MISSING LINK FREIGHTER FEES ROTARY POWER THE ELECTRONIC Cargo carriers face new Start-up Mistral pushing BAG OF TRICKS IN technical support to beat pistons with light THE COCKPIT charges for passenger jet engine family built on FLIGHFEATURE P26 conversions 10 WankelT technology 22

fl ightglobal.com INTERNATIONAL

2-8 JUNE 2009

OPERATIONS REPORT GRIPENS ON GUARD AT NATO’S EDGE How Czechs met challenge of nation’s rst overseas air policing mission over Baltic

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IN THIS ISSUE BEHIND THE Companies and aircraft HEADLINES THE WEEK ON THE WEB Aero Vodochody ...... 18 Industries Association ...... 7 Craig Hoyle (pictured) journeyed fl ightglobal.com AgustaWestland ...... 22 to the to visit the Air Transport Association of America ...... 8 Sir Airbus ...... 7, 14, 21, 23, 24 Czech ’s historic  rst Last week was the 65th anniversary of the death of AirTran Airways ...... 25 Geoffrey de Havilland, creator of the Mosquito, among Airways New Zealand ...... 22 Gripen detachment for NATO Aurora Flight Sciences...... 23 (cover story P30), and also heard other iconic aircraft. Have a look at the obituary on the Flight Australian Department of Defence ...... 15 about ’s air force plans blog and see a great image on Avantair ...... 21 Aviation Partners ...... 21 (P18). Stephen Trimble visited Image of the Day blog. Next AVIC International ...... 25 Ottawa for the CANSEC defence week Flightglobal will welcome Banner Aerospace...... 25 Beagle Aerospace ...... 25 and security exhibition (P16) and aviation’s highest-pro le entre- Bell ...... 20 saw Boeing UAV innovation in preneur, Sir Richard Boeing ...... 7, 10, 12, 15, 16, 24, 25 Seattle (P24). Elsewhere, Bombardier ...... 11, 14 Branson, chairman of the Andrew Doyle joined former F1 Bristow Group ...... 25 Virgin Group, as our Guest British Airways ...... 9, 12 world champion Niki Lauda in Canadian air force ...... 16 Editor on 8 June. He’ll be Cessna ...... 20, 21 Vienna to mark the entry into CitationShares ...... 20 service of his  rst Embraer 190 rolling up his sleeves and getting involved in the day to day Dallas Airmotive ...... 21 running of the site. Plus you can win a ight. Submit a Dassault ...... 21 (P6), and Kieran Daly looked Deccan 360 ...... 24 inside the paperless cockpit in question to Sir Richard before 8 June and you could win a Department of National Defence ...... 16 EADS ...... 25 Malahide (P26). free return fl ight anywhere in the Virgin network. Read Eaton Aerospace ...... 25 Stephen Trimble’s post “Random 10 List: things I learned Elbit Systems ...... 25 Elta Systems ...... 15 on the F-35 factory tour”, of which number eight is: “The lift Esperia Aviation Services ...... 22 fan inlet door is also known within the factory as the ’57 Euro ghter ...... 16 European Aviation Safety Agency .....14, 21, 22 Chevy hood.” See a blog post about Etihad sponsoring European Space Agency ...... 9 English Premiership football club Manchester City. Its logo Gastops ...... 16 Gates and Partners ...... 25 will adorn the kit for the next three years. General Atomics...... 18 General Electric ...... 11, 16 Greenwich AeroGroup ...... 25 Gulf Coast ...... 22 Find all these items at fl ightglobal.com/wotw Gulfstream ...... 20 Hawker Beechcraft ...... 22 Horizon Air ...... 11 QUESTION OF THE WEEK Ilyushin ...... 15 Last week, we asked: What’s your favourite means of following ...... 15 Innocon ...... 18 aviation? You said: Insitu Group ...... 24 For a full list of reader services, editorial Online Discussion Blogs Twitter Magazines International Air Transport Association ...... 14 and advertising contacts see P35 news forums Aerospace Industries ...... 15, 25 EDITORIAL % % % % % ...... 18 +44 (0) 20 8652 3842 Klyne Aviation ...... 21 ight.international@ ightglobal.com Lease Corporation International ...... 14 64 6 4 1 25 Lider Aviacao ...... 25 DISPLAY ADVERTISING ...... 18 +44 (0) 20 8652 3315 Total votes: 1,222 dawn.hartwell@ ightglobal.com Lockheed Martin ...... 15, 16 This week, we ask: Cockpit automation is cutting pilot workload: Lufthansa ...... 14 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Mistral Engines ...... 22 + 44 (0) 20 8652 4897 Good – reduces potential for error NASA ...... 7 ight.classi ed@ ightglobal.com Bad – makes mistakes more likely Navtech ...... 25 RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING Vote at fl ightglobal.com/poll Petroleum Air Services ...... 22 +44 (0) 20 8652 4900 Piaggio ...... 21 [email protected] Pratt & Whitney ...... 11, 16, 21 WEBMASTER HIGH FLIERS Qinetiq...... 25 andrew.costerton@ ightglobal.com The top fi ve stories for the week 20 – 26 May. Rolls-Royce ...... 16 SUBSCRIPTIONS Safran ...... 25 +44 (0) 1444 445 454 1 Flightblogger: video captures 787  rst engine start SaxonAir ...... 21 [email protected] 2 Sikorsky ...... 22 Airbus production issues delay next Qantas A380 delivery Space Foundation ...... 7 REPRINTS 3 Picture: Boeing completes 747-8F forward fuselage assembly +44 (0) 20 8652 8612 [email protected] Spidertracks ...... 22 4 UK government sounds warning on A400M Swiss International Air Lines ...... 14 FLIGHT DAILY NEWS TAF Linhas Aereas ...... 25 +44 (0) 8652 3096 5 British Airways to ground 16 747s and 757s for winter Textron ...... 20 andrew.doyle@ ightglobal.com Flightglobal gets around 800,000 visitors from 220 US Federal Aviation Administration ...... 7, 8, 20 ACAS US Marine Corps ...... 7, 24 +44 (0) 1788 540 898 countries viewing 6 million pages each month US Navy ...... 24 acassales@ ightglobal.com

