Comment
USAF to share more?
uring mid-November, I was fortunate
D enough to attend the biennial airshow
in Dubai (see pages 22-26) which
showed remarkable resilience in the face of
COVID-19. Managing to attract nearly 200
aircraft from the world’s leading aerospace
companies is no mean feat during these
pandemic times. Brazil, China, France, India,
Japan, Pakistan, Sweden, Russia as well as
the US were all showing off their capabilities
to the local military.
On the eve of the show, I popped along
to the Dubai International Air Chiefs (DIAC)
conference, to get a feel for what was on the
minds of the United Arab Emirates military.
Integrated multi-domain operations was a key
topic this year; in 2019, it was Iran.
Surprisingly, the USAF Chief of Air Staff,
General Charles Q Brown, was critical of the
USAF procedures, saying: “Our command
and control processes are too manual and
work too slowly. Thinking differently means
knocking down archaic policies that prevent
us from sharing data with our warfighters.
Our relationships with allies are important
— how we connect assets and how
interoperable we are as a coalition.”
He concluded by saying: “We must
harness the power of information and share.
We all should work together, and we are
approaching that turning point of change.”
Many of us know that the USAF doesn’t
like sharing the intelligence it gathers,
preferring to take but not to give, and this
is annoying many countries, particularly
in the Middle East. The US also prefers to
work with intelligence sharing systems of
its own making, like the Lockheed Martin
F-35, Boeing P-8A Poseidon, E-3 and E-7
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www.Key.Aero
Is the US unwilling to share data with the UAE’s Saab GlobalEye and what does this mean for the
American military and its international allies? Alan Warnes
AWACS, which is why the RAF always selects
American products.
So Saab’s GlobalEye, which the UAE now
operates, is probably an issue for the US
and explains why the UK never opened up
its AWACS replacement to competition to
include GlobalEye, instead opting for the E-7
Wedgetail. Before the GlobalEye had been
selected as an AEW&C solution in 2015,
Northrop Grumman had spent a decade or
so marketing the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
and Boeing was pushing the E-7 Wedgetail.
Neither company could find a way around the
US challenging arms export controls, so the
UAE went for Swedish flexibility, much to the
annoyance of America.
Maj Gen Staff Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al
Alawi, UAEAF&AD commander, declared:
“To confront the emerging new threats, there
must be access to [our partners’] information
and networks across the various air, land,
maritime, cyber and space domains. The
command and control uptick will allow the
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AirForces Monthly, ISSN 0955-7091 (USPS 6119), is
published monthly by Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 300,
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flow of information from these various routes
and sensors. Artificial intelligence will help
to push information from sensors within
seconds, but a certain level of trust has to be
achieved in order to expose the data across
the cloud. Shared data is an important
aspect of any networked system.”
It seemed Al Alawi was complaining about
the USAF’s unwillingness to work with
him, to share the likes of the latest Link 16
capabilities and not allow him access to
technologies he wanted to use. When I put
this to them, several UAE military personnel
agreed. Which is another reason why the
F-35A deal that the US and UAE are trying to
broker, has still not happened.
Alan Warnes, Group Editor-at-Large
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January 2022 // 3
Contents January 2022 #406
Features
40 32 From Harrier to Lightning
With a past history featuring the AV-8B+
Harrier II and a future with the F-35B
Lightning II, Italy’s Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati
(GRUPAER; Carrier Aircraft Squadron) has
enjoyed an exciting 30 years. Riccardo Niccoli
visited the unit at Grottaglie
38 Flocking to Glasgow
Chris Melaisi was present for the mass
arrival of world leaders and their delegations
at the COP26 international climate change
conference in Scotland and noted its effect
on the VVIP transport sector
40 On NATO’s doorstep
Zapad 2021 is the largest joint strategic
military event between Russia and Belarus,
incorporating almost 5000 individual
exercises. It saw a wide range of mobile air
operations being carried out in the territories
of both of the allied countries, as revealed by
Alexander Mladenov
46 Providing reassurance
AirForces Monthly’s Josef Campion visited
the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 409 Tactical
Fighter Squadron at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air
Base in Romania as the unit carried out
NATO enhanced air policing operations
with its CF-188A/B Hornets alongside the
Romanian Air Force
50 Air Commandos
Air Force Special Operations Command
serves as the USAF’s component of the
wider — and extremely secretive — US
Special Operations Command. Tom Kaminski
explores its evolution and platforms
62 Freeing Libya
Air Vice-Marshal Gary Waterfall (Ret'd)
provides his perspective of Operation Ellamy,
the UK’s contribution to NATO’s wider
Operation Unified Protector over Libya in
2011, telling how co-operation was key to the
success of this global mission

