load the full 25 tons of freight, but we Operations started: March 20, 1924 never leave passengers grounded. Of course Employees: 6,000 Norwegian is new competition for us that we Passengers carried: 2012 – 8.8 million, 2011 – 8 million have an eye on, but that’s nothing dramatically new as charter carriers have done this for a long Fleet: 9 Airbus A319s, 10 Airbus A320s, 8 Airbus A321s, 8 Airbus A330-300s, 7 Airbus A340-300s, 2 Boeing 757-200s time and such point-to-point demand is always seasonal.” Aircraft orders: 3 Airbus A321s, 11 Airbus A350-900s Hub: Helsinki Ideal Position Route network: 83 destinations; Finland (19), Rest of Europe (42), Finnair is at ease with what it does because Asia (13), Australia (3), the Middle East (2) and North America (4) geography means that European travellers can Profit: 2012 - $15 million, 2011 – ($122 million), 2010 – ($30 million) save an average of two hours on their journey to Asia if they fly from Helsinki. “There are www.finnair.com annually about 40 million passengers moving 2 between Europe and Asia, half of them flying point-to-point. The rest have to connect, and Finnair offers perfect relations between 60 cities in Europe and 13 in Asia,” Paterson says. On any given day between 1,500 and 2,000 passengers are transferring to or from a long-haul flight in Helsinki. “And we monitor every single connection and achieve a 99.9% reliability at our transfers – there are days when there is not a single missed

50 AI.12.13 FINNAIR COMMERCIAL connection,” claims Paterson. “With just and expects to receive the first of its 11-aircraft Finland, although Norwegian has a strong 35 minutes of minimum connecting time order by the end of 2015. “Before that, there presence in Finland. It currently flies to 29 between long haul and short haul, Helsinki is will be only a limited number of new long-haul destinations from Helsinki, mostly around the a very fast and reliable airport, also one of the routes we might introduce, while with the Mediterranean, but also to four Finnish cities. top hubs in turnaround time for aircraft and efficiency of the A350, new, even marginal Finnair itself has executed a radical step one of the most cost-effective in Europe.” routes become possible that would not be to stem losses on its short-haul network. In From 2015, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport will be economically viable without it,” said Paterson, October 2012 all of its 12 Embraer 190s, two out connected to the rail network. A train trip to the hinting at a further Asian expansion. of nine Embraer 170s and 200 cabin crew were main downtown station will take half an hour, Currently, the airline’s aircraft have an outsourced to a new company, Flybe Nordic, and travellers will be able to reach St Petersburg average age of 8.5 years, a number that will a joint venture between the British regional in Russia within three hours – an important decrease when the A350s arrive. By the airline Flybe (holding 60%) and Finnair (40%). increase in the airport’s catchment area. summer of 2013 only the eight A330s in its In addition, Flybe Nordic purchased the former Besides Asia, Finnair serves New York long-haul fleet had been retrofitted with new Finncomm (Finnish Commuter Airlines) and and Toronto. In July it joined the transatlantic full-flat seats in business class. By the end now operates that airline’s fleet of three ATR42s alliance of British Airways, Iberia and American of March 2014 the four A340-300s owned by and 12 ATR72s, seven of which fly for Finnair. Airlines, enabling its codes to be placed on the airline will follow suit, although three other “We are using the ATRs on domestic routes as these other airlines’ routes across the Atlantic to leased A340s will be returned to their lessor. well as to Stockholm-Bromma, Tallinn, Riga New York in addition to co-ordinating schedules The two Boeing 757s in the fleet will be and St Petersburg,” says Iho. His colleague and sharing revenues. “That will lead to lower phased out too. They were used to operate Paterson added: “For the customers on the prices,” says airline industry veteran Paterson, holiday flights to the Canary Islands and to Embraer flights, there is no change – it is still a who previously worked for Air New Zealand and Dubai. They are to be replaced later this year Finnair product. We are very satisfied with Flybe who was part of an entirely new top by five Airbus A321ERs. “[The A321s will be] Nordic, but we will not increase the offering for management of Finnair that took equipped with Sharklets [Airbus’ fuel-saving the time being.” office in early 2013. wingtip device for the A320 family] and extra Flybe Nordic is saving Since mid-June, fuel tanks as well as boast a maximum costs on salaries, using

1

1 A330-300 OH-LTM (msn 994) was delivered to Finnair in March 2009 and is one of eight in service with the Finnish carrier. Finnair 2 Finnair A340-300 OH-LQD (msn 921) is currently painted in a special colour scheme featuring poppies. Ruidi Boigelot/AirTeamImages

Finnair has been serving several new seasonal take-off weight-increase of 4.5 tons,” explains synergies in maintenance with Flybe’s facilities destinations, Xi’an in China, Vietnamese capital Alan Pardoe, Airbus’ head of marketing at its Exeter base and increasing daily aircraft Hanoi (both three times a week) and Tel Aviv communications. Airbus says the Sharklets utilisation. “If we were able to produce 10% (twice-weekly). “For Xi’an it is the first time it has will make the A321ERs 4% more fuel efficient cheaper fares that would be perfect, but we enjoyed a nonstop flight to Europe, there is also than the six A321-200s Finnair previously are not quite there yet,” says Iho. “We hope significant demand from this eight-million mega operated and provide an increased range of at least to be able to maintain the current city, but unfortunately, as a small airline we can’t “about 5,000km [3,106 miles].” European offering. Our strategy is to first offer daily services right away,” says Iho. stabilise and then expand.” Bookings for the new destinations were Short-haul Challenge Around 100 pilots, who are now flying the dominated by private travellers (70%), as they While Finnair is well positioned on long- and Embraer jets under the Flybe Nordic brand, are on the rest of Finnair’s network, with Japan medium-haul routes, European short-haul are still employed by Finnair but they are flying being the second-most important market after remains a problem. “Finland is a difficult longer and receive slightly lower salaries than Finland. “In summer, most demand is on the market with long, thin routes, which has the before. “They will be retrained later to fly the Japanese routes as well as to Hong Kong and advantage for us that LCCs are not very strong A350s,” says Paterson. China, while in winter the Bangkok flights are at all,” explains Iho. LCCs base part of their In April 2013, Finnair sold its 4.69% the most popular,” says Iho. As a result of its model on operating full aircraft but many routes share in Norwegian Air Shuttle for €53m. oneworld alliance partner, Japan Airlines, finally in Finland and from there to neighbouring Finnair bought the stake in 2007 through a launching its postponed 787 flights from Tokyo countries are thin (that’s to say, sectors where share-swap when it sold a Swedish affiliate, to Helsinki July 1, 2013, Finnair has reduced there is less demand). FlyNordic, to Norwegian Air Shuttle. Since its capacity from last year’s ten weekly Tokyo This is why both easyJet and airBaltic then the stake has increased in value through flights to daily, although thanks to the JAL withdrew altogether from Finland. In answer Norwegian’s growth, giving Finnair a healthy flights the total seat number between Finland to a question posed by AIR International at a profit of €34m on its €19m investment six and Tokyo has only slightly changed. press conference during the ITB Berlin tourism years ago. But with Norwegian Air Shuttle trade fair in March, airBaltic’s CEO Martin continuing to provide strong competition to Fleet Plans Gauss said: “Our Finland adventure was one Finnair’s short-haul network, not to mention “We also evaluated the 787, but in the end the of the main reasons for our whole company competition on long-haul routes to Asia, this A350-900 made more sense,” Iho explains. ending up in dire straits.” Even Ryanair might be the one and only time Finnair Finnair was the launch customer for the type only serves Tampere and Lappeenranta in benefits from Norwegian’s success.

AI.12.13 51 MILITARY NATO TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME Sharpening Roberto Yáñez and Alex Rodríguez report on the latest Tactical Leadership Skills Programme in Spain

A Mirage 2000D equipped with an inert SAMP 250kg (500lb) laser-guided bomb takes off towards the NFZ (no-fl y zone) training area programmed for September 27. The crisis in Syria kept the French contingent on-call to deploy during a large part of the course. All images Roberto Yáñez

he Tactical Leadership offered by the new location. execute the day’s missions in a shorter time Programme (TLP) is Since the move to Spain, 16 TLP  ying than they normally would when operating designed to develop courses have taken place with an almost from their home base. Each TLP  ying NATO pilots and ground 100% mission completion rate. There have course also requires considerable effort planners’ skills in also been around 50 ground school courses from the TLP staff – a permanent facility at preparing, conducting attended by 1,200 pilots from across Europe. Albacete of personnel from member nations and debrie ng missions Each TLP  ying course involves 800-plus and invited countries which organises and in complex combined personnel. co-ordinates each course – given how many air operations. This are involved. is achieved through Multinational The TLP’s demanding nature is valued academic and  ying courses held at the The TLP has been multinational since it highly by air forces which, year after year, EjércitoT del Aire (EdA, Spanish Air Force) was rst held in January 1978, enabling the send their best pilots to Albacete to sharpen base at Albacete, 258km (160 miles) south- standardisation of tactics and procedures their combat skills, readying them to take east of Madrid. across participating air arms in readiness part in operations in an unpredictable The transfer of the TLP in July 2009 from for real multinational operations. Just as world. The international nature of combat its previous home at Florennes AB in Belgium importantly, it creates an opportunity for an operations today means there’s a high to Albacete has led to great improvements in exchange of experiences. degree of complexity in mission planning and the  ying aspects of the course thanks to the It’s extremely demanding for the execution. This calls for pilots and ground better weather and less congested airspace participating pilots – they must plan and planners alike to be given high-quality

52 AI.12.13 NATO TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME MILITARY

Roberto Yáñez and Alex Rodríguez report on the latest Tactical Leadership Programme in Spain

AI.12.13 53 MILITARY NATO TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

1 The excellent weather at Albacete has boosted 3 The Turkish Air Force’s 142 Filo from Konya AB the number of missions fl own during each deployed two of its Fighting Falcons as part of the course. During FC 2013-5, all planned missions Red Air during the fi rst half of the course. Here, were able to be executed, achieving a total of F-16D 07-1016 taxies towards Albacete’s active 760 fl ight hours during the 20-day course. runway equipped with a fl ight profi le recorder 2 FC 2013-5 involved 24 aircraft assigned to the pod, the in-fl ight component of the Blue Force and 14 in Red Air, the largest number autonomous air combat manoeuvring of all the courses held in 2013. instrumentation system. 4 Aeronautica Militare Italiana Piaggio P180M Avantis are regularly tasked to support TLP missions.

1 training to prepare them to succeed in the aircraft are required for each TLP course, The most recent ying course, FC 2013-5, real world. These are all reasons why the including airborne warning and control was important not just for the high number TLP is held in such high esteem. (AWACS) platforms, helicopters, transporters of participants but also because it saw For the course to take place, it is and air-to-air refuelling aircraft together the programme’s  rst use of the real-time necessary for two conditions to be met. with ground assets such as surface-to-air monitoring system (RTMS) developed by First, participants in the Blue Air Force (pilots missile batteries and electronic warfare threat the EdA’s Jefatura del Sistema de Mando y that will graduate at the end of the course) systems. Control (Headquarters of the Command and need to number at least 18. Then there Control System). are the pilots who constitute Red Air (the Real Time The EdA placed the RTMS and its Link pilots playing the ‘opposition’) and any other Although the TLP courses at Albacete 16 database at the disposal of all the support. The second condition is that Blue follow the same general model used in participants during the course. The joint use Air must be able to execute four fundamental Belgium, since the programme moved to of the system, coupled with the real-time missions: suppression of enemy air defences, Spain changes have been made resulting tracking of sorties from the ground, provided reconnaissance, air-to-air and air-to-ground. from the greater airspace available and the ef ciency in the planning, execution and In addition to Blue Air and Red Air, other implementation of new technology. monitoring of missions and in facilitating

2 post- ight debrie ngs. The role played by the RTMS was judged by participants to have been a resounding success and a great step forward in the TLP’s capabilities. It will be used again in the courses next year. AWACS Trio FC 2013-5 was also signi cant in being the  rst course with three different AWACS forces participating – an RAF Sentry AEW1 from Waddington, an Armée de L’Air (French Air Force) E-3F from BA702 Avord and an 3 E-3A from the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force at Geilenkirchen AB in Germany. The aircraft each operated from their home bases for the exercise. Although the experiences for the crews were satisfactory, operating the AWACS from Albacete would have made for more optimal use of these aircraft and better mission co-ordination, with crews being able to take part in mission planning in person. In future it is hoped that NATO will choose Albacete as one of the forward deployed sites for its AWACS force, which should yield bene ts for both TLP participants and the training of NATO’s own AWACS personnel. Blue and Red FC 2013-5 saw aircraft and crews from France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey form the Blue Force with Red Air made up of assets provided by France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom (see panel). And for only the second time since TLP moved to Albacete, 4 included naval units. There are currently ten full-member nations operates and get used to its procedures. But and they participated fully. in the TLP – Belgium, Denmark, France, with all three nations having participated in Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, TLP courses before, some of their assets Variety of Missions Spain, the UK and the US, although other played a role in the Blue Air (see panel). During the 20-day duration of FC 2013-5, air forces are invited to attend. Pilots from The US Air Force was due to send all 15 planned missions were successfully non-member nations get a certi cate to F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Fighter conducted. There was great variety in the mark their attendance instead of the course Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, but the mission types, underlining the value of the diploma member nations’ crews receive. impact of sequestration cuts on the US course. In addition to familiarisation and Invites to TLP are appreciated and taken defence budget meant they couldn’t attend. tactical introduction sorties at the start of up by non-member nations because of the Neither could the expected Aeronautica exercise, there were missions covering value the exercise provides. FC 2013-5 Militare Italiana (AMI, Italian Air Force) AMX dynamic targeting, air interdiction, slow mover, included pilots from three such countries – participate, for budgetary and operational ground-based air defence, close air support, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey. Normally, reasons. The Armée de l’Air’s Mirage 2000s counter aggression, offensive counter air, non-members provide resources for Red taking part were also on call in case tensions air eld air defence systems, anti-surface Air so that they can see  rst-hand how TLP escalated in Syria, but the call never came warfare (ASuW), no- y zone, combat search

AI.12.13 55 MILITARY NATO TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

and rescue/personnel recovery (CSAR/PR) end of the course as the best mission. The the EdA while their aircraft are deployed to and a final tactical consolidation mission. planners in the TLP staff who participated in Albacete. These would be under the control The first two days of each TLP are the mission also received a high grade for of the EdA’s Mando Aéreo de Combate devoted to ground school to show their work. (Air Combat Command), but because of participating pilots the planning and time constraints the participating pilots objectives of the course. There are then Extra Training would not be involved in the TLP night two additional academic days to plan some In 2014 there will be four courses. Two of mission. Therefore, nations participating in of the more complex missions, such as the these, in January and May, will involve night ‘second wave’ missions will have to send CSAR/PR and ASuW. FC 2013-5 involved flying. Some countries have expressed additional pilots to fly the aircraft deployed the Royal Danish Navy command and interest in participating in so-called ‘second to Albacete. So far France, the Netherlands support ship DMS Esbern Snare (L17) and wave’ daytime training missions, in between and the United States, have expressed was judged by the pilots graduating at the the night operations, in conjunction with interest in doing so.