4 | Flight International | 2-8 June 2009 ightglobal.com DEFENCE Explore 100 years of aviation history as it appeared in the original pages of Flight: fl ightglobal.com/archive

INTELLIGENCE ARIE EGOZI TEL AVIV Innocon proposes UAV to ganda is seeking to deploy is 12h, with an operational range Uunmanned air vehicles for of 95km (51nm). intelligence-gathering missions The Ugandan government sev- along its . The government eral years ago acquired a P92 Echo is assessing a proposal from Israe- Super light aircraft modifi ed with li manufacturer Innocon. an electro-optical payload by In- Kampala is evaluating Inno- nocon, and briefl y used the asset

Aero Vodochody con’s Mini Falcon I UAV, says before its was grounded after suf- The L-159 is currently “not an ambition but a dream” for Lithuania chief executive Zvika Nave. The fering technical problems. vehicle has a wingspan of 4.99m Uganda’s army currently uses AIR DEFENCE CRAIG HOYLE SIAULIAI (16.3ft), a maximum launch a twin-engined Vulcanair P68 Ex-Czech L-159s weight of 85kg (187lb) and carries equipped with an Israeli-made a retractable payload. payload that is controlled from a on Lithuanian air Mission endurance for the UAV ground station. ■ UNMANNED SYSTEMS PINO MODOLA GENOA force wish list  nishes improved Nation could take responsibility for own airspace from 2018 Predator A UAV testing ιτηυανιαν αιρ φορχε λεαδερσ Ιτ ωιλλ µαψβε βε ονε Βαλτιχ ταλψ∏σ Γενεραλ ∆ιρεχτορατε φορ υνδεργονε τεστινγ ιν τηε ΥΣΑ Lηαϖε ηελδ υνοφ⇒ χιαλ δισχυσ− σθυαδρον ωιτη τηρεε λεγσ, ορ ποσ− IΑεροναυτιχαλ Αρµαµεντσ ιν ωασ α πρεϖιουσλψ δελιϖερεδ Ιταλιαν σιονσ ωιτη τηειρ Χζεχη χουντερ− σιβλψ τακεν ον ροτατιον. Ηοωεϖερ, λατε Μαψ χοµπλετεδ α χαµπαιγν αιρ φορχε εξαµπλε