Above: The air assault operation at Mulino that

was conducted during Exercise Zapad 2021
included 32 Mi-8s, which were used to transport
VDV troops and their equipment around the
training range. The initial parties were delivered
via fast-roping equipment Andrey Zinchuk

Below: AC-130J, serial 17-5872, operated by

the 16th SOW’s 4th SOS, conducts a formation
flight with a Douglas C-47D Dakota, c/n 20835,
ex-USAF 43-16369, from the American Flight
Museum near Topeka, Kansas, on June 25,
2021. The restored C-47 represents AC-47B
‘Spooky 71’, USAF serial 43-48770, with the
markings of the 3rd SOS aircraft crewed by
Medal of Honor recipient, Airman 1st Class
John Levitow USAF/Master Sgt Christopher Boitz

4 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


70 Terror in the Sahel
A guerrilla war involving African, European
and insurgent forces has been raging across
a large swathe of West Africa for almost a
decade. Al J Venter, who has just returned
from spending a month embedded with a
NATO tactical air unit in Mali, outlines how the
conflict has escalated in recent months
76 Defending British skies
Jon Lake delves into the history and
structure of the UK’s Integrated Air Defence
forces and provides insight into whether they
are still capable of safeguarding the country
against larger adversaries
84 Betting on Blackjack
The Russian Ministry of Defence has been
investing heavily in the supersonic Tupolev
Tu-160, both in its existing fleet and in the
commissioning of new swing-wing bombers
in the nuclear deterrent role. Alexander
Mladenov investigates
www.Key.Aero
Regulars
03 Comment
AFM’s monthly opinion about some of
the most recent and noteworthy military
aviation topics
06 News
Stay up to date with the latest news from
air arms around the world, as compiled by
AFM’s Dave Allport and Josef Campion
• British F-35B crashes in the Mediterranean
• First Qatari Typhoon completes first flight
• Plus, five pages of reports from the
Dubai Airshow in November 2021
92 Future Focus New
Khalem Chapman outlines what
is known so far about Northrop
Grumman’s B-21 Raider, the USAF's new
long-range strategic stealth bomber, which
is set to reshape the service’s global strike
force and will complete its maiden
flight before the end of 2022
94 Attrition Report
Dave Allport gives details of the month’s
significant military aviation mishaps from
around the world
98 Next Issue
A preview of what’s on the modern military
aviation agenda in next month’s issue of
AirForces Monthly
Front Cover: Typhoons sit at the forefront
of the UK's integrated air defence set up,
manning Quick Reaction Alerts at three
bases: RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland;
RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire; and RAF
Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands. This
No 3 (Fighter) Squadron Typhoon FGR4 is
armed with four Advanced Short-Range
Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs), and would
usually be fitted with several AIM-120C
Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
(AMRAAMs) or Meteor Beyond-Visual-Range
Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs) too MOD
Crown Copyright/SAC Megan Woodhouse
Your Aviation
Destination
See page 99 SUBSC
for full details EXCLURIBER
SIVE
January 2022 // 5
NEWS Headlines