2 1

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4 NATO TACTICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME MILITARY

More Members? sending assets and personnel to Spain at a There is the possibility that more countries time of reduced military budgets, mean several TLP FLYING COURSE may join the TLP. Formal invitations have non-member countries which participate in 2013-5 PARTICIPANTS been extended to Portugal, Norway and the TLP – like Poland, Switzerland and Turkey French Air Force Sweden. Currently pilots attending the course – have decided not to become full members. have a minimum of 500 flying hours in the role However, organising additional but shorter 4 x Mirage 2000D BA133 Nancy Blue they’ll fulfil during the exercise, experience in courses with less restrictive participation 2 x Mirage 2000-5F BA116 Luxeuil Blue large-scale exercises or combat operations, criteria is also being assessed at the moment. 2 x Mirage 2000C BA115 Orange Red Air be a flight leader and have a good command Whatever transpires, the facilities at of the English language. Members must also Albacete will continue to create an ideal 1 x E-3F BA702 Avord External contribute personnel to the TLP staff. venue for this most important of Italian Air Force These conditions, and the high cost of European multi-national exercises. 2 x EF2000 Trapani Blue 1 A French Mirage 2000-5F takes off on October 2 x EF2000 Grosseto Red Air 1 to take part in a combat search and rescue 1 x HH-3F Cervia External mission. The execution of each day’s missions took place between 1300Z and 1600Z. In the 1 x P180M Pratica di Mare External background are Ala 14 Mirage F1Ms retired by 1 x KC-767A Pratica di Mare External the Spanish Air Force in mid-2013. 2 This AMI KC-767A belonging to 14° Stormo from Pratica NATO di Mare acted as a high-value air asset, enabling 1 x E-3A AEW&CF Geilenkirchen External more complexity in the planning of missions within the COMAO. 3 The last week of FC 2013- Polish Air Force 5 saw the participation of a Spanish Navy SH-3D 6 x F-16C Block 52+ Poznan Blue and an AB212 and an Ejército del Aire AS332B from 803 Escuadrón as well as this HH-3F from Royal Air Force 15° Stormo at Cervia, Italy, for CSAR/person- 2 x Hawk RAF Leeming Red Air nel recovery missions. 4 A Blue Air pilot from the Polish Air Force’s 6 ELT based at Poznan- 1 x E-3D RAF Waddington External Krzesiny AB salutes the camera before the first Turkish Air Force COMAO mission on September 12. On his shoulder is a patch commemorating participation 2 x F-16C/D Block 50 Konya Blue in exercise Red Flag-Alaska 12-2. 2 x F-16C/D Block 50 Konya Red Air Spanish Air Force 2 x EF-18MLU Zaragoza Blue 2 x F/A-18A Gando Blue 2 x F/A-18A Gando Red Air 2 x EF2000 Tifón Albacete Blue 2 x EF2000 Tifón Morón Red 1 x C295 Getafe External 1 x AS332B Cuatro Vientos External Spanish Navy 1 x SH-3D Rota External 1 x AB212 Rota External Swiss Air Force 2 x F-18C/D Payerne Blue 2 x F-18C/D Payerne Red Air

AI.12.13 57 VoyagerOn Her Majesty’s Service Following an exclusive visit to AirTanker at Brize Norton, Ian Harding details the RAF’s brand new Voyager tanker and fi nishes his two-part report

58 TANKERS Essential to the Fight n the last issue the Training who joined AirTanker as its of personnel, Babcock all type rating for pilots, MSOs, author covered No.10 ‘Achieving Excellence technical training manager the motor transport and cabin crews, engineers to Squadron’s transition Together’ is the banner under following a 28-year military ground service equipment third party providers, such to the Voyager which the AirTanker training training career, 17 years of and Babcock CIS all the as British Airways, which multi-role tanker centre operates. Voyager which was spent as a Royal computer software required. provides the cabin crew and its operational training started at its Brize Marine. He is accountable to The scale of the ground- for both military and civil Iachievements to date and Norton hub in 2011 under the Ministry of Defence and based training effort is personnel,” Cox explained. provided details of the aircraft the stewardship of AirTanker, the Civil Aviation Authority. enormous. More than 250 “Training courses range and its major systems. That which is responsible for all While most training is courses had been conducted from the European Union was an extensive feature the training of pilots, MSOs, undertaken by AirTanker, by the end of 2013. So far Operations [cabin crew] but only half of a fascinating cabin crews and engineers. some specifi c instruction the peak delivery rate in one course which is standard, story. This concluding part Air-to-air refuelling (AAR) is delegated to partner calendar month (based on irrespective of what uniform covers training, maintenance is the main focus of training. companies in the consortium. a fi ve-day week) is 1,900 people wear, to the Part 66 and the all important role of Managing this delivery, Thales, which provided the training days. Basic Engineering Course the mission systems including other training training centre, is responsible “We train everyone, for RAF personnel which is Voyager operator (MSO). stakeholders, is Darren Cox, for all theoretical training ranging from A330-200 done by the City of Bristol Geoff Lee

TANKERS Essential to the Fight 59 RAF Brize Norton

College. Once qualified, Courses and Facilities “It’s critical that new MSOs STANEVAL (standardisation training course involves AirTanker then takes Part One of the company’s learn to move receivers and evaluation) pilot on the seven simulator sessions, 66-qualified engineers sponsored reservists, Flt Lt around the tanker in the VC10 before a commercial the last of which is a up to type rating. Every Mark Windle, outlined how right order. If you don’t, career beckoned with check to determine if the training course is checked initial training works at the you could end up with a Virgin Atlantic and latterly student has achieved the regularly and updated in centre: “It kicks off with the mid-air collision. This facility flying the A330 with Airbus standard required for flying line with either military or sponsored ground school here is only used for military Military. Now employed the Voyager. Successful CAA expectations and followed by ten to 12 hours training,” noted Chappell. by AirTanker as an SR trainees are then placed requirements.” on one of the part task Training of the first new and deputy head of crew onto the AAR weekly Devices available for training units. This is the crews started in January training, he is responsible for timetable and fly around five ground-based training first cockpit training device a 2013, and they are now liaising with senior squadron missions with an instructor; include the part task trainer, student ever uses; there’s no qualified on the Voyager. The personnel and instructors the last sortie is a formal an A330 touchscreen system synthetic training involved. training centre contains a and overseeing the delivery end-of-course check used within the pilot course All the part task training units number of classrooms which, of training for new RAF tanker following which they are and a full flight simulator, are kept in commercial flight depending on their size, pilots as they progress from AAR-qualified. “We’re in a which is certified to CAA level mode but moves are afoot can either take eight or 15 the simulator to towline and build-up phase right now D standard and can be re- to get the military Voyager students. Each is configured trail training to becoming as we increase the number roled as the military variant of approved by the CAA. Once in the same way and has fully-qualified AAR pilots. of aircraft available,” Hall Voyager in four to six hours. achieved, these units could its own CAA-accredited Hall flies the Voyager in explained. “Ideally we’d “So far, ten crews are then be retained in military examination room. one of two roles, either as roll trainees straight out of towline trained and three mode. the aircraft captain or an the simulator phase into a are also trail trained,” Cox “That’s followed by another Voyager Pilot Training instructor teaching RAF solid week’s flying, but until revealed. “In all, 20 pilots period of ground school here Dave Hall served 17 years personnel. aircraft numbers increase and ten MSOs are qualified. and more reinforcement in the RAF, finishing as the For new pilots, the AAR they’ll do maybe two AAR In addition, some instructors of the technical training. have been trained to During [the latter phase] we ensure AirTanker and No.10 cover standard operating Squadron can sustain their procedures for ten or own training requirements. eleven days following which While some instructors are trainees are familiar with the squadron personnel, most instruments and the checks are former military sponsored required, and are ready for reservists (SRs) with the simulator.” experience of the VC10. Master Aircrew Phil “British Airways is Chappell explained the responsible for our cabin mission systems operator crew training but this will equivalent: “MSO ground- come in-house by 2014. based training takes place The only training events we on a separate training station can’t do here, due to a lack which normally contains of bespoke facilities, are pool an instructor and a trainee. drills and fire training. All Another station is available our civil cabin crew training which enables instructors to is complete for 2013 but programme and simulate a we have two RAF crews to tactical environment.” train. Our training is geared The training event to building operational presented to AIR International capability for both the RAF during the visit illustrated a and AirTanker.” tanker and receivers joining it.

60 TANKERS Essential to the Fight Sponsored Reservists Sponsored reservists (SRs) are employed by AirTanker and work alongside full-time RAF personnel to fly Voyager on frontline operations. Flt Lt Mark Windle was one of the first SRs to graduate from RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, on December 13, 2012, following a nine-month Reserve Officer Initial Training course. Prior to this, he completed his RAF general service knowledge training and basic recruit training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. Flt Lt Windle is an experienced commercial pilot who has flown Boeing 737-200s, 737-800s, 737-900s and Dash 8-300s. He was also an instructor on the Boeing 737NG and Airbus A330 and worked as an examiner for the Civil Aviation Authority. His regular day job with AirTanker involves flying the civilian-registered Voyager (G-VYGG) but he also flies military Voyager KC2s and KC3s.

Above: Voyager KC2 ZZ331 undergoes post-flight maintenance on the flight line at Brize Norton. RAF Brize Norton Below: AirTanker’s hangar at RAF Brize Norton can hold two Voyager aircraft and has all of the company’s office spaces, as well as those occupied by No.10 and No.101 Squadrons, on the south side of the same building. AirTanker flights, and some routine Teaching from the tasking agency this theatre, trainees must learn tanker, the A330 is the one air transport tasking before Responsibility should keep the receivers other military tactics as well that stands out as having the returning for a couple more “At this juncture, we’ll take ‘legal’ in terms of being as managing threat situations right combination of range, AAR flights. AAR training any opportunity to train, but above the minimum fuel using Voyager’s defensive payload and fuel capacity. requires specific tasking ideally it would be the most line. Trainees learn how they aids system. For this we Its fuel capacity is huge so unlike air transport flying.” complex trail possible with must adjust the plan in flight work closely with the air there’s no need to install extra Trail-specific training plenty of receivers,” said to cope with contingencies force.” tanks. This is the real beauty for Voyager can now be Hall. “There’s a difference like bad weather, air traffic Hall’s extensive tanking of this aeroplane. practised on the simulators, between normal towline re-routing and fuel system experience means he’s “The KC-10 is still arguably but real ops are required flying and a trail. On a failures. well-placed to review the the best pure tanker because so the trainee can gain towline each receiver pilot “During synthetic training, Voyager’s AAR capabilities of its multi-system capability the required experience. is responsible for his or her instructors replicate the role against those of a ‘legacy’ and large fuel load but it’s As opportunities for this own fuel state whereas on a of the ARC [air refuelling tanker. “The A330 is an compromised as a transport become available, Hall’s trail, the tanker is responsible. controller, who plans the excellent aircraft and an easy aircraft because of the team identify the students In essence we’re teaching tasking for the crew to choice for tanker conversion,” additional fuel tanks on the who are ready for live flying. students that they’re leading undertake] in the briefing he said. “There’s never been lower deck load. The TriStar Those trainees are then the formation of fighters stage and students are a purpose-built tanker; the similarly has no underfloor given trail training courses from A to B and therefore taught to execute and adjust aeroplane has always been hold capability so pallets in advance to minimise the the fighters’ fuel load is now the AAR plan autonomously. modified from another role. and baggage for a reduced time between the simulator their responsibility. Having In addition, to undertake Considering the airliners that number of passengers and the actual trail. received the refuelling plan operational flights into industry could choose for a have to go upstairs. With

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Agreed in 2008 and valued at approximately £13 billion, the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract was awarded to AirTanker by the UK Ministry of Defence to provide the Royal Air Force with air-to-air refuelling, air transport and aero-medical evacuation capabilities, plus associated service and support infrastructure, over a 24-year period until 2035. Utilising Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the FSTA programme is a new model for the procurement of large capital and infrastructure projects and the services to support them. It’s notable in several ways, but primarily because the team comprises RAF personnel, sponsored reservists and civilian staff. AirTanker, a consortium comprising Cobham, EADS, Rolls- Royce, Thales and Babcock, was charged with delivering a core fleet of nine aircraft (with options on five more). AirTanker’s hub is at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, where the aircraft serve with No.10 Squadron – which officially reformed on August 1, 2011 having disbanded in October 2005. In September 2013, No.101 Squadron became the second Voyager unit after the retirement of the RAF’s last VC-10.

TANKERS Essential to the Fight 61 the Voyager, we have a for work that needs to be tanker that carries almost completed to meet Voyager’s as much fuel as a TriStar airworthiness compliance and its passenger or freight schedule. The airworthiness carrying capability is not requirements also cover the compromised at all. The confi guration of the aircraft, Voyager’s fuel burn effi ciency modifi cations made, repairs is so good that after about undertaken and overall three hours of fl ight, the serviceability.” available off-load exceeds Around 120 personnel that of a TriStar and, of are involved in this process course, it can be delivered to – 85% of them maintain the two fast jets simultaneously.” aircraft and the remainder provide logistics support. Maintenance Maintenance covers both All of the Voyager line and ramp maintenance fl eet’s maintenance and at Brize Norton and at engineering, including its forward operating bases airworthiness activity, takes (FOBs) plus hangar-based place at RAF Brize Norton activity which currently under the stewardship of involves the lighter elements Paul Kimberley, AirTanker’s of base maintenance and engineering director, and modifi cations, including his team of mainly civilian installation of an additional personnel – which, currently defensive aids system turret. 140-strong, will eventually total 180 people at the time C Checks of Voyager’s full-service AirTanker will start delivery in mid-2016. to undertake base Undertaking both civil and maintenance checks military operations, the as it increases its Voyager has to meet CAA, capability. “It covers European Aviation Safety ‘block’ checks Agency Part M (engineering) and what we and Part 145 (maintenance), call ‘C-checks’, and Military Airworthiness which are heavier Authority requirements. maintenance Part M covers confi guration visits,” Kimberley control, technical planning, outlined. Under reliability and maintenance the regulations programmes – what needs to there are be done, when and to what two types of maintenance:

standard. forward “As [base and line] and the design depth. Forward covers the authority for the scheduled and unscheduled modifi ed aeroplane, maintenance that keeps the Airbus Military has integrated aircraft fl ying on a day-to-day the A330 green aircraft basis, typically starting at requirements into a set of the lowest pre- and post- military requirements and fl ight inspections and those come up with a maintenance undertaken on a daily and programme for the modifi ed weekly cycle. Depth includes aircraft,” Kimberley two cycles, A and C, each explained. “We then turn comprising eight checks – an this it into an approved A-check every 800 fl ying document; an engineering hours and a C-check every programme covering all 18 months. Because the maintenance requirements C-check has the higher identifi ed by Airbus Military, maintenance requirements it Airbus Industry and has a 12-year cycle.” ourselves, based on our Some military checks, operating principles, which known as free ‘running is then approved by the tasks’, are not aligned with CAA. This sets the timetable scheduled maintenance.