τηατ υνδερωεντ παρτσ οϖερ α ποσσιβλε φυτυρε δεαλ γιϖεν χυρρεντ εχονοµιχ χονδι− οφ τεστσ ιν τηε ΥΣΑ ον α ⇒ ρστ βατχη εξτενσιϖε µοδι⇒ χατιον το ρεαχη το αχθυιρε συρπλυσ Αερο ςοδο− τιονσ ανδ τηε Λιτηυανιαν αιρ φορχε∏σ οφ τηρεε ιµπροϖεδ Γενεραλ Ατοµ− τηε νεω στανδαρδ. Τηε οτηερ τωο χηοδψ Λ−159 αδϖανχεδ λιγητ χοµ− σµαλλ σιζε οφ ονλψ αρουνδ 420 περ− ιχσ ΡΘ−1Β Πρεδατορ Α υνµαννεδ ωερε νεω προδυχτιον εξαµπλεσ βατ αιρχραφτ. Τηε µοϖε χοµεσ ασ σοννελ, ιτ µιγητ νοτ βε υντιλ 2024 αιρ ϖεηιχλεσ. βυιλτ το τηε ενηανχεδ χον⇒ γυρα− ςιλνιυσ λοοκσ το ασσεσσ ιτσ οπτιονσ τηατ συχη α ηανδοϖερ χουλδ τακε Τηε αιρχραφτ αρε δυε το βε σεντ τιον. Ιταλψ∏σ τηρεε ρεµαινινγ οπερ− φορ τακινγ ρεσπονσιβιλιτψ φορ πολιχ− πλαχε, ηε χαυτιονσ. Τοδαψ, ωε ιν Ιταλψ ιν τηε νεαρ φυτυρε, ωηερε ατιοναλ Πρεδατορ Ασ φροµ αν ινι− ινγ ιτσ οων αιρσπαχε φροµ 2018. νεεδ το µακε α δεχισιον τηατ ωε τηεψ ωιλλ ϕοιν τηε Αµενδολα− τιαλ δεαλ φορ ⇒ ϖε ΥΑςσ ∠ ονε οφ Λιτηυανια ηασ οπερατεδ τωο νεεδ ⇒ γητερσ, ηε σαψσ. βασεδ 28τη Γρουπ, 32νδ Ωινγ: ωηιχη ωασ δεστροψεδ ιν α τραιν− Αερο ςοδοχηοδψ Λ−39ΖΑ ϕετ Λιτηυανια µεανωηιλε εξπεχτσ τηε ηοµε οφ τηε Ιταλιαν αιρ φορχε∏σ ινγ αχχιδεντ ιν 2004 ∠ ωιλλ υν− τραινερ/λιγητ ατταχκ αιρχραφτ σινχε το τακε δελιϖερψ οφ ιτσ τηιρδ ανδ ΥΑς αχτιϖιτιεσ. δεργο α σιµιλαρ υπγραδε ιν 2010. 1998, ανδ ηαδ υσεδ τηεσε φορ λαστ Αλενια Αεροναυτιχα Χ−27ϑ Τηε ιµπροϖεδ ΡΘ−1Β φεατυρεσ α Τηε εϖεντυαλ σιξ ιµπροϖεδ ΡΘ− σοµε θυιχκ ρεαχτιον αλερτ (ΘΡΑ) Σπαρταν ταχτιχαλ τρανσπορτ τηισ νεω, ινχρεασεδ σπαν ωινγ, Ραψτηε− 1Βσ ωιλλ βε ϕοινεδ εαρλψ νεξτ δεχ− δυτιεσ βεφορε εντερινγ ΝΑΤΟ ιν ψεαρ, ωιτη τηε ⇒ ρστ τωο εξαµπλεσ ον Μυλτισπεχτραλ Ταργετινγ Σψσ− αδε βψ φουρ µορε−χαπαβλε ΡΘ−9 Μαρχη 2004. Τηε αιρχραφτ αρε εξ− ηαϖινγ αλρεαδψ σεεν υσε ιν συπ− τεµ−Α