UK F-35B lost during

take-off from carrier
A UK F-35B Lightning
II assigned to No 617
Squadron ‘The Dambusters’
aboard HMS Queen
Elizabeth (R08) crashed into
the Mediterranean Sea on
the morning of November
17 while attempting to take
off from the carrier.
In a statement, the
UK MOD’s Press Office
stated that the pilot
successfully ejected from
the aircraft and “has
been safely returned to
the ship”, adding that
an investigation into the
incident has begun.
Subsequently, a leaked
video of the accident
began circulating on social
media. The footage shows
the aircraft in STOVL
(short take-off and vertical
landing) configuration with
the lift fan door open and
engine nozzle pointing
downwards attempting to
take off from the ski jump.
In the video, the F-35B
appeared to be travelling
far too slowly for take off
and the pilot ejected just
as the aircraft rolled off the
end of the ramp and fell
into the sea. The footage
appears to match earlier
claims that the pilot could
not gain enough power for
lift off, before attempting
to abort the departure and
running out of deck space.
As the jet topples into
the sea just feet in front of
ship, the pilot can be seen
ejecting from the aircraft
before it disappears out
of sight. A parachute then
emerges and sailors run
towards the edge of the
ship’s flight deck.
Based on the video
shared on social media,
the footage appears to
have been recorded from
the ship’s surveillance
camera systems by a
smartphone. The Visual
Surveillance System
onboard the carrier is
usually used to record day-
to-day operations on the
flight deck as well as in
any investigation.
In a statement to AFM,
an MOD spokesperson
said: "We are aware
of a video circulating
online. It is too soon to
comment on the potential
causes of this incident.
The recovery efforts are
ongoing and the Defence
Accident Investigation
Branch will report back
their preliminary findings
in due course." The MOD
confirmed that attempts to
retrieve the F-35B from the
sea are ongoing.
The cause of the crash
is yet to be officially
confirmed, although
sources suggest the
incident was as a result of
an engine blank being left
in. There are unconfirmed
suggestions it may have
been pushed down inside
the intake, meaning that it
would not have been seen
during pre-flight checks
by the ground crew and a
walk round by the pilot.
This was the first loss of a
UK F-35B, 24 having now
been delivered (see page
10). There were eight on
the carrier at the time of
the accident, although one
has since been returned
to RAF Marham, Norfolk.
The latter was ZM154
‘020’, callsign ‘RRR9751’,
which returned to its
home base on November
24. It was then due to be
used for planned routine
engineering assessment
and to determine the likely
maintenance requirements
for the remaining F-35Bs
when they return in
December after seven
months at sea.

Right: A UK F-35B Lightning II gets airborne from HMS

Queen Elizabeth on June 9, 2020, during trials from the
carrier. It was at this point on November 17 when one of
the UK F-35Bs rolled off the end of the ski jump and fell
into the sea MOD Crown Copyright/LPhot Luke