62 RAF Brize Norton 63 These will be performed Maintenance and servicing much fuel they will require. call signs ‘Knight 1 and 2’. when they fall due, of the Voyager’s Rolls-Royce This is completely automated I’ll clear Knight 1 on the right irrespective of the cycle or Trent engines is undertaken at the MSO station. hose and Knight 2 on the left. flying hours. by AirTanker although MSO Phil Chappell takes The receivers will then move on-site Rolls-Royce field up the story: “During the across. On either side of the Daily Maintenance representatives provide transit to/from the refuelling pod is a three-light signal “Typically we use a three-man technical and liaison support area, the MSO has no system [red, amber, green despatch crew to depart to Rolls-Royce at Derby. specific roles save processing and, for night operations, or receive an aircraft,” said Similar support packages are any mission changes, which infrared]. The MSO manually Kimberley. “To undertake in place with Airbus Military, often happen, in which case switches the red lights on airworthiness release of Thales and Cobham for other they’ll brief the pilots as to signal that the receivers the aircraft, one will be a major systems. necessary. Once on station, are not yet cleared to make licensed engineer. Typically the MSO will deploy the contact. We do this to a team of three complete Mission hoses out for refuelling. To stop them initiating contact the preparatory work for Systems Operator do this he or she selects until Voyager is stable and the first morning flight, and The MSO role is well defined the power switches on and established in the turn. if the aircraft returns for a and adds an extra capability moves the trail/wind switches “They’ll call on boom transit flight in the afternoon to the flight deck. At the to trail which deploys the ‘Knight 1 astern on the they’ll do post-checks. We’ll start of an air refuelling hoses. The system is right, Knight 2 astern on use up to six people on mission, the Voyager crew, completely automatic. the left’ and I will then clear post-flight activity following including the MSO, first brief “Receivers approach each aircraft to the contact an AAR sortie because we together. They review their the tanker under air traffic position and put the red light

Left: Maintenance and servicing of Voyager’s Rolls-Royce Trent engines is undertaken by AirTanker at RAF Brize Norton. Rolls-Royce field representatives based at Derby provide technical support. Paul Ridgway Right: Voyager KC2 ZZ330 undergoing de-icing at RAF Brize Norton on a frosty night in January 2013. RAF Brize Norton Below middle: Master Aircrew Phil Chappell demonstrates the Voyager’s mission system operator training station. Paul Ridgway Below right: The mission system operator console has been designed to facilitate the air-to- air refuelling role, including the management of the aircraft’s fuel systems. Paul Ridgway Ian Harding

do a full inspection of the daily tasking sheet which control, and are handed out on each hose. The red hose assembly which is 90 sets out what aircraft they will over to the tanker boom lights go off and the amber feet [27.4m] long. For this refuel and when and where frequency. The pilot is in lights come on to signal we use a modified access they will do it. The crew command at this point and, contact has been cleared. stand positioned at the aft then move to their allotted when safe, clears them to At this point the MSO is end of the pod and trail out aircraft, pilots do their checks join on the left-hand wing. watching them on the the hose. They carry out and the MSO will set up the Once in that position, receiver cameras, making sure they the inspections and walk it refuelling equipment and control is passed to the MSO don’t damage the basket back in again, putting positive programme the tasking. The who clears them astern of and that their acceleration tension on it to achieve a latter includes details about the hoses. Take for example rate into the hose is tight wrap.” the receiver aircraft and how a flight of two Tornados with reasonable.”

64 TANKERS Essential to the Fight per minute is much slower than Tornado at around 700-750kg [1,543-1,653lb] per minute because it has a smaller bore pipe. A Typhoon requiring 3.5 tonnes of fuel will therefore be on the hose for around ten minutes.” In the Voyager, fuel is located in the wings, a centre tank and when required a trim tank in the rear of the aircraft. The system automatically controls the fuel balance to keep the trim in the right place, making the aircraft more fuel-efficient. The pilot selects a minimum amount of fuel aboard and the system monitors the amount of fuel dispensed. When it reaches the minimum level necessary to return the aircraft to base, the system stops refuelling. This is an Contact and the system allows them to keep delivery pressure impressive safety feature Chappell explained further: to receive fuel, at which point within receiver aircraft limits, compared with legacy “Initially, there’s contact on they will see a steady green which is especially important tankers where the flight the probe which latches into light. The refuel process for Typhoons which have a engineer or navigator has to the refuel coupling. The is completely automated pressurised air fuel system. maintain a note of the fuel green light starts flashing, aboard the Voyager, ensuring The pressure limit for both dispensed. indicating contact but the receiver gets the correct the Tornado GR4 and the At the end of the mission, also that they’re not yet amount of fuel at the correct Typhoon FGR4 is 50psi [50 the MSO prints out a in refuelling range. They pressure. On the legacy pounds per square inch] but detailed flight report from then push the probe in, fleet, the flight engineer the fuel flow rate on Typhoon the on-board printer. “In approximately five to six feet, has to be extremely careful at around 350kg [771lb] terms of fuel carriage, the

TANKERS Essential to the Fight 65 Mixed Manning This is considered one of the key features within the AirTanker structure and its relevance is clear within maintenance. “Currently only 40 of the 140 personnel with maintenance are military, but from 2015 up to 100 will be embedded in our structure when we’re at full strength,” explained Paul Kimberley, AirTanker’s engineering director. “In addition, we will have 32 SRs plus a few who are civilian and therefore not allowed to deploy. All the military personnel and the SRs are allowed to deploy, which is important because our line maintenance is also required at forward operating bases. A benefit of a mixed team is that we can draw on civilian best practice using the experience of the civilian guys we’ve been recruiting from airlines operating the A330; and the military expertise when we’re operating this aircraft in a Voyager has the best of both Another beneficial feature military role. There’ll always worlds compared to legacy of the Voyager’s refuelling be some cultural differences tankers, in that it carries a lot equipment is the length of but the important thing of fuel and has two hoses,” each hose, 90ft (27.4m) for me is that the people Chappell noted. long when fully extended. entering this programme This, coupled with the really want to work on the increased distance between Safety aircraft and deliver the Walking around the MSO the wing pods, means that service.” station, reviewing the console simultaneous refuelling is safer and the camera system in than on legacy tankers which particular, it is clear that have shorter hoses and a with maximum bank on, contact safety has the smaller wing. With receivers receivers have been able to highest priority. Aside from positioned further apart, the stay in contact, which is quite the standard emergency MSO is less concerned about an advantage.” AAR procedures in place aircraft hitting each other and to enable safe separation can focus on ensuring that the Positive Feedback should something go wrong, first receiver has cleared the The Voyager itself cannot be Top left: AirTanker uses purpose-built gantries for maintenance. the screens are set up in centreline before moving the refuelled – the aircraft has no Paul Ridgway such a way that the MSO’s next receiver in. This makes probe or refuelling receptacle Below: Wearing temporary civil registration G-VYGD, Voyager attention is fully focused on the whole refuelling process (an option taken up by KC3 ZZ333 takes off from RAF Brize Norton on July 22, 2013. Ian Harding the receivers. quicker and therefore more Australia, Saudi Arabia and “The top cameras are efficient. the United Arab Emirates), but called panoramic cameras Chappell explained how the aircraft is receiving very and give an arc view from the hose behaves when positive comments from RAF just horrible. specifically to AAR missions. wing tip to wing tip. Two fully extended behind the pilots on towlines and trails “The Voyager’s flight deck It accounts for planned inspection cameras allow aircraft: “To be honest there even at this early stage. Hall systems are a lot easier fuel offloads and facilitating the MSO to zoom in to look isn’t much difference from explained: “From a tanker to use and interpret. For rendezvous procedures. If at the baskets,” explained legacy tankers. Controlled pilot’s perspective its handling example the FMS [fight we modify the AAR route the Chappell. In terms of fuel by computers, the hoses characteristics are light years management system] has FMS enables us to modify dispense, we have an auto are fairly stable but we have ahead of our legacy aircraft. additional functionality tailored our fuel production to suit mode which will stop fuel noticed that if we encounter The equipment available to flow when the receiver has turbulence they do bounce monitor and manage systems received his or her allocated about a bit, but nothing thus is incredibly advanced in fuel. In manual mode we’ll far has stopped receivers comparison. The flight deck keep giving fuel until the making contacts. It’s early is a much more comfortable receiver is full. If we haven’t days and obviously a lot working environment which got any spare fuel [above of Tornado and Typhoon means aircrew are less that allocated for the receiver] pilots have never refuelled fatigued on long flights. I we’ll probably refuel in auto from a Voyager. On legacy was on a trail to Al Minhad [in mode. If we have lots of tankers, it was difficult for the the UAE] recently where the spare fuel then we can fill receivers to stay in contact ground temperature was 47°C them up in manual mode. in the turn because of the [116°F]. The air-conditioned Voyager pilots also have a down wash from the tanker flight deck was extremely camera display on a screen aircraft. On this aircraft they comfortable. In a VC10, the in front of them and they can are further back and don’t cockpit temperature could switch between any of the seem to have encountered well have been over 60°C three panoramic cameras.” much of this problem, even [140°F] which, in flying suits, is

66 TANKERS Essential to the Fight Geoff Lee

Voyager’s Achievements • Voyager 01 achieved ‘introduction to service’ on January 31, 2012, and undertook its first RAF flight on April 8, 2012. • Civilian registered Voyager 02 completed its proving flight to Reykjavik, Iceland on December 13, 2012, enabling AirTanker to secure its air operating certificate and operating licence from the CAA and commence ‘airline’ transport operations. • Aeromedical release to service obtained in April 2012. • First MoD passenger flight on January 5, 2013. • First RAF embedded engineers obtained their CAA licences during early 2013 having completed a two-year training programme qualifying them to service and maintain aircraft on the mission. Aboard legacy two or three keystrokes on the commented that Voyager the civilian register. aircraft, aircrew made these FMS and it’s accurate every was the first and only • The MoD approved Tornado GR4 air-to-air refuelling on May calculations on paper, drawing time and therefore safer. tanker they’d ever refuelled 16, 2013. The first Tornado training sortie took place on May 20. lines on graphs, adjusting for “Receiver pilots are behind where they hadn’t • A Voyager participated in the Queen’s birthday flypast over wind, making measurements also delighted thus far. needed to be in reheat. central London on June 15, 2013. and calculating against tables. On a recent trail involving The fuel they normally AirTanker received its civilian extended range operations Now it’s all done for them with Tornados, the pilots use during refuelling on • a trail is considerable so accreditation, ETOPS 180, from the CAA on June 28, 2013. the beneficial impact of The RAF is aiming to gain ETOPS clearance in line with the accepting fuel from Voyager military aviation authority before the end of 2013. in ‘dry’ power is significant. • Emergency AAR clearance for Typhoon received during July 2013. The position of the hose • Civilian registered Voyager 02 departed RAF Brize Norton means they are not in the for Akrotiri, Cyprus, on August 20, 2013 with AirTanker titles tanker’s down wash as they and logo applied. are with legacy tankers. • AAR in-service date scheduled for mid-2014 with full service “Our legacy aircraft have delivery mid-2016. served the RAF extremely well but they often relied on the skills and experience and transport capabilities [ie, “Within the probe and of the aircrew to get the more fuel carried, lower fuel drogue community, this is the best results. Voyager’s burn and no compromise on premier tanker-transport in the advanced systems have passenger transport] making world and certainly the most reduced aircrew workload Voyager a more efficient and capable tanker the RAF and enhanced both tanking safer operational aircraft. has ever operated.”