ελεχτρο−οπτιχαλ/ινφραρεδ Πρεδατορ Β/ΜΘ−9 Ρεαπερσ. Τηε πεχτεδ το ρεµαιν ιν σερϖιχε υντιλ πορτ οφ ιτσ περσοννελ σερϖινγ ιν παψλοαδ ωιτη λασερ δεσιγνατορ, Ιταλιαν παρλιαµεντ αππροϖεδ τηε ατ λεαστ 2014, ηαϖινγ ρεχεντλψ υν− Αφγηανισταν. Τηε Χ−27ϑσ ηαϖε ρε− νεω οπερατιοναλ µαναγεµεντ αχθυισιτιον ιν Φεβρυαρψ 2008 ανδ δεργονε οϖερηαυλ ιν Ροµανια, πλαχεδ τηρεε λιφε−εξπιρεδ Αντονοϖ σοφτωαρε, ανδ α Ραψτηεον 3Μ αϖι− προϖιδεδ αν ινιτιαλ ⇔80 µιλλιον βυτ τηειρ συβσονιχ περφορµανχε Αν−26σ. Τηε αιρ φορχε∏σ ⇒ ρστ οφ τωο ονιχσ συιτε. Τηε ϖερσιον σηουλδ (∃111 µιλλιον) υντιλ 2011. ■ ανδ λαχκ οφ ραδαρ µακεσ τηεµ υν− Λετ Λ−410 λιγητ τρανσπορτσ ηασ αλσο ηαϖε ηιγηερ σαφετψ λεϖελσ το αλλοω συιταβλε φορ τηε αιρ πολιχινγ ρολε. ρεχεντλψ υνδεργονε µοδερνισα− υσε οϖερ δενσελψ ποπυλατεδ αρεασ. For more on unmanned air vehi- Ωηιλε χον⇒ ρµινγ σοµε χοµ− τιον, ωιτη ωορκ το υπγραδε τηε Ονε οφ τηε τηρεε αιρχραφτ το ηαϖε cles, visit fl ightglobal.com/uav µανδερ−το−χοµµανδερ ταλκσ σεχονδ το σταρτ σοον. ηαϖε βεεν ηελδ οϖερ τηε µορε χα− Τηε αιρ φορχε∏σ ηελιχοπτερ ιν− παβλε Λ−159, Λτ Χολ ςιργινιϕυσ ϖεντορψ χοµπρισεσ νινε Μιλ Μι−8 Στεποναϖι!ιυσ, χηιεφ οφ σταφφ ατ τρανσπορτσ, σιξ οφ ωηιχη αρε ιν οπ− Λιτηυανια∏σ Σιαυλιαι αιρ βασε, σαψσ ερατιοναλ χονδιτιον. Αλσο υσεδ το τηατ φορ τηε µοµεντ τηερε∏σ νο δελιϖερ σεαρχη−ανδ−ρεσχυε χοϖερ ρεαλ αµβιτιον ∠ ιτ∏σ α δρεαµ. φροµ Αλεκσοτασ ανδ Νεµιρσετα αιρ ΝΑΤΟ ηασ πλεδγεδ το χοντινυε βασεσ, παρτ οφ τηε ⇑ εετ ισ εξπεχτεδ ιτσ ΘΡΑ σερϖιχε φορ Βαλτιχ στατεσ το ⇑ ψ ον βεψονδ αν οϖερηαυλ στονια, Λατϖια ανδ Λιτηυανια πλαννεδ φορ 2017. υντιλ 2018, ωιτη δεταχηµεντ σλοτσ Τηερε αρε σοµε πλανσ το βυψ αλρεαδψ αλλοχατεδ το 2011. Ιν τηισ σοµε νεω ηελιχοπτερσ, βυτ τηερε∏σ τιµε ωε ηαϖε το σηοω ηοω ωε νο φυνδινγ φορ τηισ, σαψσ