6 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


Qatar Typhoon first flight
THE RAPID and extensive
modernisation of the Qatar
Emiri Air Force (QEAF)
took another step forward
on November 25 when
the first QEAF Eurofighter
Typhoon ZR505/MS001
lifted off from the BAE
Systems runway at Warton,
Lancashire.
This was the first of
a QEAF order for 24
Typhoons. The initial
Letter of Intent (LOI) to
purchase Typhoons was
signed in Doha during late
September 2017 followed
by a firm £5.1 billion
contract in December
2017. This extended
contract was to purchase
a package of 24 Typhoons,
six Hawk Mk 167s (later
amended to nine) and
a substantial six–year
availability support and
training package. Of the
24 Typhoons to be built,
no official confirmation has
yet been released of the
exact numbers of single-
seat or two-seat variants
on order, although it is
believed the breakdown
may be 18 single-seat
and six two-seat versions.
Included in the contract
is a substantial weapons
package which comprised
Brimstone and Meteor
missiles and Paveway IV
laser guided bombs.
The Production Flight
Acceptance Test 1 (PFAT1)
of ZR505 was also the first
Gripen E hand-overs to Brazil and Sweden
SAAB HAS begun
deliveries of the series
production Gripen E with
hand-over of the first six
aircraft, comprising four to
the Força Aérea Brasileira
(FAB – Brazilian Air Force)
and two to the Swedish
Air Force. An official event
took place on November
24 at Saab’s facility in
Linköping, Sweden.
The FAB Commander,
Lieutenant Brigadier of
the Air, Carlos de Almeida
Baptista Junior, accepted
the four Brazilian aircraft in
www.Key.Aero
UK assembled Typhoon to
be fitted with the Leonardo
European Common Radar
Standard Mk 0 radar
(ECSR Mk 0), although
for this flight, it is unlikely
the fully commissioned
radar was fitted or if it
is to be retrofitted at
a later date once full
testing is complete. This
particular electronically
scanning radar is the
only version of its type
fitted to a mechanically
moving swashplate which
allows the radar to ‘see’
beyond the 90° left/right of
competitor versions.
The ECRS Mk 0 is itself
one of three variants of
this design currently under
development for Typhoon,
with Mk 0 to be fitted
to the airframes being
Above: The first Qatar Emiri Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, ZR505/MS001, kicks in its afterburners before powering down the
runway at Warton, Lancashire, for its maiden flight on November 25 Derek Bower
the ceremony at Linköping,
when the single-seat
FAB variant was officially
designated the F-39E.
It’s unclear when the four
aircraft will be delivered
to Brazil, but its likely two
will be shipped to Brazil
before the end of the year
to join Embraer’s flight test
centre at Gavião Peixoto to
join the current test aircraft
(4100) in the test and
development campaign.
The second pair will be the
first to be delivered to 1°
Grupo de Defensa Aérea/
delivered to Kuwait and
Qatar. A different ECRS
Mk 1 version is expected
to be fitted to the German,
Spanish and Italian aircraft,
while a more advanced
ECRS Mk 2 version
focussing more on the
electronic warfare aspect
is under development
and expected to become
available in around 18/24
months. This technically
more advanced version
will initially be retrofitted
to the Royal Air Force’s 40
Tranche 3 airframes and
then possibly fitted into the
Tranche 2 airframes.
ZR505 was seen fitted
with what appears to be
two blade aerials, one
each side of the vertical
stabiliser. This feature, not
seen on any previously
Ala 2 at Base Aérea de
Anápolis, to replace the
F-5EM/FM Tiger IIs.
The FAB will receive 28
JAS-39E and eight dual-
Above: The first production Brazilian Air Force Saab F-39E Gripen, serial 4101, among a line-up
of new production aircraft for Brazil and Sweden during the hand-over ceremony at Linköping,
Sweden, on November 24 Saab
Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com
delivered Typhoon, may
be an element of the latest
Phase 3 Enhancements
Package b (P3Eb) standard
fitted to both Kuwait and
Qatar Typhoons.
On the day of the first
flight, departure was timed
to coincide with the arrival
at Warton of a Qatari
Government and Air Force
delegation headed by His
Excellency Dr Khalid Al
Attiyah, the Qatar Minister
of State for Defence Affairs
and Deputy Prime Minister,
who the day before, had
also visited the newly
re-formed QEAF No 11
Squadron at RAF Leeming
(see page 10). The visitors
were briefed on progress
of the Typhoon and
Hawk Mk 167 production
followed by a tour of the