TANKERS Essential to the Fight 67 Bell 407

Rafael Treviño profi les the he Bell 407 is an featuring a glass cockpit with improved extremely popular avionics and  ying controls. Bell 407 and focuses on the helicopter – more than latest incarnation of this 1,300 have been sold Military Failure since its rst  ight nearly to Commercial Success utility helicopter, the GX 18 years ago. Now, Bell The Bell 407 has a very long lineage. In Helicopter is offering 1960, along with 13 other companies, the 407GX, an updated Bell responded to a US Army request version of the four- for proposals for a new light observation T blade utility helicopter, helicopter (LOH). Bell’s D-250 was one of 68 AI.12.13 BELL 407GX COMMERCIAL

Bell 407Long-lived Utility Success All images Hawker Pacifi c unless noted three responses to make it to the selection developed for the commercial market. Bell’s unattractive looks to be more appealing to phase, where it was re-designated the OH- teams said there was a potential civil market the commercial market. Indeed, the OH-4A 4A. Eventually, the Hughes OH-6A won the for more than 500 helicopters worldwide had been nicknamed the ‘Ugly Duckling’ contest. within ve years. When Bell was eliminated and one Bell designer was quoted as saying However, Bell already had an alternative from the LOH competition, it immediately the helicopter was so ugly that “it probably plan if it failed to win the LOH contract. Jim focused on developing a civil derivative. lost the army competition on looks alone”. Atkins, then Bell’s Executive Vice President Much work was required to transform Clearly, this had to change if it were to and destined to become President, had the OH-4A. The small fuselage required succeed in the civil market. instructed the company’s design teams expansion to improve baggage space, Consequently, a completely new teardrop- to assess the OH-4A’s suitability to be not to mention changing its somewhat shaped fuselage was devised to produce a

AI.12.13 69 COMMERCIAL BELL 407GX

systems technologies became more advanced. Therefore, a LongRanger III was modified with a wider fuselage and a new Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C47B turbo shaft engine, managed by a FADEC (full authority digital engine control) system, to become a technologies demonstrator for an improved version of the helicopter. This demonstrator first flew on April 21, 1994, and the following January the company officially launched the Bell 407 programme at the 1995 Heli-Expo Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first Bell 407 prototype undertook its maiden flight on June 29, 1995 from the company’s Mirabel, Quebec facility, with further prototypes joining the test programme in July and November that year. Certification from Transport Canada and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was received in February 1996 ahead of the first customer delivery and the start of full production. By the end of 1997, more than 140 had been delivered. The Bell 407 was continuing the long-standing success of cabin featuring 16 cu ft (0.453m3) of cabin meant the Bell design, in the form of the the JetRanger and LongRanger. Its market space – 33% more than found in average OH-58 Kiowa, was ultimately selected for appeal has continued undiminished – with in family cars of the period – which was the US Army. excess of 1,300 Bell 407s sold. teamed with a new turbine engine. The new helicopter was designated the Bell 206A Genesis of the 407 Rotors and christened the JetRanger, the name a The LongRanger series proved to be a Essentially the look of the Bell 407 remains logical link to the company’s popular piston- successful addition to the JetRanger family the same as its forebears, but there are many powered Model 47-J Ranger. – the first version of this larger (seven seats important structural differences between the The rest is history. From the ashes of the compared with the JetRanger’s five), stronger Bell 407 and the LongRanger from which it failed OH-4A bid there emerged the most and more powerful variant was delivered to derived. successful civil helicopter of all time. The customers in 1975. It progressed through The most radical of the changes is a four- developments of the JetRanger and its the LongRanger I, II and III models during the blade main rotor, developed from that used larger LongRanger derivatives undertaken 1980s, which introduced various structural, in the OH-58D Kiowa upgrade for the US from the 1970s onwards successively systems and performance enhancements. Army. It is 35ft (10.6m) in diameter and has an refined and improved the helicopter’s Steady development culminated with the average blade chord of 255mm (10.75in). Both performance and capabilities. With more LongRanger IV, certified in 1992, which the blades and the rotor hub are manufactured than 7,300 built, it became one of the offered an increased gross weight from from a glass fibre matrix/epoxy composite icons of rotary-wing aviation, performing 4,150lb (1,882kg) to 4,450lb (2,018kg) and an to provide a non-limited lifespan and a more in numerous civil and military applications engine up-rating to 490shp (365Kw). comfortable ride. The blades also feature a worldwide. Ironically, the latter included the But Bell wanted to develop the helicopter Nomex core and nickel cadmium stainless- American military – the OH-6A’s limitations even further as engine, structure and steel abrasion strips to protect the leading

1

2

70 AI.12.13 BELL 407GX COMMERCIAL

3 edges and conductive paint for lightning pedals. By contrast, the 407 features a loading of the helicopter. protection. Metallic parts have almost been simplified aluminium yoke that embraces the The rear section, comprising the tail boom, eliminated – even the steel ball bearings blades like a grip. As with the main rotor, is a monocoque shell manufactured from in the rotor assemblies have elastomeric the 407’s tail rotor is a composite made of a carbon fibre composites. The tail boom replacements that require no lubrication. Nomex core and fibreglass skin, in contrast skins have different thicknesses and use On top of the rotor hub is mounted a to the honeycomb core and stainless steel internal and external doublers for strength. cruciform-shaped passive damping device, skin on the LongRanger. At the end there is a teardrop-like faring a Frahm damper, which holds four pairs of which covers the gearbox. heavy gauge springs and a set of weights to New Materials Attached to the top of the tail boom is reduce vibrations from the main rotor. The The 407’s fuselage is 8 inches (204mm) wider the anti-torque system, the tail rotor drive- entire hub is covered by a convex fibreglass than that of the LongRanger giving more shaft and its supporting bearings (which cover, aerodynamically shaped for noise internal cabin space than the predecessor, are covered by a long fairing), the tail rotor and drag reduction and which also protects with the cabin windows 35% larger. As gearbox and assembly, the horizontal the Frahm assembly. This construction of with the rotors there is greater use of stabiliser and the vertical fin with tailskid the main rotor and hub contrasts to the all- new composite materials in the forward, attachment. Initially, the 407’s tail boom was metallic flying-hour-limited blades and hub in intermediate and rear sections of the similar in strength to the LongRanger series the LongRanger series. fuselage. but experience has dictated its reinforcement The use of the four-bladed rotor led to The forward fuselage is composed of two and a life limit of 5,000 flying hours. Cyclical another visual difference in the 407 from its honeycomb panels connected together to inspections are required daily, every 100 and predecessors. The 407 prototypes initially form the floor. Another honeycomb panel 300 flying hours and annually (depending on flew with a horizontal stabiliser identical to is connected to an aluminium roof beam the part number of the assembly). that of the LongRanger series, but the new assembly creating the roof. Two bulkhead rotor changed dramatically the aerodynamic assemblies and a centre post connect the Landing Gear behaviour around the helicopter’s tail. This floor to the roof and there are two carbon- Bell uses a landing gear made of up to two led to auxiliary vertical finlets, both offset by fibre composite side-body fairings that hold aluminium alloy tube skids attached to the 5o, being added to improve the roll stability of the composite doors. ends of forward and aft cross tubes. The the helicopter in forward flight. The intermediate fuselage, which holds forward cross tube has two strap assemblies The 407’s tail rotor shares common the engine, oil cooler assembly, equipment/ that hold the tube to the fittings. The aft features with the LongRanger, including an electrical shelf, tail rotor servo and baggage cross tube has a support rocking beam which identical diameter (5.24ft/1.65m) and turn compartment, is made up of bulkheads, reduces the possibility of ground resonance speed of approximately 2,500 revolutions per longerons and skins manufactured from caused by the main rotor’s vibrations. minute, but there are structural differences. carbon fibre composites. The left passenger Normally Bell delivers the helicopter In the LongRanger IV the tail rotor has a door is hinged on a smaller size litter door in with a standard low skid gear, which is hinge-type hub with two interchangeable a way that allows both to be opened together better aerodynamically and causes fewer blades, pitch-controlled by the directional to provide a larger free space for easier vibrations, but seems to dwarf the helicopter

1 The Bell 407GX has a glass cockpit featuring two 10.4-inch flat panel high-resolution LCD display screens. Nigel Pittaway 2 The 407’s fuselage is eight inches wider than that of the LongRanger, giving more internal cabin space than the predecessor as shown on Hawker Pacific’s GX demonstrator N407CE. Nigel Pittaway 3 Bell’s 407GX demonstrator N407GX shows the extent of the cabin windows which are 35% larger than the original 407 model. Roberto Yáñez

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and lowers the distance of the tail rotor to the turbine speed, main rotor speed and oil and ground. Many operators prefer a high skid ambient pressures. gear which is available optionally. Another The engine also provides control and alternative is an emergency float landing gear monitoring systems for fault detection kit for over-water operations. and automatic start, the latter providing In all cases, the skids have two fittings automated control of fuel flow during engine to install the wheels necessary for moving starts. There are also automatic protection the helicopter on the ground and which are functions which help ensure the engine’s removed for flight. In the 407 the landing limits aren’t exceeded. All these features gear has a retirement life of 5,000 RIN are completely different to the LongRanger (retirement index number). RIN refers to the versions where the efficient operation of the sensitivity of some components to take-offs engine relied on the pilots. or run-on landings (defined as a landing BELL 407 SPECIFICATIONS At a customer’s request, Bell provides involving forward ground travel by more than Speeds at max gross weight the 407 with additional FAA-certified hover 36 inches/914mm). These components are capability both in ground effect and out of assigned a maximum RIN number instead of Max speed: 140kts (259km/h) ground effect to enable the engine to operate a life limitation by flight hours. This number is Max cruise speed: 133kts (246km/h) above its minimum specification. The based on the fatigue damage that results from additional capability is provided through a Range at VLRC: 330nm (611km) take-offs and run-on landings. In the case of supplemental type certificate, with no changes the landing gear, for example, each run-on Max endurance: 3.8 hours required for aircraft or engine hardware or landing adds one RIN to the previous total. Capacities software, except for an instrument panel to display generator load limits. Improved Engine Standard seating: 1 + 6 In comparison to the LongRanger IV’s Aside from the structural changes, the 407 Maximum seating: 1 + 6 three interconnected bladder-type fuel cells has an improved engine. The JetRanger and Standard fuel: 127.8 US gallons (484 litres) made of rubberised fabric, the 407 employs LongRanger families’ Allison 250 engines two non-self-sealing, crash-resistant bladder- were replaced by the more powerful Rolls- Auxiliary fuel: 19 US gallons (72 litres) type fuel cells, permitting a larger fuel volume Royce/Allison 250-C47, designed to allow Cabin volume: 85ft3 (2.4 m3) of a combined 108.5 gallons (493.4 litres) an increased maximum take-off weight Baggage 16ft3 (0.45m3) compared with the LongRangers’ 93.2 (MTOW) and operate at higher altitudes. The compartment volume: gallons (424 litres). Auxiliary fuel tanks are engine gives the 407 a maximum of 630shp available as options. Weights (469.7Kw) in normal cruise compared to the LongRanger III/IV’s 557shp (415.3Kw). Empty weight: 2,738lb (1,242kg) The 407GX Critically, the new engine also introduces Standard internal 5,000lb (2,268kg) In short, the 407 has introduced many FADEC software which helps control gross weight: improvements to the long-running JetRanger/ the engine’s fuel flow and power via the LongRanger. The latest variant, unveiled in Optional internal 5,250lb (2,381kg) airframe-mounted electronic control unit gross weight: early 2011 and which received certification and the engine-mounted hydro mechanical later that year, is the 407GX which features unit. These systems monitor numerous External gross weight: 6,000lb (2,722kg) even more modifications. A major structural internal and external inputs to modulate Useful load (standard): 2,262lb (1,026kg) change to the model is new doors with more the fuel flow and therefore control engine Useful load (optional): 2,512lb (1,139kg) windows for increased visibility purposes speed, acceleration rate, temperature and such as sight-seeing flights. They can also be other parameters such as measured gas Max external load 2,646lb (1,200kg) retrofitted to the baseline 407. temperature, gas generator speed, power (cargo hook limit); Beyond this cosmetic change, and

The Bell 407 attack helicopter demonstrator N407AH on the ramp at Alliance Airport, Texas. The aircraft is based at the company’s XWORX facility at Arlington, Texas. Michael Keaveney

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while maintaining the 407’s essential pathway-in-the-sky, flight path vector, Sales Prospects characteristics, the 407GX is significant synthetic vision, helicopter terrain awareness Bell believes the avionics changes because of a new glass cockpit featuring system, and traffic information system (TIS). in the 407GX will help keep the design at two 10.4in (266mm) flat panel high- In MFD mode, the screens display options the forefront of the market and maintain resolution LCD display screens. These are in the standard configuration G1000HTM its appeal with civil and military operators interchangeable for primary flight display flight deck avionics system, including system worldwide: corporate, emergency services, (PFD) or multi-function display (MFD) modes, status, checklists, flight planning, maintenance pleasure-flying, transport, para-public and on which the pilot can easily and quickly and engine pages, power assurance screen, oil and gas companies. select the information formats. navigation map, TIS, engine and transmission On December 21 last year Bell In addition to the new glass cockpit, a information, fuel status and calculated range. announced it had signed an agreement major avionics improvement is the Garmin Optional features include weather information with air medical transport company Air G1000HTM which is an integrated flight control through an XM satellite datalink (in North Methods to supply 20 Bell 407GXs to system that presents flight instrumentation, America) or Iridium voice/data transceiver transport critically ill and injured position, navigation, communications and (worldwide) and Garmin’s GTS800 traffic patients throughout the United States. identification information to the pilot at a glance advisory system. Fourteen communications Bell will hope this is an indication of yet for greater situational awareness, simplicity and antennas distributed around the helicopter more market success for this safety. The new LCD screens and avionics enable the functions. long-lived model. mean the flight deck panel looks completely different to the standard 407. The only old gauges remaining are the standby airspeed indicator and altimeter, which are placed on top of the two LCDs. The power situation indicator (PSI), in the lower left-hand corner of the PFD, provides a one-stop shop for power indications and limits. The displays accept both NTSC and PAL format composite video signals from external sources. An interesting novelty included on a standard configuration 407GX is a tail rotor camera, which permits pilots to ‘check their six’ while the helicopter is on the ground with rotors turning, just to ensure that nobody is approaching the tail rotor. There are also optional imaging devices such as forward-looking infrared and thermal imaging systems for para-public operations. When working in PFD mode, the screens display all major flight parameters (such as attitude, altitude and vertical speed) in an intuitive, easy to scan layout. Primary and inset screens can be user-selected to display a variety of additional functions including

AI.12.13 73 MILITARY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

Robert F Dorr on’t ask anyone in the squadron commander told AIR International. US Air Force to explain But even without details of F-15E reports on the the periodic rotations of operations against insurgents in Yemen and 25-year career of the six to eight F-15E Strike Somalia – or at least readiness to help in the Eagles into Camp event of another ash-mob terror attack like F-15E Strike Eagle Lemonnier at Djibouti the one that overwhelmed the US consulate and the advances International Airport in in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012 – the Horn of Africa. the mere presence of these robust warplanes being made for “I can’t explain in Africa is a reminder of the extent to which its future Dthat,” a veteran F-15E US air power relies on the venerable and

Mud74 AI.12.13 Mover F-15E STRIKE EAGLE MILITARY

vaunted Strike Eagle. ghter ma a’ of the day. 219 Strike Eagles in its inventory today (of The F-15E is big, expensive, complex, Size matters. The F-15E has the heft, the 236 built). America’s ability to reach out with costly to operate and the direct opposite reach, the ordnance load and the  exibility a diverse portfolio of accurate and deadly of the ‘lightweight ghter’ some Pentagon to perform almost any military mission ordnance would be weakened. analysts sought in the 1970s. Rarely has – whether it’s eyeball-to-eyeball counter- On December 11, 2012, the US Air Force anyone been as right as General William insurgency (attacking a pick-up truck) or proclaimed that it had reached the 26th Creech, who championed development of strike (going after North Korea’s air elds). anniversary of the rst  ight of an F-15E. This the multi-role Strike Eagle, and perhaps If the Pentagon brass had listened to the was a reference to the maiden  ight of the never has anyone been more wrong than analysts who demanded no-frills, ‘hot rod’ rst production-standard F-15E (serial number the self-styled whizz kids of the ‘lightweight ghters, the US Air Force would not have 86-0183) on December 11, 1986, attired in

F-15E Strike Eagle 86-0184/’ET’ of the 40th Flight Test Squadron based at Eglin AFB, Florida, loaded with a single GBU-53/B SDB II. Jim Haseltine