ωιλλ τακε οϖερ τηε µισσιον φροµ Στεποναϖι!ιυσ. ■ Italian Air Force 2018, σαψσ Στεποναϖι!ιυσ. See Feature P30 The improved Predator A features a new, increased span

18 | Flight International | 2-8 June 2009 ightglobal.com COVER STORY BALTIC EXCHANGE

NATO’s dramatic CRAIG HOYLE SIAULIAI NATO in 1999 is also the fi rst commitment of its kind made by since the end of the expansion within the past ATO’s most recent expansion, in Second World War. decade to today’s 26-strong March 2004, included Baltic states Equipped with four Saab Gripen C fi ghters, , and Lithuania, the current detachment is drawn from the organisation has not been Nwhich were collectively unable to ’s 211th Tactical , defend their airspace from potential threats. home based at Cáslav, around 80km (43nm) without its challenges, The duty of providing air policing, or quick east of the nation’s capital. particularly for those reaction alert (QRA) cover for the nations’ 6.8 Two of the aircraft have been held at readi- million inhabitants fell upon the wider NATO ness to take off within 15min on a 24h, seven- entrants that lack the community, which is expected to maintain its day-a-week basis since 1 May, with the com- resources to rapidly commitment until around 2018. mitment forming part of the wider NATO Flight International visited Lithuania’s Integrated Air Defence System. Armaments transform their Soviet-era Siauliai air base as the fourteenth nation to as- carried for the Baltic mission are two Raythe- sume the Baltic QRA mission was less than on AIM-9M Sidewinder short-range air-to-air militaries with modern and three weeks into its four-month detachment at missiles and typically around 100 gun rounds predominantly Western- the site. Notably for the , the per aircraft. fi rst operational overseas deployment to have The deployment is notable not only for its supplied equipment been undertaken by its air force since joining historic-fi rst nature, but also because the

30 | Flight International | 2-8 June 2009 ightglobal.com AIR DEFENCE

L-159 advanced light combat aircraft, plus transports and helicopters. The fi rst Czech aircraft arrived at Siauliai on 30 April, with the presence to continue until the German air force takes over responsi- bility for the QRA mission on 1 September (see box). Representing the 20th period of cover to have been provided to the Baltic states, the Czech detachment has already been called upon for the fi rst time. A so-called “Alpha” scramble intercept was launched on 21 May, after a civilian aircraft was detected fl ying along the Russian-Lithuanian after de- parting . “A signal informing about an A-Scramble rang at 17:30. Our pilots were airborne at 17:41 and intercepted a German-registered aircraft at 17:50,” says Lt Col David Schreier, liaison offi cer of the Czech air policing detach- ment. Restricted from approaching within 1,000ft (305m) of the potential threat, the Gripens monitored the aircraft until it landed at Lithuania’s Klaipeda airfi eld, before they returned to Siauliai. “We learnt the day after that the aircraft had had a fl ight plan through that area, but it was not activated by the Brussels fl ight co-ordina- tion centre,” says Schreier. Typical of most recent incidents, the event was the fi rst in sev- eral months over the Baltic states: the previ- ous Danish Lockheed Martin F-16 contingent did not conduct an Alpha scramble during its entire tour of duty. US Air Force Boeing F-15s were twice launched from Siauliai between October and December 2008. Gripens are launched around 10 times a year in the Czech Republic to investigate ir- regular fl ight activity, says Míka. A total of 75 Czech personnel are partici- The Czech air force scrambled two Gripens pating in the Baltic mission, with the majority within 11min of a potential threat arising of these to be rotated half-way through the