seat JAS-39F Gripens, the
initial 13 being produced
by Saab, while the
remainder will undergo final
assembly in Brazil. Sweden
assembly facilities.
As usual with new-
build aircraft leaving the
production line at Warton,
ZR505 flew its PFAT1 in
its yellow primer paint
and will continue its PFAT
programme in primer as
speculation continues
on the final customer
markings. However, a
BAE Systems computer
generated image of the
proposed scheme was
passed to AirForces
Monthly showing the final
scheme to be similar to the
two-tone grey marks worn
by the QEAF’s now retired
Dassault Mirage 2000-
5EDAs. First delivery into
the country for the QEAF
Typhoons is planned for
the last quarter of 2022.
Derek Bower
is acquiring 60 single-seat
JAS39E, with F7 Wing at
Såtenås being the first
Swedish Air Force unit to
receive the Gripen E.
January 2022 // 7
NEWS
Sentinel gains new
lease of life
THE UK Ministry of
Defence (MOD) has
confirmed that the Royal
Air Force’s (RAF) retired
fleet of Sentinel R1
intelligence, surveillance,
target acquisition and
reconnaissance (ISTAR)
aircraft is to be sold to a
US-based consortium,
instead of being scrapped.
This is due to the sales bid
UK expands Texan RAF refuels Qatari
training capacity Rafales for the first time
AFFINITY FLYING
Training Services has
been awarded a contract
worth some £65m
from the UK Ministry
of Defence (MOD) for
the operation of four
additional Beechcraft
T-6C Texan IIs under
the UK Military Flying
Training System (MFTS)
programme.
The contract, which was
announced by Affinity
on November 8, follows
the acquisition of four
additional T-6Cs from
Textron Aviation Defense,
which have been kept in
a state of readiness since
8 // January 2022
United Kingdom
An RAF-operated Sentinel R1 ISTAR
aircraft from No 5 (Army Co-operation)
Squadron at RAF Waddington,
Lincolnshire, undergoes an engine
test as part of routine maintenance
while deployed at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus,
on March 11, 2019. The aircraft was
operating from the base in support
of Operation Shader MOD Crown
Copyright/Cpl Tim Laurence
being deemed to be more commercially sensitive.” The five-strong Sentinel lease of life with its new
value for money to the UK This confirmation came R1 fleet had been operator will be installed.
taxpayer than the original after a report by the stripped of its hardware in Based on an extensively
fate of scrapping. UK Defence Journal on preparation for scrapping, modified Bombardier
In November, an MOD November 17 that the but work to make the Global Express ultra-
spokesperson confirmed MOD had accepted a joint fleet airworthy again has long-range business jet,
to AFM that a sales bid from Raytheon USA/ reportedly begun and will the Sentinel R1 fleet –
agreement to deliver Bombardier to make the allow all five aircraft to be operated by No 5 (Army
Sentinel airframes to a aircraft airworthy again, flown to the US, where Co-operation) Squadron
consortium had been before being delivered it is believed the mission at RAF Waddington,
signed, adding: “Details to the US Army – the hardware required for Lincolnshire – was retired
of the agreement are rumoured end-customer. the Sentinel R1’s second on March 31, 2021.
they arrived at RAF Valley
in Anglesey, Wales, on
October 30, 2020.
These aircraft will be
predominately employed
from the company’s
facility at RAF Valley,
where they will join the
ten Texans already in
operation. Known as
the Texan T1 in UK
service, the fleet is used
to support the training
of future fast-jet pilots,
who are currently going
through the Basic Flying AN AIRBUS A330-243MRTT Voyager KC2 from the Royal Air Force’s Nos 10/101 Squadron
at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, has conducted air-to-air refuelling (AAR) missions with
Training (BFT) phase of Dassault Rafale DQ/EQ multi-role fighters from the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF). These AAR
the UK MFTS syllabus missions were completed as part of the week-long Exercise Galway in Qatar and marked
with the Royal Air Force’s the first time the RAF had conducted AAR operations with any QEAF assets. The Voyager
No 72 Squadron. KC2 involved in the sorties is assigned to the 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, which is currently
deployed to the region in support of Operation Shader, as part of the 83rd Expeditionary Air
Group at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar UK MOD Crown Copyright
www.Key.Aero
 Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com