Mud MoverAI.12.13 75 MILITARY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

soon-to-become familiar gunship grey and flown by test pilot Gary Jennings, who told AIR International the flight was “routine”. A year later and stepping a year backward, ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the entry into service of the Strike Eagle followed on April 12, 2013. This time, it wasn’t clear which event was being highlighted. The first operational Strike Eagle (serial number 86-0186) was delivered to Luke AFB, Arizona, in April 1988 by Lt Col Stephen Lane. 1 Both celebrations highlighted the past achievements and future potential of the aircraft conceived by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, and the richly talented fighter factory built up in St Louis, Missouri, by the legendary James McDonnell. Today, the company is named Boeing and the F-15E – an aircraft for which no replacement is currently funded or, for that matter, even in sight – is being refurbished for net-centric, digital age warfare. Upgrade and Improve... “I think big, tough and sturdy was the way

to go,” said former Capt Douglas Mast, who Paul Ridgway logged about 800 hours in the F-15E from 2005 to 2011 and is now an industry analyst. “They got the design of this aircraft exactly right. It’s going to continue to serve in its dual- role capacity – air-to-air and air-to-surface – but in the years ahead you’ll see a lot of changes under the skin. They’re going to use modern technology to upgrade and improve everything that went into the Strike Eagle.” The basics will always be the basics. The F-15E is a twin-engine, twin-finned, tandem two-seat warplane with a pilot in the forward cockpit and a weapons systems officer, also called a combat systems officer, in the aft. Paul Ridgway Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or -229 2 turbofan engines with afterburners power the Strike Eagle. Lest anyone doubt it’s a real powerhouse, the F-15E was among the first American operational aircraft whose engines’ thrust exceeded loaded weight of the aircraft, permitting it to accelerate even while in vertical climb. Former USAF chief of staff Gen John Jumper told the author of this article it “rankled” him that he had to operate a fleet 3 US Air Force

76 AI.12.13 F-15E STRIKE EAGLE MILITARY

4

5 6 1 F-15E Strike Eagle 88-1708/’SJ’ of the 335th Fighter Squadron based at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina – loaded with live ordnance – departs Nellis AFB, Nevada, on a Green Flag mission. The aircraft is carrying two 2,000lb GBU-31 JDAMs and two 500lb GBU-12s. Bruce Smith 2 F-15E Strike Eagle 90-0257/’WA’ assigned to the 17th Weapons Squadron based at Nellis AFB, Nevada, landing at its home station. It is loaded with two 3,000lb AGM-130 powered stand-off weapons carried on the underwing stores pylons. Paul Ridgway 3 F-15E Strike Eagles taxi in at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after an Operation Iraqi Freedom mission. SSgt Tony R Tolley/US Air Force 4 F-15E Strike Eagle 92-0366/’OT’ assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron based at Nellis AFB, Nevada, prior to a test mission of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Paul Ridgway 5&6 F-15E Strike Eagles carrying two different targeting pods – an AN/ AAQ-28 Litening III (left) and an AN/AAQ-33 Sniper. Paul Ridgway with two engine types. Some 134 F-15Es, something of an inconvenience and outfitting Viewed today from the outside, an F-15E with intermittent serial numbers from 86- all with the more powerful -229 has always is little changed over several decades, 0183 to 90-0232, were built with the 24,000lb been a goal, but consolidation of Strike Eagle but the inside of the aircraft is constantly (106.7kN) afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney powerplants has never been given a high changing and programme officers are hoping F100-220 turbofan; the remaining 92 built, enough priority to become reality. for the finances to continue. numbered intermittently from 90-0233 Also part of the basics is the M61A1 In the short-term future, improvements through 98-0135, were manufactured with six-barrelled 20mm rotary cannon with 500 to the F-15E platform are likely to be the 29,000lb (129kN) afterburning thrust rounds of ammunition. For air-to-air duty, determined not by technology but by F100-PW-229 IPE Increased Performance the F-15E can haul four AIM-9X Sidewinder funding, or lack of it. Money, not science, Engine (not ‘Improved’ performance, as infrared-guided missiles and four AIM-120D may determine progress with new F-15E widely reported). Having two versions of AMRAAM radar-guided missiles or, simply, radars, radios and helmets, to say nothing the engine in the fleet has always been eight AMRAAMs. of a structural integrity programme aimed at

AI.12.13 77 MILITARY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

1 Airmen load an AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pod onto a Strike Eagle at Eglin AFB, Florida. Paul Ridgway 2 Airmen assigned to the 336th Aircraft Maintenance Unit load a 2,000lb GBU-31 JDAM onto an F-15E Strike Eagle. Senior Airman Buzanowski/US Air Force 3 Airmen load a live AIM-120C AMRAAM onto the underwing pylon of a Strike Eagle prior to a missile shot over the Gulf of Mexico range flown from Eglin AFB, Florida. Paul Ridgway

hugely increasing the flying hours that can be put on the airframe. The sequester – the term for $487 billion in defence savings mandated by legislation over the next ten years – is having an impact on every part of the US military, and the F-15E Strike Eagle community is no community, exception. four flying Before the sequester struck, the F-15E squadrons were fleet was given new systems fit for the 21st grounded from April 9 century with the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper XR to at least September advanced targeting pod replacing the original 30. They were the AN/AAQ-13 and AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN. 336th Fighter Squadron Front and aft cockpits were upgraded with (FS) ‘Rocketeers’ at multi-purpose cathode ray tube displays for Seymour Johnson AFB, improved navigation, weapons delivery and North Carolina; the systems operations. Moreover, the F-15E 391st FS ‘Bold Tigers’ was tested, updated and certified with a new at Mountain Home generation of weapons – the Joint Direct AFB, Idaho; and the Attack Munition (JDAM), Joint Air-to-Surface 492nd FS ‘Madhatters’ Strike Missile (JASSM) and, as discussed and 494th FS ‘Black below, the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). Panthers’ at RAF The fiscal uncertainty of the sequester Lakenheath in the UK. hangs heavily over the air force’s plans for a Nothing like this major investment in the new Raytheon AN/ has occurred in the APG-82(V)1 active electronically-scanned history of US air power array (AESA) radar to replace the AN/APG-70 so its impact on an also manufactured by Raytheon. The APG- entire nation’s ability 82 combines the processor of the APG-79 to wage war could used by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the not be predicted or antenna of the APG-63(V)3 AESA – and the measured. Col Jeannie Pentagon says it will “greatly enhance the Leavitt, commander of F-15E’s ability to detect and very accurately the 4th Fighter Wing locate ground targets”. The APG-82’s at Seymour Johnson AESA technology relies on numerous small AFB, pointed out that solid-state transmit and receive modules. “combat skills and proficiency The standard radar, the APG-70, is a are perishable and take time to be mechanically scanned array and the same regained”, and said the stand-down system the first Strike Eagle had when it “will have a significant impact on... rolled out of the St Louis factory doors. At overall readiness and ability to support press time, testing and integration was contingencies around the world”. continuing but the threat of tightened purse Leavitt might have mentioned morale. strings was ever present. Unable to strap into their cockpits, pilots and Like the rest of the air force, the F-15E back-seaters will shift their focus to ground community has suffered an even worse training, flight simulators and academic consequence of the mandatory spending training. Maintainers will do little more than cuts – the sequester. In April the air force ensure proper storage of aircraft. Thousands announced that 17 combat squadrons of seemingly minor issues in the daily lives were being grounded. The stand-down of everyone associated with the Strike order was expected to save 44,000 flying Eagle were impacted. For those still flying, hours – or, to put it another way, remove that corresponding stand-downs of air-refuelling number of hours from the combat readiness tanker units may have an effect on readiness. training crews are receiving. In the F-15E Seymour, Mountain Home and Lakenheath

78 AI.12.13 F-15E STRIKE EAGLE MILITARY Paul Ridgway

1 2 Jim Haseltine 3

about everywhere, with Camp Lemonnier being only one of the more unusual locations. To fulfil test and developmental responsibilities and to hone tactics, F-15Es live in small numbers at Edwards AFB, California, Eglin AFB, Florida, are and Nellis AFB, Nevada. the During combat operations in Libya, in three which an F-15E (serial number 91-0304) was principal lost on March 21, 2011 to an equipment F-15E bases malfunction – a critical weight imbalance and the locations caused by failure of a right pylon pressure where the most attention is regulator – Lakenheath-based Strike Eagles focused on the anniversary of the were staging out of Aviano AB, Italy (the crew aircraft, upgrades for it and the impact survived although a botched rescue attempt of the sequester. In earlier years, there gravely wounded friendly locals who were was a fourth, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (where trying to help). For almost a decade, Strike the author of this article flew over Mount Eagles deployed regularly to the massive McKinley in the back seat of 90-0242). Al Udeid AB near Doha, Qatar, which has Each of these bases has about a quarter of become a US anchor point for Middle East a century of close kinship with the F-15E. operations and was vital to the war in Iraq. Jim Haseltine But, unlike the F-22 Raptor which has made Thanks to the Obama Administration’s much- comparatively few deployments to select touted ‘pivot’ toward Asia and the Pacific, locations, Strike Eagles can turn up just Strike Eagles often pull temporary duty at

AI.12.13 79 MILITARY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

GBU-31 JOINT DIRECT ATTACK MUNITION The Joint Direct Attack Munition is a guidance set that converts 2,000lb-class (907kg) unguided free-fall bombs, Mk84 [GBU-31(V)1], BLU-109 [GBU-31(V)3] and BLU-119 [GBU-31(V)5] warheads into accurate adverse weather guided munitions for use on conventional strike environments to destroy fi xed and moving targets. The guidance set consists of a tail kit, which contains an inertial navigational system (INS) and a global positioning system (GPS), a set of aerosurfaces and an umbilical cover that allows the JDAM to GBU-28E/B ENHANCED PAVEWAY III improve the accuracy of unguided, general purpose bombs in any The GBU-28E/B is designed for penetrating hard and deeply buried weather condition. targets. It is a 5,000lb-class (2,260kg) conventional munition that A JDAM is also fi tted with a selective availability anti-spoofi ng uses a 4,500lb (2,041kg) penetrating BLU-113/B or BLU-113A/B module and anti-jamming equipment to allow the munition to blast/fragmentation warhead. navigate using GPS in environments containing active GPS jamming. The munition is fi tted with a WGU-36E/B laser guidance unit and incorporates GPS/INS, selective availability anti-spoofi ng module and impact angle control capability. F-15E Strike Eagle 88-1668/’SJ’ of the 336th Fighter Squadron taxies out A GBU-28E/B weighs 4,800lb (2,177kg), measures 19ft 1in (5.82m) in from the massive ramp at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. length and has a 14.50 inch (368mm) diameter warhead. Jim Haseltine

80 AI.12.13 F-15E STRIKE EAGLE MILITARY

AGM-130 POWERED STANDOFF WEAPON The AGM-130 powered standoff weapon is derived from the GBU- 15, extensively modifi ed to a precision-guided weapon used against high value fi xed targets at enhanced standoff ranges, during adverse weather, day or night. GBU-53/B SMALL DIAMETER BOMB II It features inertial navigational system/global positioning system, The GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) has a high- man-in-the-loop capabilities and has a propulsion section for performance, agile airframe fi tted with an autonomous search, enhanced standoff capability. acquire, track and defeat tri-mode seeker. It fuses millimetre-wave There are two versions: the AGM-130A model utilises the Mk84 radar, un-cooled IIR and digital semi-active laser sensors on a single warhead and the AGM-130C uses the BLU-109 penetration warhead. gimbal. Each primary attack mode has a subset mode. Both versions have advanced control sections and switchable The integrated seeker can ‘peer’ through storm clouds or battlefi eld datalinks for horizontal target attack profi les. The datalink pod dust and shares targeting information between all three modes, transmits command signals to the weapon and receives a video enabling the weapon to engage fi xed, moveable or moving targets signal from it. at any time of day and in adverse weather conditions. SDB II can fl y The command signal allows the weapons system operator to control more than 40 nautical miles (46 miles/74km) against a mobile target. and redirect the weapon during fl ight to its target. The GBU-53/B is equipped with a Rockwell Collins dual band (Link There are two guidance sections for day and night extended 16 and UHF), two-way datalink which enables target updates and capability: TVGS (television-guided section) and IMIRS (improved re-targeting to be sent to the weapon in fl ight. Status reporting modular infrared sensor). allows the F-15E weapons system operator, a Joint Terminal Attack The AGM-130 is a 3,000lb-class (1,360kg) standoff weapon fi tted Controller (JTAC) or a third party to control the weapon post-launch. with strakes (canards), wings and control surfaces, uses a solid The warhead can destroy armoured targets, yet minimises collateral propellant rocket motor, that measures 13ft 2in (4.03m) in length and damage because of its small explosive footprint. different warhead diameters: 18 inch (457mm) for a Mk84 or 16 inch The GBU-53/B has lugs fi tted to the bottom of its fuselage and is (406mm) for a BLU-109. loaded upside down on the pylon: an F-15E Strike Eagle can carry 28 weapons. On July 17, 2012, the crew of a US Air Force F-15E 86-0184 assigned to the 46th Test Wing based at Eglin AFB, Florida, operating from Holloman AFB, New Mexico, released a GBU-53/B, which acquired, tracked and guided to a moving target using its tri- mode seeker and scored a direct hit. A joint Raytheon-US Air Force team has conducted more than 80 live fi res to date across the entire target set.