Lt Col David Schreier/Czech air force Lt Col David commitment. The total includes eight pilots and 36 maintenance and logistics personnel at Siauliai and some personnel assigned to a Czech air force only began operating the Grip- last October, with a second site survey con- Lithuanian command and control facility at en in 2005 under a 10-year lease deal brokered ducted in February. “We are not an experi- Karmelava. via ’s Defence Materiel Administra- enced nation with sending our tactical aircraft The mission is planned to total around 290 tion (FMV). abroad,” notes Míka. fl ying hours and not more than 350 by Sep- In addition, despite having a total of just 12 Czech personnel and Gripens had previ- tember, with the latter limit having been es- Gripen Cs and two D-model operational train- ously been deployed to Norway, Poland and tablished to avoid adversely affecting opera- ers, the service is providing parallel QRA Turkey for training, and squadron personnel tions at Cáslav. The air force usually has eight cover for the Czech Republic from Cáslav. performed a six-month work-up ahead of the of its 12 Gripen Cs ready for operations each “As one squadron we are supporting two Baltic deployment, following a model used by day, and detachment maintenance and logis- QRAs, so you can imagine the people are busy Czech military personnel deployed to Afghan- tics offi cer Maj Pavel Buchta notes: “What you now,” says Czech air force Maj Jaroslav Míka, istan and Iraq. do now, you will see the results 18 months detachment commander for the Baltic mission from now.” and also Gripen squadron commander. The EVALUATION EXERCISE The planning assumption is for the detach- fl eet logged more than 6,000 fl ight hours in its Final preparations included an air policing ment to fl y eight two-aircraft training missions fi rst three years of use, according to Saab. evaluation exercise conducted at Cáslav from – or Tactical scrambles – a week, up to a maxi- Preparations for the Lithuanian deploy- 9-13 March, which assessed the unit’s stand- mum of 8h a day and 25h a week. No training ment started in February 2007, with an initial ards, techniques and procedures against sorties are fl own at weekends due to local base survey having been conducted later the NATO guidelines. The process included sup- noise restrictions, although the 15min QRA same year. Materiel preparation work began port from Czech air force Aero Vodochody cover is maintained.

ightglobal.com 2-8 June 2009 | Flight International | 31 COVER STORY

As its existing Gripen deal only covers the TRAINING support of aircraft operating at their home SMALL FLEET KEEPS MISSIONS IN CHECK base, Prague has signed a supplemental deal with the FMV to enable its Baltic duties. This covers some additional spare parts, line re- placeable units and ground support equip- ment delivered to the Czech Republic, from where one logistics fl ight is performed to Siauliai each week using an air force Antonov An-26 transport.

Geoffrey Lee Plane Focus Geoffrey “Our main ground support equipment and resources are at our home base, and we had to be prepared to fl y from an almost bare base,” says Buchta, who describes the mission as “the biggest challenge in my career”. Around 80% of the squadron’s equipment arrived in Lithuania by road, while more sen- sitive and hazardous supplies, such as ammu- nition and missiles, were fl own in by An-26. “We have limited airlift resources in the Czech Republic, which is not so good for a detach- ment abroad,” says Buchta. However, its air

Craig Hoyle/Flight International Craig Hoyle/Flight force will later this year receive the fi rst of four All efforts are now focused on air-to-air skills using weapons including the AIM-9M Sidewinder Airbus Military C-295 transports under a deal announced during May. THE CZECH air force’s deploy- our training capability.” . However, ment of four Saab Gripen C In a bid to redress any train- Míka says no decisions have MAINTENANCE WORK  ghters to provide air defence ing penalty incurred by mount- been made yet with regard to Minor maintenance and repairs are conducted for the Baltic states has high- ing the parallel QRA duties, the the squadron’s aspiration. at Siauliai, while larger activity, such as tech- lighted the abilities of a former squadron will from September But in a move which would nical services scheduled after every 200 fl ight Warsaw Pact military to trans- participate in two exercises: support future such deploy- hours and lasting between four and six weeks, form itself for the demands of  rstly hosting Lockheed Martin ments, Czech pilots will under- are conducted in the Czech Republic. NATO, but also exposed the F-16s from the Texas Air take air-to-air refuelling training The aircraft had logged 72h in 48 sorties by limitations of having a small National Guard at Cáslav, and during 2010. “The ambition for 19 May, and Míka says: “We haven’t had any eet of combat aircraft. then joining the NATO Tiger next year is air-to-air refuelling. major maintenance issues; we keep four air- With its 12 Gripen Cs cur- Meet at Kleine Brogel air base Then the ambition can rise,” craft in fl ying condition.” He praises the Grip- rently required to deliver quick in Belgium. says Míka. “As users we would en’s on-board diagnostics system, noting: reaction alert (QRA) cover for like to be everywhere.” four months from Lithuania’s The Czech Republic’s cur- Siauliai air base, and perma- rent aircraft are also to receive nently from their home base at Mode 4 identi cation friend-or- Cáslav, the air force is unable foe equipment and Have Quick to expand its mission beyond II secure radios from later this the air-to-air arena. year, but they are not expected Seventeen of the air force’s to receive Link 16 datalinks planned 21 Gripen pilots – the before 2015 because of cost capped limit for its 14-strong considerations.

eet, which also includes two International Craig Hoyle/Flight With a eet of just 14 D-model operational trainers “The ambition for leased Gripens, the Czech air – are now air-to-air combat next year is air-to- force is currently unable to ready and QRA-quali ed, while consider expanding its mis- the remaining four started air refuelling” sion to roles such as ground- their conversion training last MAJ JAROSLAV MÍKA attack. However, Prague is November. Czech air force 211th Tactical expected to launch a  ghter “We do not have enough Squadron commander acquisition early in the next people or airplanes to make a decade, with an outright more complex training,” says The air force also already Gripen purchase likely to be Maj Jaroslav Míka, commander has an eye on possible future among its available options. of the Czech air force’s 211th participation in a Red Flag- Asked whether the nation Tactical Squadron and detach- series exercise in the USA, with could buy suf cient aircraft to ment commander for the this possibly to be achieved by stand up a second Gripen Baltic mission. “In this four- sending Gripens as part of a squadron, Míka says: “I would month period we severely limit combined detachment with the like to have it.” ■ The Gripen detachment will continue to protect the Baltic s

32 | Flight International | 2-8 June 2009 ightglobal.com AIR DEFENCE

“Straight after landing you know what it is MODERNISATION necessary to maintain.” Some Swedish support personnel are also FROM SOVIET BASE TO NATO STAGE based at Cáslav under the lease deal, and the air force brought two of these to Siualiai at the IN ITS  fth year of continuous Douglas F-4 Phantoms through start of the detachment. But in a sign of the operation, NATO’s Baltic air December. Services will be squadron’s independence they soon returned policing service is perhaps the delivered by , Poland to the Czech Republic. “There was nothing for strongest symbol of its com- and the USA during 2010. them to do,” says Míka. “We are doing well,” mitment to augment military Siauliai is the subject of a adds Buchta. “It was good preparation, and capabilities of recent entrants major modernisation pro-