AI.12.13 81 MILITARY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

Osan AB, Korea; Kadena AB, Okinawa; and at the changing dynamics of F-15E ordnance (96km) or more. They’re especially effective Andersen AFB, Guam, where two F-15Es deployment. One way to think about F-15E against fixed, hardened targets including took over a job normally performed by the weapons developments is to remember that soft skinned vehicles and structures, armour, F-15C model and intercepted a pair of US forces in recent years have been focused point emplacements, offshore platforms, Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear reconnaissance on close air support (CAS) and counter- runways, aircraft shelters and surface-to- aircraft on February 12. insurgency (COIN), but are now shifting air missile batteries. Strike Eagles began Despite its size and weight (about to the Pacific ‘pivot’ with its resuscitated testing the SDB I in 2005, and introduced 88,000lbs/39,916kg when fully loaded, or emphasis on ‘near peer’ warfare – a conflict it to combat in Afghanistan from four times what the ‘lightweight fighter mafia’ with a developing nation state. For both October 2006. Although envisioned), the F-15E has a gentle footprint and types of fighting, technological advances are operational a slow landing speed, thanks to the broadness aimed at enabling an F-15E to engage the worldwide, it of its 43ft (13.10m) wing and the grasp of its largest possible number of ground targets. ran into ‘barn door’ dorsal speed brake. This means the With the 250lb Strike Eagle can operate from a shorter, rougher runway than many jets – and might show up anywhere.

teething troubles. In the early days of combat employment, the SDB I experienced reliability problems – hardware component failures – and was pulled from the combat zone, but an expert told AIR International: “They’ve overcome the SDB I (113kg) GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb issues.” Now found at all F-15E bases, the Increment I (SDB I) and GBU-53/B Small SDB I is expected to be replaced for most Diameter Bomb Increment II (SDB II), a uses by the SDB II. Strike Eagle Weapons single crew in a single aircraft can engage The GPS- and seeker-equipped SDB II, The ‘things under wings’ that make the up to 28 targets with the GBU-53/B. The also a 250lb bomb, is different, and the image Strike Eagle so potent are many and diverse GPS-only SDB I, with glide wings that extend by photographer Jim Haseltine that appears – so that space permits only a glimpse, here, after launch, can reach out up to 60 miles in this feature is the first to be published

1 2 3

82 AI.12.13 F-15E STRIKE EAGLE MILITARY anywhere. The weapon is intended for mobile (Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile) sticker price on the helicopter). targets including fast-moving insurgent and – a weapon rarely observed in recent It’s simply not known, given the sequester, groups, vehicles and heavy armour. Its first years – the AGM-130 stand-off missile. If how long Boeing can continue its work on flight was announced on May 1, 2009 and priorities change from COIN/CAS to near full-scale fatigue test certifications to push on July 17, 2012, an F-15E used an SDB II peer warfare, expect to see more AGM-130 allowable EFH on each F-15E to reach for the first time to engage and hit a moving ‘shoots’ as part of training in the near future. 32,000. Officials say that this quest will target during a flight test at the White Sands almost certainly be halted in mid-stride Missile Range in New Mexico. Fighter Future because of funding uncertainty. The SDB II should Now that the sequester has arrived, it’s not So what does that mean for the premier make its debut clear where the money will come from for an multi-role warplane in service, an aircraft its combat ongoing programme to extend the service adherents say can defeat any other while life of the F-15E or the closely related F-15C performing almost any mission? Based on and F-15D models. interviews and web postings, it’s clear that Structural integrity is a concern plenty of people on the air staff, at Air Combat throughout the US Air Force, Command and at the three principal Strike where airmen are Eagle bases would like to see more ambitious refurbishing of existing airframes and, though it defies official policy, a restart of production of new ones. New-build aircraft derived from the current F-15SA for Saudi Arabia (first

flown on February 20), the proposed operating aircraft F-15SE Silent Eagle from Boeing, or a older than ever different, notional Boeing design as displayed before, with the in the form of a scale model at a conference in average fighter now Orlando, Florida, last February 24 offer three deployment with the F-15E but, if funding 23.5 years of age. All aircraft in the F-15 potential options. permits – that ‘big if’ which is so much a part series were initially expected to have an Until recently, it was heresy for anyone at of the present-day Strike Eagle story – it will equivalent flight hour (EFH) lifetime of 8,000 Boeing to talk about a resumption of Strike eventually be in wider inventory and is deemed air hours. Several airframes in the Strike Eagle production for US forces. That’s crucial to the air-to-ground capability of the Eagle community passed that mark long ago. because Boeing had about a 35% stake in the controversial, costly F-35 Lightning II Joint The first F-15E to log 10,000 EFH was 89- F-22 Raptor and Pentagon policy is to seek Strike Fighter. As one insider put it: “It’s by 0487, flown on January 13, 2013 at Bagram, next-generation aircraft rather than improved far the smallest weapon in the arsenal on the Afghanistan, by Capt Ryan Bodenheimer versions of current designs. Now that F-15E but it would get lots of visibility in either and Capt Erin Short. This airframe, by Raptor production has concluded, Boeing a counter-insurgency or a near-peer war – you coincidence, has a unique claim to fame: has no similar interest in the F-35 and would could use a ton of those in a modern war and during Operation Desert Storm in January welcome an opportunity to compete with it. you could stand off from your adversary’s 1991, flown by Capt Tim Bennet and Capt So existing F-15Es continue to fly and fight denial systems because the glide wings give it Dan Bakke, it used a 2,000lb (907kg) GBU-10 around the world, and the possibility exists that so much reach.” laser-guided bomb to destroy a flying Iraqi Mi- we may yet see new examples emerging from The list of other Strike Eagle ordnance 24 Hind helicopter – the only air-to-air victory the assembly plant. That would be a boon items is too long to enunciate here. It for any F-15E so far (never mind that the cost for F-15E crews, who genuinely love their includes JDAM, the AGM-158 JASSM of the bomb may have been higher than the aircraft and see a bright future ahead for it.

1 A Strike Eagle fitted with an AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pod and an AN/ AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pod. Paul Ridgway 2 Armed for the air-to-air role, an F-15E loaded with an AIM-9 Sidewinder and an AIM-120 AMRAAM. The missiles are each carried on an LAU-128A/A guided missile launcher. Paul Ridgway 3 The AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod made its operational debut on January 7, 2007, on an F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath. Senior Airman Lynne Neveu/US Air Force Both images Jim Haseltine

AI.12.13 83 COMMERCIAL AIRBERLIN

Under Pressure airberlin is confi dent in its business model, despite being under pressure. Andreas Spaeth reports

he long-haul business second and Europe’s seventh-largest airline, – is, with his modest demeanour, rather the class cabin in airberlin’s it carried 33 million passengers in 2012. opposite of his larger-than-life predecessor. 14 Airbus A330s Etihad, by comparison, transported slightly “I don’t have a big ego and don’t want to is currently being more than ten million passengers last year. maintain a high pro le: the company has to modernised. Six have But airberlin has its problems, with debts of be in the foreground,” Prock-Schauer told been completed so far, over €700 million – the result of it absorbing AIR International. with a further ve due to the costs of acquiring several other airlines, receive a new interior, including charter carrier LTU, Austria’s NIKI, Leaner including upholstery, former British Airways subsidiary dba and In the rst half of 2013, airberlin accumulated by the end of 2013 (the Swiss charter carrier Belair. From 2008 to losses of €196.5 million before taxes (EBIT), three other A330s in the  eet will be kept in 2011 airberlin made losses and in 2012 only worse than the same period the previous all-economyT con guration for leisure routes). posted a narrow €7 million pro t. year when the losses were €178.7 million. The fact this upgrade is happening just two There have been major changes in the “Our goal is still to reach breakeven on an years after the A330s last received new airline’s top management. Long-time CEO EBIT base by the end of 2013, becoming cabins vividly illustrates the change airberlin Joachim Hunold was replaced in September pro table in 2014,” says Prock-Schauer. “I is currently undergoing. The modernisation 2011 by Hartmut Mehdorn, the former boss am optimistic we can achieve that. And it is one result of investment by Etihad Airways, of Deutsche Bahn railways. It was Mehdorn has to be on a pro t margin that won’t lead the United Arab Emirates’ national carrier who grasped the grave situation facing into losses at the slightest headwind.” that with a 29.2% stake is the largest single airberlin, and he was instrumental in bringing Although airberlin’s seat-mile costs are shareholder in the German airline. Etihad aboard: but it was reportedly unhappy double that of Ryanair, one of its major Etihad has invested €500 million since it with airberlin’s performance, prompting competitors, Prock-Schauer insists that, bought its stake in late 2011, making airberlin another management change, Wolfgang “our costs are good compared with legacy part of its equity alliance of airlines worldwide Prock-Schauer taking the helm in January carriers and we don’t have any burdens with which also includes Aer Lingus, Jet Airways 2013. The 56-year-old Austrian – formerly pension payments”. The priority remains, in India and Virgin Australia. Airberlin is CEO of Jet Airways in India and, more however, to make airberlin leaner and more bigger than its parent company: Germany’s recently, former bmi British Midland in the UK cost-ef cient. “We have to get smaller and

84 AI.12.13 Timo Breidentstein/AirTeamImages COMMERCIAL AIRBERLIN Partnership 1 Airberlin operates a fleet of ten Bombardier “We’re strategically developing our network Q400s including D-ABQD (c/n 4234). Jan together with Etihad,” says Prock-Schauer, Ostrowski/AirTeamImages 2 Airberlin cabin crew who explains that the emphasis of airberlin’s wear smart navy blue uniforms and red hats. 3 The German carrier applies branding to various route development lies here rather than places on its aircraft. Andreas Spaeth developing partnerships through oneworld, which he calls “a marketing club for things like frequent flyer programmes and lounges. For our business, Etihad is much more dynamic than oneworld.” This view appears to be borne out by the numbers. In the first half of 2013, bookings almost quadrupled for airberlin on the nearly 100 routes it now flies under codeshares with Etihad. By comparison, in the same period, bookings for codeshares with its oneworld partners only doubled. The close co-operation between airberlin and Etihad is underlined by the fact that the Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme is now linked to airberlin’s Topbonus scheme, which was set up in December 2012 as a separate unit within its business to create what it calls a “global loyalty management scheme”. It has 1 since sold 70% of Topbonus to Etihad for €200 million. 2 been strengthened. They each now offer Could airberlin become a marionette of more weekly connections, totalling 15,063 Etihad, becoming more or less dependent compared to 10,612 in 2012. The daily on the Gulf airline? “That will never happen. utilisation rate of the airline’s fleet has only Airberlin will always be airberlin; our brand minimally increased, from 11.2 to 11.4 hours. is much too valuable to abandon,” counters The mainstay of the fleet (including NIKI’s Prock-Schauer. Etihad praises its German and Belair’s aircraft) are currently 61 Airbus partner: “Airberlin has an enormous potential A320 family aircraft and 51 Boeing 737-700s that Etihad would have never been able and -800s. to reach on its own,” Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s Chief Operating Officer, told AIR Business Model International. Etihad is feeding about 200,000 Some analysts say a weakness in airberlin’s extra passengers into airberlin’s network. In business model is that it has too much turn airberlin generates 100,000 extra guests, variety in its product offerings – it operates as Etihad calls its customers. “The revenue domestic flights in Germany, scheduled of this partnership already lies 30% above and charter flights to leisure destinations, our expectations,” enthuses Baumgartner. European scheduled services and both This has been fuelled by 42 weekly flights scheduled and charter long-haul services. between Germany and Abu Dhabi by both The airline is also part of the oneworld carriers, with 80% of passengers going alliance, which it joined in 2012, but it’s hardly on an equal footing with the 3 focus on our core hubs and our global route sophisticated offerings of the giants in network.” the alliance like American Airlines, British This process is already happening under Airways or Cathay Pacific, which are focused the airline’s ‘Turbine’ programme to slash on long-haul premium routes. operating costs and gain €400 million in Prock-Schauer dismisses the criticism. savings by the end of 2014. Airberlin’s fleet “We have 31% business travellers and 40- size was 170 aircraft in 2011. That dropped 45% leisure passengers, with the difference to 156 in 2012 and will be 143 by the end of being package [holiday] tourists. This is a 2013 after the recent sale of 13 Boeing 737s good, almost equal, division which means to a Chinese finance company. The airline’s a mitigation of risk. It makes no sense to assets are shrinking too – it now owns just be more focused on any segment: we keep 21 of the aircraft it operates. It has also flying everybody from businessmen to closed five smaller hubs, leading to the loss grandmothers.” of 900 jobs. Airberlin has decided to serve Its route network has shrunk considerably intercontinental routes year-round instead too. Instead of 523 routes a year ago, during of only seasonally as before. “Our core summer 2013 the airline served 438 routes [long-haul] destination is North America, (albeit with a 14% increase in frequency). with four main US airports – New York- Comparing 2013 to 2012, capacity has been JFK, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles reduced from 45.1 million available seats per – being served as well as six leisure year to 41.7 million, the number of flights destinations, Fort Myers plus five in the has been cut from 270,489 to 250,406 and Caribbean,” explains Prock-Schauer. The available seat kilometres are down from 62 only eastbound long-haul destinations are billion per year to 60 billion. The aim is to Abu Dhabi and Phuket in Thailand (via Abu create higher seat load factors and yields. Dhabi), although airberlin benefits from The ‘Turbine’ consolidation has meant having its ‘AB’ flight code placed on Etihad airberlin’s principal hubs at Berlin-Tegel and flights to Australasian destinations under Düsseldorf (which also handle its long- the terms of the code-sharing that is part haul traffic with the A330 services) have of the investment deal.

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Timo Breidenstein/AirTeamImages