we have found solutions to problems.” Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Lee/Plane Focus Geoffrey gramme, including the con- Staged from Lithuania’s plans to deploy four struction of new parking TRAINING SCRAMBLES Siauliai air base since the Eurofi ghters later this year aprons, arming/disarming ar- Czech pilots are managing to conduct some three Baltic states gained ac- eas, a wing operations building training during Tactical scrambles, for exam- cession in March 2004, (11,400ft) main runway. and fuel storage facilities. ple fl ying with Lithuanian air force Aero Vo- NATO’s quick reaction alert Early Baltic QRA missions Being conducted using funds dochody L-39s or Mil Mi-8 transport helicop- (QRA) duty has involved the air required participating nations from the NATO security invest- ters. However, these are largely limited to forces of 14 of its other 23 to provide the bulk of support ment programme, the work will fl ying 2:1 scenarios, says Míka. Visiting pilots nations. Its 20th aircraft de- services themselves, including also overhaul its current QRA are also making use of the mission’s protected tachment, with four Czech air meteorological forecasts and taxiway, parking apron and airspace over the Baltic Sea, which offers a force Saab Gripen Cs, began  re ghting cover. However, temporary shelters. different training experience to the land- operating at the site on 1 May. “the only things now that are Beyond supporting the cur- locked Czech Republic. The presence of NATO  ght- left for the nations are the de- rent air policing task and do- The last Gripen will leave Lithuania on 4 ers represents a dramatic ployment, aircraft, mainte- mestic operations, the September for its 80min return fl ight to Cáslav transformation from Siauliai’s nance personnel, jet fuel and modernisation could in future – a distance of almost 1,040km (560nm). not-so-distant past: the base meals”, says 1st Lt Gedas see the site become a de- Although the detachment is stretching the was until 1992 a Soviet facility Virbukas, host nation support ployed operating base for a Czech air force’s small fl eet of fi ghters and and housed types including co-ordinator at Siauliai. squadron of allied  ghters, testing its aged air transport fl eet, the experi- Ilyushin Il-76-based A-50 air- NATO has pledged to con- air-to-air refuelling aircraft or ence is an important one for a country just a borne early warning and con- tinue its Baltic QRA commit- strategic transports, says Lt decade into its NATO experience. The detach- trol system aircraft and RSK ment until 2018, with slots Col Virginijus Steponavicius, ment is also a welcome opportunity for its MiG-29  ghters. already  lled out to 2011. The chief of staff at Siauliai. fi ghter pilots – capped at fl ying an average of The base was in 2004 ac- German air force plans to de- Infrastructure work is expected 150 fl ight hours a year at home – to taste de- quired for the Lithuanian air ploy four Euro ghters from 1 to conclude in 2011. He says ployed operational life for the fi rst time. ■ force, which today has its few- September for a two-month Supreme Headquarters Allied Next week: read our programme update on the er than 20 aircraft at the site, cover period, before replacing Powers Europe is already Gripen and its future sales prospects which boasts a 3,500m-long them with six McDonnell “waiting for this option”. ■

QUICK REACTION ALERT AIR FORCES Deployment Country Type Dates 1 Belgium F-16 April-July 2004 2 Denmark F-16 July-October 2004 3 UK Tornado F3 October 2004-January 2005 4 Norway F-16 January-March 2005 5 Netherlands F-16 April-June 2005 6 Germany F-4 July-September 2005 7 USA F-16 October-December 2005 8 Poland MiG-29 January-March 2006 9 Turkey F-16 April-July 2006 10 Mirage F1 August-November 2006 11 Belgium F-16 December 2006-March 2007 12 France Mirage 2000 April-July 2007 13 MiG-21 August-November 2007 14 Portugal F-16 November-December 2007 15 Norway F-16 December 2007-March 2008 16 Poland MiG-29 March-July 2008 17 Germany F-4 July-September 2008 18 USA F-15 October-December 2008 19 Denmark F-16 January-April 2009 20 Czech Republic Gripen C May-September 2009 21 Germany F-4, Eurofi ghter September-December 2009 Craig Hoyle/Flight International Craig Hoyle/Flight tic states until 1 September Source: Lithuanian air force

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