.12.13 AI Swiss-registered 5 Swiss-registered Dominik Spuller/AirTeamImages COMMERCIAL AIRBERLIN airberlin. Felix Gothwald/AirTeamImages ATA code: AB IATA ICAO code: BER Employees: 8,979 www.airberlin.com Airbus A319 HB-IOX (msn 3604) is one of eight in service with Airbus A319 HB-IOX (msn series. Boeing 737-700 D-AGEC (c/n 36118) was delivered in D-AGEC (c/n 36118) was delivered series. Boeing 737-700 March 2009. 2009. March Airberlin has a fleet of 50 Boeing 737s including 15 of the 700 4 Airberlin has a fleet of million), 2010 – ($140 million) Operations started: April 28, 1979 700s, 35 Boeing 737-800s, 10 Bombardier Q400s Berlin-Tegel, Düsseldorf, Palma de Mallorca Hubs: Berlin-Tegel, AIRBERLIN FACTS AND FIGURES AIRBERLIN FACTS Passengers carried: 2012 – 33.3 million, 2011 – 35.3 million 11 Airbus A320s, 47 Boeing 737-800s and 18 Boeing 787-9s On order: 11 Airbus A320s, 47 Boeing 737-800s and 18 Boeing April 1979 as Air Berlin USA, German-owned and based since 1992 Founded: April 1979 as Air Berlin USA, German-owned and Note: *includes Belair, members of the airberlin group and those operated for airberlin by TUIfly, Germania and LGW. members of the airberlin group and those operated for airberlin by TUIfly, Note: *includes Belair, 8 Airbus A319s, 27 Airbus A320s, 12 Airbus A321s, 14 Airbus A330-200s, 15 Boeing 737- Fleet*: 8 Airbus A319s, 27 Airbus A320s, 12 Airbus A321s, Route network: 174 destinations including 19 in Germany Profit: 2012 – $9 million, 2011 – ($588 Etihad Airways 29.21%, ESAS Holding 12.02%, Hans Joachim Knieps 5.48%, Others 53.29% Ownership: Etihad Airways 29.21%, ESAS Holding 12.02%, Hans 6 4 5 Moving operations to the larger and more and more Moving operations to the larger status as an important Despite Berlin’s who deter Prock-Schauer, That doesn’t BER’s CEO is airberlin’s former boss CEO is airberlin’s BER’s Airberlin is set to become even more even more Airberlin is set to become Other examples of the co-operation Mehdorn – who, when in charge of theMehdorn – who, when in charge airline, started a lawsuit against BER’s operators over the delays. For Prock- to keep operating from being forced Schauer, is a burden Tegel the outdated and crowded and hampers business. “The postponed opening of BER has caused damage to attach a concrete airberlin, although I can’t sum to it,” he says. modern BER, and the arrival of the 787s, will we potential for airberlin. “Currently present – in BER in Tegel have a 45% market share to it will be 50%, a very nice percentage establish a network,” says Prock-Schauer. “After Paris and London, Berlin is the third- biggest incoming destination city in Europe, meaning a big market potential.” destination, the business and leisure power of the comparatively low purchasing to disparity once referred (a residents city’s when he by Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit but sexy”) characterised its people as “poor, is thought to turn away airlines that feel there long-haul is a limited market for premium the city. travellers originating from aims to position airberlin to feed long-haul Scandinavia and Poland passengers from into BER. And having managed Jet Airways the worst of the country’s in India through downturn in the late 2000s, he isn’t of a challenge. scared New Airport A milestone for airberlin in the near will be the opening of the German future new airport, Berlin Brandenburg capital’s International its (known as ‘BER’ after Association code). International Air Transport It was supposed to open in June 2012 but management issues construction problems, have plagued its and political interference development, delaying its commencement now due to open on a limited four times. It’s basis in spring 2014, although some reports start say full operations at the airport won’t until 2015. beyond the Gulf. The co-operation with Gulf. The co-operation beyond the the charter market – extend to Etihad doesn’t revenue most important still one of airberlin’s flying to – but airberlin customers sources instead of to stop at Abu Dhabi Phuket have currently “We’re as before. flying non-stop from a fundamental change undergoing carrier to providing being a mainly [charter] with oura worldwide network together says. Prock-Schauer partner,” in the future. closely aligned with Etihad the Boeing 787- Both carriers have ordered 41, with deliveries 9. Etihad has ordered airberlin expects tostarting in late 2014 and 2018. “We’re the first of 15 around receive with Etihad, flying aligning our [787] cabin a with the same seats, product standardised on classes put three [although] Etihad might to our two-class product,” compared board The seats and IFE Prock-Schauer. reveals systems will also be the same on Etihad and airberlin Dreamliners. airberlin pilots flying between the carriers are for Etihad; and joint pilot training. S3 wants to put Switzerland on the map in the emerging world of commercial spaceflight, as Mark Broadbent finds out

witzerland. Its very European country in something rather more and land like a conventional aircraft, rather mention brings to mind advanced: space. than a rocket that requires launch pads and a host of clichés about retrieval. cheese, chocolate, Barriers to Space Swiss Space Systems (S3) wants a slice of cowbells, clocks and Commercial spaceflight is becoming a big this market. Its aim is to become the world knives. Now a company business. Various companies worldwide are leader in putting small satellites – classed based in Payerne near designing new spacecraft to transport cargo as weighing up to 250kg (551lb) – into orbit. Lake Neuchatel wants and people into orbit. Many of these are According to S3, there’s a big pent-up to make a name for spaceplanes – craft (like the NASA Space demand: it says there are many countries S the landlocked central Shuttle) that can re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and organisations, such as research agencies 88 AI.12.13 S3 SUB-ORBITAL SPACEPLANE TECHNOLOGY

An artist’s impression of S3’s Airbus A300 and SOAR launch system in flight.All images S3 and universities, that want to put satellites Earth’s atmosphere and landing back on the bold ambitions: it plans to open a spaceport into space but simply can’t afford to because ground just like a conventional aircraft, ready at Payerne in 2015, start test flights in 2017 of the high costs of developing, or buying to be used again. and put the first paying customers’ payloads access to, launch systems and infrastructure. Ex-Swiss Air Force test pilot Pascal Jaussi into orbit in 2018. S3’s answer to this problem is novel: have came up with the concept. In collaboration a small unmanned sub-orbital spaceplane with partners across Europe – including some Flight Stages (SOAR) ride piggyback atop an Airbus A300 major names from the aeronautical and space So if we fast-forward a few years, how would from which it can then be launched to climb industries – the idea was refined over two a typical S3 launch work? The customer’s to the edge of space – where it can launch years before S3 was officially inaugurated at payload will be installed into the SOAR payloads into orbit before returning through Payerne in March 2013. The company has before the spaceplane is mounted on the

AI.12.13 89 TECHNOLOGY S3 SUB-ORBITAL SPACEPLANE

1

top of the A300. There will then be ve  ight be sent to its nal orbit some 700km (420 1 The upperstage launcher that will be used stages (see SOAR’s Five Stages Of Flight). miles) above Earth. In the meantime, the to deliver satellites into orbit. 2 An artist’s The rst will be take-off where the A300, A300 and SOAR will have both landed back impression of the SOAR spacecraft. It uses with the SOAR riding piggyback, departs at their launch airport. technology developed by Dassault with its the operating airport and climbs to 33,000ft VEHRA hypersonic research programme. (10,058m). The second stage (launch) will Space for All 3 A graphic showing the fl ight stages of the A300/SOAR launch system. involve the SOAR being released from its S3’s view is that, because this launch 2 mothership in the stratosphere. method won’t involve the launch-pads and Stage three will be boost, where the recovery systems traditionally associated where the A300 can be operated from.” SOAR will use its own rocket power to with rockets, it will be far cheaper to send Re ecting this model is the company’s climb to the edge of space, some 262,000ft payloads into space. This, it believes, slogan, ‘space for all’. (79,857m) up. Once this height is attained, will bring space ight into the nancial S3 says costs will also be minimised by the fourth phase – upperstage – will start reach of those research organisations and the spaceplane using standard fuels – and, when the payload is automatically released smaller countries. “We’ll be a cheaper like the NASA Space Shuttle, it will glide from SOAR using a satellite dispenser. S3 alternative because of the  ight system back to Earth. The company says this says this dispenser is designed to be able we’re developing and the reusability of the method would cost in the region of $10 to handle different types of spacecraft, Airbus and the SOAR,” S3 founder and million per launch, “up to four times less affording the company the opportunity Chief Executive Jaussi told AIR International. [expensive] than it is at present”. An S3 to launch quite different types of aircraft “We’ll also be more  exible because we statement says: “We are building the most during a single launch. This will precede the don’t need a large infrastructure, we can economic and ecological model available nal step, Delivery, where the payload will operate quickly and we only need a base today. Nothing is lost on a  ight. The main components used during the  ight 3 are reusable and we intend to develop SOAR’S FIVE STAGES OF FLIGHT ground operations known from aviation such as inspection, repair and equipment replacement activities.” Partners The concept and the promised cost savings are clearly appealing, but what about the practicalities? After all, S3 has set itself a large challenge by committing to developing, manufacturing, certifying and operating SOAR within just ve years. To make the project a reality, S3 has signed agreements with a number of partners. The SOAR spaceplane’s components will be built by Sonaca, with Dassault producing its on-board avionics and  ight control system. Deimos Space is responsible for producing the guidance, navigation and control systems as well as mission analysis. UK company Meggitt will manufacture the sensors and Belgian technology rm Space Application Systems (SAS) the software while Stanford University will undertake systems optimisation. Technical advice is being provided by the ESA (European Space Agency), the Von Karman Institute, Université catholique de Louvain and the

90 AI.12.13 S3 SUB-ORBITAL SPACEPLANE TECHNOLOGY

Swiss Space Center. vehicle into low-earth orbit to launch regarding the test flights location,” Jaussi Swiss chronographer Breitling is on board satellites. The SOAR project will also benefit explained to AIR International. “We’ve as the project’s main sponsor while Payerne from Dassault’s expertise in unmanned flight signed a memorandum of understanding city council has given an enthusiastic control systems, which it has built up as part with Spaceport Malaysia and we’re also endorsement to S3 building a spaceport at of its leadership of the European nEUROn discussing with Morocco, so we also have Payerne. At the company’s inauguration unmanned combat air vehicle technology the opportunity to have a safe launch over ceremony in March, the city’s mayor praised demonstrator. the sea. This would mean the shuttle the boldness of the S3 concept and said it Jaussi says companies like Dassault assembly will be done in Payerne and the would provide a boost to the local economy. putting their own R&D into the project will operations conducted in Malaysia and In addition to serving as the company’s allow it to “save time” and enable the project Morocco. We’re currently discussing further headquarters, the spaceport will house the to meet regulatory requirements more readily. partnerships with other countries.” assembly of the SOAR spaceplanes. It is The certification of the A300 and the SOAR What interest has S3 received from the also hoped that regulatory approval will be spaceplane, and working with industry market so far? “We’ve already secured a given to allow the first test flights in 2017 to bodies on practicalities such as how the contract for four launches in 2018 and have be undertaken from the Swiss airfield. project will fit into air traffic management, other advanced discussions with potential “These partners, technical advisers are S3’s main priorities. “We’re working in clients,” Jaussi revealed. The company and sponsors all contribute to our project collaboration with suborbital rule makers plans to undertake 12 launches in 2019 and with technical support, material support, at the European Aviation Safety Agency,” 24 in 2020, Jaussi adding: “We anticipate a financial support and human resources,” Jaussi told AIR International. “We have large demand because the market for small Jaussi said, adding that a large part of S3’s already taken part in several workshops satellites is already mature – and still growing overall budget of 250 million Swiss Francs and meetings in Brussels to work on the – and because of the exceptional flexibility, ($268 million) is “already covered by private development of these rules.” The company increased security and price we will offer our investors and our partners”. is also collaborating with Switzerland’s clients.” Federal Office of Civil Aviation on regulatory S3 is clearly confident about its project More Partners? issues. and potential. “We want to make space This level of collaboration and investment accessible through fast and recurrent access is clearly significant in ‘de-risking’ the S3 Plans opportunities,” Jaussi said. “We don’t want project and ensuring it actually becomes a The next goal in S3’s schedule comes in to talk for all space companies, but we do reality rather than a pipedream. Crucially, 2014, when it plans to undertake a test believe it’s important to democratise access though, the partners are not just contributing launch of the mock-up SOAR vehicle. The to space.” technical and financial support but, in spaceport at Payerne is expected to be The company’s pursuit of that aspiration Jaussi’s words, “the heritage of already- completed in 2015, with the first SOAR in the next few years as one of the flagships developed and certified technologies”. spaceplane being built there in 2016 ahead of the European presence in the growing For example, development of the SOAR of the first test flight a year later. After market of commercial spaceflight will be spaceplane is feeding off Dassault’s long- regulators certify the launching systems, followed with great interest. standing research and development (R&D) operational flights will begin. work into lifting bodies, which began as But just because there’ll be a spaceport VIDEO LINK far back as the 1980s with its Hermes at Payerne doesn’t mean S3 flights will Readers can watch a video showing programme. Dassault will directly input R&D launch from there. There would of course a rendering of the A300/SOAR launch work from VEHRA, a research programme be major effects on air traffic management sequence by visiting this web address: that in the 2000s studied exactly what S3 if flights were to be undertaken in European www.youtube.com/watch? wants to do – putting a reusable hypersonic airspace. “We have different opportunities

AI.12.13 91 Australia’s

TrojansDespite early teething problems, the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-130J-30 Hercules has developed into a valuable workhorse, as Nigel Pittaway discovers

92 AI.12.13 No.37 SQUADRON ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE MILITARY Cpl David Gibbs/RAAF David Cpl ollowing the premature de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, and Hercules, but since the middle of 2008 retirement of the Royal will complement the C-130J-30, which is it has been the exclusive preserve of the Australian Air Force (RAAF) expected to remain in service until 2030. C-130J-30, and no timeline for withdrawal Lockheed Martin C-130H Two RAAF C-130J-30s are currently has been announced. Hercules eet at the end of deployed to the Middle East Area of Besides Afghanistan, the C-130J-30 last year, the 12 C-130J- Operations (MEAO), operating from Al eet has been kept very busy supporting 30s of No.37 Squadron Minhad AB in the United Arab Emirates. This Australian Defence Force operations and now form the backbone detachment, originally based at Al Udeid exercises at home and abroad. It has of Australia’s tactical AB in Qatar, began in February 2003 as participated regularly in Humanitarian airlift capability. They part of Coalition operations in Iraq and has Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) will continue to do so until the arrival of the since continued in support of Australia’s operations throughout the region. FAlenia C-27J Spartan in 2015. The Spartan, deployment in Afghanistan. Responsibility Initially, the C-130J-30 fell short of will  ll the battle eld airlift role left vacant for the detachment originally alternated the capabilities expected from it when it by the 2009 retirement of the venerable between the C-130H and the newer entered service in the late 1990s. However,

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1 the type is now displaying a higher level chapter of the RAAF’s long Hercules story, of maturity, its reliability is improving and which began with the purchase of 12 ongoing software upgrades are expanding C-130As in 1958 and progressed through the 1,2&4 No.37 Squadron celebrated its 70th its capabilities. The aircraft is earning a ’E and ’H variants. anniversary with a two-ship flight over Sydney reputation as a worthy successor to the A contract for the 12 C-130J-30s was Harbour, the Blue Mountains, and a paradrop revered C-130H. signed in December 1995 with deliveries over the Londonderry drop zone near Richmond planned for between 1997 and 1998. on July 17. Nigel Pittaway 3 A member of an Trials and Tribulations RAAF air load team marshals a forklift into posi- However, Lockheed Martin struggled with tion behind a C-130J to remove an aircraft pallet The C-130J-30 was acquired to replace the the flight testing and certification of the new of stores at Momote airfield, Manus Island.Sgt W Vietnam-era C-130E fleet, which had served glass-cockpit aircraft and the first delivery Guthrie/RAAF 5&6 Maintenance reforms carried with No.37 Squadron since its purchase in date was delayed to November 1998. In the out on the RAAF’s fleet of 12 C-130J Hercules the late 1960s. The J model is the latest event, even this proved optimistic and the have increased the availability of aircraft by eight per cent, the equivalent of an extra C-130J being available for missions. Cpl David Gibbs/RAAF 7 Australian Aerospace is one of the prime con- tractors responsible for through-life support of the C-130J, and contributed significant work to re- viewing how the C-130J maintenance is planned and conducted, leading to these reforms. LAC David Said/RAAF

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94 AI.12.13 No.37 SQUADRON ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE MILITARY first aircraft (A97-464) only arrived at RAAF therefore taken in late 2003 to expand the (AME) role, since the Vietnam War and. Richmond, which is west of Sydney and C-130J-30’s operations into the tactical arena. RAAF aircrews and AME personnel continue has been the home of Australia’s numerous The aircraft were fitted with an interim to train extensively for these. Hercules over the years, on September 4, electronic warfare self-protection (EWSP) It was 37 Squadron’s C-130J-30s that 1999. The delay caused a shortfall in airlift system and after a work-up period, No.37 repatriated dozens of badly burned and capability as unplanned maintenance had to Squadron deployed two aircraft to the MEAO injured civilians to Australian hospitals after be carried out on the C-130E fleet. in September 2004. This, greatly relieved the terrorist bombing of a Bali nightclub in Australia was an early customer for the the burden on its sister squadron. The 2002. Sadly they had to repeat their efforts C-130J-30 and the RAAF suffered many of responsibility of providing tactical airlift as part after a second attack in 2005. In between, the same teething problems with software as of the detachment rotated between No.36 the C-130J-30s were busy supporting HADR the Royal Air Force, albeit to a lesser extent Squadron’s C-130Hs and No.37 Squadron’s efforts on Sumatra after the 2004 Boxing as the British aircraft performed tactical C-130J-30 deployments until the ‘H was Day tsunami and later evacuated Australian operations from the outset. One problem withdrawn from theatre in the middle of 2008. civilians from Cyprus to Turkey following their was that although on the outside the Desert operations soon revealed several escape from the fighting in Lebanon. C-130J-30 looked like the Hercules the RAAF shortcomings with the newer Hercules. The Flood relief flights were undertaken in understood so well, its modern systems were sand coating of the high-pressure turbine Papua New Guinea after Cyclone Guba in more complex and personnel initially failed to blades of the Rolls-Royce AE2100 engines 2007 and earthquake relief in Indonesia in take this into consideration. became so thick that it blocked vital cooling 2009. In early 2011 two aircraft assisted Initial operational test and evaluation was passages and led to the premature removal at home with the evacuation of the Cairns very slow due to the combination of aircraft of the engines for overhaul and required a Base Hospital as Cyclone Yasi approached complexity and immaturity. It wasn’t until re-design of the exhaust. the city. The squadron then played a major December 2001, two months after the 12th role in the subsequent flood relief operations and final aircraft had been delivered, that throughout Queensland. Just weeks after the C-130J-30 was formally accepted into Yasi, the Hercules were in action again, operational service by the-then Chief of the providing relief to the people of Christchurch Air Force, Air Marshal Angus Houston. in New Zealand following the devastating The ‘J Goes to War earthquake there in February 2011. The first operations flown by the C-130J-30 Mixed Fleet were strategic logistics flights, transporting In May 2006, Australia signed letters of offer personnel and equipment from one and acceptance with the US government for established RAAF base or airport to another. the supply of an initial four Boeing C-17A The tactical aspect of airlift operations was Globemasters. These would be operated by left to the tried and tested C-130H, then in No.36 Squadron, which would relocate from service with No.36 Squadron. Richmond to RAAF Base Amberley, south- However, the Australian government’s west of Brisbane. The consequence of this decision to join the US-led coalition in Iraq 2 was that No.36 Squadron’s C-130Hs moved in 2003 soon saw the aircraft deploying across to join 37 Squadron’s C-130J-30s. on operations. The C-130J-30s were Other problems included the rapid erosion A dual ceremony at Richmond on given the responsibility of maintaining the of the Dowty composite propeller blades, November 17, 2006 bade farewell to No.36 strategic transport link between Australia and reliability issues with components such Squadron and welcomed the consolidation and the MEAO base at Al Udeid, while No.36 as engine mounts and the propeller gearbox. of Australian Hercules operations into 37 Squadron C-130Hs flew tactical flights All these issues have now been resolved. Squadron. This made it the largest flying from there into Iraq during Operation Iraqi unit in the RAAF with 12 C-130J-30s, eight Freedom in March 2003. HADR Ops C-130Hs (four of the original 12 C-130Hs The strain of maintaining a constant two In between these combat operations, HADR were permanently withdrawn from use (and occasionally three) aircraft C-130H operations have continued at (sadly) regular around this time) and around 670 personnel. deployment so far from home soon became intervals. The RAAF Hercules fleet has The remaining C-130Hs were withdrawn apparent in terms of airframe wear and conducted HADR operations, including for from service, as a government cost-cutting tear and personnel fatigue. A decision was the all-important Aeromedical Evacuation measure, in December 2012.

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Phil Cullinan/RAAF Since then, No.37 Squadron has maintained the MEAO deployment, which moved from Al Udeid to Al Minhad in 2009. February 2013 marked ten years of RAAF C-130J operations, during which time the fleet has transported an estimated 220,200 passengers and 43,000 tonnes (94.8 million pounds) of cargo. As part of the wider Project AIR 8000 – the Australian Defence Force’s airlift ‘blueprint’ for the future – there was an intention to add two further C-130J-30s to the fleet, but the subsequent purchases of two more C-17As have seen these plans dropped, meaning the dozen C-130J-30s at Richmond will continue as the backbone of RAAF airlift operations for years to come. Ongoing Improvement Australia is a member of the international C-130J Users Group (JUG) and has continuously modernised its fleet with a series of hardware and software upgrades TROJANS CELEBRATE 70 YEARS under the JUG Global Project Arrangement As they celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2013, No.37 Squadron aircraft and personnel (GPA). These have incrementally expanded are a common sight around Australia. Their ‘Trojan’ radio call-sign is often the first the ’J’s capabilities and reliability since its indication that help is on the way during times of national crisis. And it’s not just service introduction. Australians who have benefited from the unit’s assistance, as it has a long record of Because the aircraft is electronic, most of humanitarian efforts throughout the Asia-Pacific region. these upgrades have been to the software Although the squadron has not enjoyed a continuous history, it was formed at RAAF Base and although the development and testing Laverton (now part of RAAF Williams) in Victoria on July 15, 1943 in response to the demand for of the regular ‘drops’ is a complicated and more airlift capability to support operations against Japan in the South-West Pacific theatre. time-consuming process for Lockheed The first aircraft on strength was the Lockheed C-60A Lodestar and initial operations established a courier service from Melbourne (then home to RAAF Headquarters) to Martin, the eventual upload into the aircraft is airfields in the west and north of Australia and New Guinea. Wounded troops were flown a straightforward process. back to Australia from New Guinea, which began an association with the Aeromedical The latest software iteration is known Evacuation (AME) role which continues to this day. as Version 6.1. This is largely concerned By early 1945, sufficient numbers of Douglas C-47 Dakotas had been acquired from US with avionics upgrades to prepare for the sources to begin re-equipping the squadron. Courier flights were by then being flown to implementation of international Global Air bases as far afield as Morotai in the Dutch East Indies (today part of Indonesia). Traffic Management (GATM) and Terrain Following the Japanese surrender, 37 Squadron repatriated Australian prisoners of war Avoidance regulations later in the decade. from Singapore. By 1946 it had relocated to Schofields, west of Sydney, to join No.36 The first aircraft to undergo the 6.1 upgrade and No.38 Squadrons within No.86 Transport Wing. The three squadrons began a thrice- weekly courier service to Japan in support of the British Commonwealth Occupation was completed in August 2012 and, Forces (BCOF), but the work transferred to Qantas in 1947 and 37 Squadron was following operational test and evaluation, subsequently disbanded in February 1948. achieved initial operating capability (IOC) in In the early 1960s the RAAF began a major modernisation plan which would see modern October and service release the following aircraft such as the Dassault Mirage III, Bell UH-1 Iroquois and Lockheed P-3B Orion month. The upgrade was installed replacing legacy platforms by the end of the decade. Part of this restructure was the across the rest of the C-130J-30 fleet at purchase of 12 C-130E Hercules, to augment the C-130A which had been in service Richmond in the second half of 2012, with since 1958 replacing the venerable Dakota in the airlift role. the work being undertaken during routine No.37 Squadron was selected to receive the C-130E and re-formed at RAAF Richmond maintenance. The installation was carried in February 1966. Thus began an association with the Hercules and Richmond that has endured to the present time. The squadron’s relationship with the AME role was also out by technical teams from the Air Lift quickly re-established when it began operating a courier service to Vung Tau during the Systems Project Office (ALSPO), Lockheed Vietnam War to repatriate Australian wounded. Martin and Australian Aerospace, which is The squadron has continued its humanitarian operations and Australian Defence the C-130J-30 maintenance provider. Force support throughout the past 47 years, including relief efforts after Cyclone Tracy The upgrade changes the selection devastated Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974. It converted to the C-130J-30 in 1999 and functions of three or four switches on the absorbed the C-130H operations of No.36 Squadron in 2008. flight deck and significantly enhances the “The squadron has undergone significant changes recently, especially in view of the way information is processed and presented retirement of the C-130H Hercules last November,” said Wg Cdr Darren Goldie, the current to the crew. This has already had a major Commanding Officer. “We are now expanding the airlift roles that we perform with the C-130J, which will allow us to continue transporting Defence personnel and cargo to some impact on aircraft performance. For of the toughest environments on earth. It is an honour not only to lead No.37 Squadron on example, just before Christmas 2012, one this anniversary, but also to be a part of this transition into a new era.” 37 Squadron C-130J-30 performed the highest ever maximum weight take off of an Australian Hercules, when it departed Richmond carrying aid to Fiji in support of Cyclone Evan relief operations. The work to improve the C-130J-30 continues. A radar warning receiver (RWR) is currently being installed to the fleet to add to the EWSP fit. This will be completely integrated on all aircraft by the end of 2014. This capability is not part of the JUG GPA process but is being delivered under Nigel Pittaway a related project, AIR 5416 Phase 4B/1, aimed at enhancing the C-130J-30’s RWR capabilities beyond those previously fitted to the C-130H fleet.

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1 C-130J-30 A97-450 over Sydney Harbour during a two-ship flight on July 17 staged to mark No.37 Squadron’s 70th anniversary. Nigel Pittaway 2 Wg Cdr Darren Goldie, Commanding Officer of No.37 Squadron. Nigel Pittaway 3 Sqn Ldr Ben Poxon (left) and Flt Lt Brad Drew run through pre-flight checks in a C-130J Hercules cockpit before they depart the Delamere range airstrip during Exercise Aces North 2013. LAC Dan Pinhorn/RAAF

1 Night Vision that modern operations have evolved to the the maintenance interval for each aircraft Although the C-130J-30 has shouldered point where the possession of many of those from 30 weeks to 38 weeks. The fact that responsibility for tactical airlift in the MEAO capabilities is no longer significant. the airframes can work for longer between since 2008, much of the Special Forces The burden of being the RAAF’s major maintenance sessions is the equivalent support work in Australia was performed by tactical airlift provider between the retirement of having a ninth aircraft on line for daily the C-130H. This was especially the case of the C-130H and the introduction of operations. with regard to operations requiring night the C-27J has recently been somewhat vision goggles (NVGs). The impending alleviated by changes to the maintenance Evolution retirement of the C-130H resulted in a regime. Regular tasking had previously Assuming that the C-130J-30 retires on flurry of activity during 2012 to prepare the been predicated on eight of the 12 aircraft schedule in 2030 and isn’t replaced in the C-130J-30 for tactical night operations under being available at any given time, with meantime by another aircraft, Lockheed a role enhancement programme. Although the other four undergoing some form of Martin’s evergreen workhorse will have the aircraft isn’t yet capable of completely maintenance. But a new programme, funded served 80 years in the RAAF across four filling the hole left by its predecessor’s and developed by Australian Aerospace and variants. In the meantime there is work to retirement, the feeling within the RAAF is supported by Lockheed Martin, extends be done in ensuring the Hercules evolves

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AI.12.13 97 MILITARY No.37 SQUADRON ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

1 C-130J-30 A97-450 over the Blue Mountains during a two- ship flight on July 17 staged to mark No.37 Squadron’s 70th anniversary. Nigel Pittaway 2 An RAAF loadmaster watches a C-130J Hercules engine start up prior to leaving Momote airfield, Manus Island. Sgt W Guthrie/RAAF

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to stay relevant in the modern operational The aim of this is to optimise various flight further improvements. The Northrop environment. profiles to save fuel. Grumman AN/AAQ-24(v) LAIRCM system Air Commodore Gary Martin, Commander Eventually, the installation of software will be integrated into the fleet under of the RAAF’s Air Lift Group, says that version 7.0 will result in a fundamental Project AIR 5416 Phase 4B.2, with an IOC a defined upgrade path is already in the change to the flight management planned towards the end of 2016, subject to pipeline. “The next upgrades for the C-130J computers, changing the way information budgetary considerations. “We are looking are software blocks seven and eight, which is processed by the aircraft’s flight at the way the US Air Force has integrated are programmed to occur between 2014 and management system and how it is the system, which is aerodynamically more 2019. [We are] also bringing the large aircraft presented to the crew on the dual head-up efficient than the RAF method,” says Air Cdr countermeasures [LAIRCM] to the aircraft. displays. Either later this year or early in Martin. “It will give us the full sequence of That then gives us a highly manoeuvrable 2014 the first aircraft will fly back to the US Flares, LAIRCM and RWR. It will be a full aircraft, well tried and tested, and still for upgrade by Lockheed Martin, and the countermeasures system which will take capable of conducting all of the required remainder of the fleet will be completed at us through to ‘Life of Type’ [the aircraft’s tactical activities, both regionally and in the Richmond by the end of 2016. retirement date].” prolonged activities we are undertaking in Version 7.0 will be followed by version Although it has had a frustrating career Afghanistan.” 8.0, which will provide further upgrades to at times, the C-130J-30 will soon, with Predictions that the C-130H’s early the GATM system to comply with evolving some justification, be recognised as best of retirement will dramatically accelerate the international regulations. This will be breed. Furthermore, it will continue to be fatigue life of the C-130J-30 are rejected implemented somewhere around the end of the mainstay of Australia’s airlift force. If by Air Cdr Martin, who points out that the the decade. “It will be a quantum step for disaster strikes somewhere in the Asia- C-130H’s withdrawal was planned to happen us,” says Air Cdr Martin of the forthcoming Pacific region, the C-130J-30 and the men in 2015 anyway. He goes on to say that the software improvements. “Once [crews] are and women of 37 Squadron will be there availability of a figurative ninth C-130J-30 trained on an aircraft with version 7.0 [they to help. Australia’s Hercules will remain a due to the new maintenance schedule will] not fly a 6.1 aircraft. The change to the common sight at airfields supporting such obviates any additional fatigue accrual in flight management computers significantly operations, continuing the sterling work the meantime. Rolls-Royce has also just increases the depth of information.” previously performed since 1958 by the completed a 12-month study into RAAF fleet Meanwhile, work continues within the C-130A, ’E and ’H. You can’t get a fuel burn and the data is now under analysis. international JUG framework to develop better testimonial than that.

2 Nigel Pittaway

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