New aircraft plus upgrade

for Shadow ISTAR fleet
A Typhoon FGR4 belonging to No 12 Squadron arrives at THE SIX-strong fleet
Thumrait Air Base in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate early in of RAF Shadow R1
the evening of November 4, 2021, for Exercise Magic Carpet intelligence, surveillance,
MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Tom Cann
target acquisition and
reconnaissance (ISTAR)
Typhoons deploy for aircraft is set to be
R1 fleet is operated by
No 14 Squadron from
RAF Waddington in
Lincolnshire. This latest
contract will see two
new aircraft acquired,
will be re-designated as
Shadow R2s. The first
upgraded aircraft is due to
be delivered to the RAF in
June 2023, with the final
example handed over by

live-fire exercise in Oman increased and upgraded,

THE ROYAL AIR Force’s
Eurofighter Typhoon
FGR4s deployed to
Thumrait Air Base
in Oman’s Dhofar
Governorate in early
November to participate
in the annual bilateral
Exercise Magic Carpet
with the Royal Air Force
of Oman (RAFO).
The aircraft – which
hail from No 2 (Army
Co-operation) Squadron
at RAF Lossiemouth
in Moray, Scotland,
and No 12 Sqn at RAF
Coningsby, Lincolnshire
– deployed to the Omani
base for the two-week
exercise. These multi-role
fighters were supported
by an RAF-operated
Airbus A330-243MRTT
Voyager KC2 from No
10/101 Sqn at RAF Brize
Norton, Oxfordshire,
which provided air-to-air
refuelling for the duration
of the deployment. The
Voyager also transferred
300 personnel to Oman.
Exercise Magic Carpet
saw the RAF and RAFO
work in collaboration
to deliver air-to-air and
air-to-ground combat
training to pilots from
both air forces. RAF
Joint Terminal Attack
Controllers also deployed
to Oman to co-ordinate
live air-to-surface fires
from the Typhoons.
following the awarding
of a £110m contract to
Raytheon UK by the UK
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
on November 3.
Based on an extensively
modified Beechcraft
King Air 350CER
airframe, the Shadow
increasing the overall fleet
size to eight examples.
the end of 2025.
Gp Capt Shaun Gee,
Raytheon UK will also RAF Shadow Programme
integrate upgraded Senior Responsible
airborne defence Owner, said the MOD
systems onto the existing investment in the Shadow
Shadow R1s to enhance fleet would provide “a key
survivability in unfriendly capability as part of the
scenarios. Following this RAF’s next-generation
upgrade, the existing R1s air force”.
The RAF’s Beechcraft Shadow R1
fleet will be increased to eight aircraft
and will receive new airborne defence
systems, via Raytheon UK. This
aircraft is taxiing at its home base,
RAF Waddington MOD Crown
Copyright/SAC Frankie Ling

USAFE Panthers end Business jets to

long deployment
AIRMEN FROM the 494th
Fighter Squadron (FS)
‘Panthers’ – a component
of the US Air Force 48th
Fighter Wing – returned to
RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk,
October 26 to November
1, having completed an
eight-month deployment in
Southwest Asia.
Conducting flights
with their Boeing F-15E
Strike Eagles from an
undisclosed location in
US Central Command’s
(CENTCOM) area of
responsibility, the
‘Panthers’ had generated
more than 1,900 sorties,
totalling over 8,400 flight
hours, while performing
combat operations in
support of Operation
Inherent Resolve. The unit
also flew other missions
in support of Operations
Final Countdown and
Allies Welcome while
deployed to the theatre.
The 494th FS forward
deployed to a separate,
undisclosed location
in less than 24 hours
to support Operation
Allies Welcome. The
unit’s F-15Es supported
one of the largest airlift
operations in history,
with the world watching
as the US-led coalition
USAF aircrew of the 494th FS ‘Panthers’ exit an F-15E Strike
Eagle after returning to RAF Lakenheath from Southwest
Asia, October 26, 2021 USAF/Airman 1st Class Jacob Wood
scrambled to evacuate
their nationals and Afghan
civilians from Kabul,
Afghanistan.
On August 21, a pair of
494th FS F-15Es were
scrambled to shoot
down a UAV – operated
by Iranian forces – that
was approaching the US
Army Mission Support
Site Green Village in Deir
Ez-Zor, Syria.
replace BAe 146s
TWO CIVIL-sourced
business jets are being
sought by the UK
Ministry of Defence to
replace the Royal Air
Force’s current fleet of
four British Aerospace
(BAe) 146 transport
aircraft. The contract is
valued at up to £87.5m.
The RAF’s BAe 146
fleet – which comprises
two CC2 VVIP transports
and a pair of C3 tactical
airlifters, both of which
are operated by No 32
(The Royal) Squadron
from RAF Northolt in
London – is scheduled
to be retired from
operational service in the
first quarter of 2022.
In a contract availability
notice (published on
November 3), it was
revealed that the
project – known as the
Command Support Air
Transport Recapitalisation
(CSAT Recap) programme
– will include a Phase 1
competitive procurement
of two business jets by
March 31, 2022, with
an in-service support
package that will run until
March 31, 2024.
Additionally, half a dozen
six-month option periods
– totalling three years –
will be included in the
contract, which will cover
the continuation of Phase
1 in-service support,
as required.
The two business jets
will be initially operated
through a government-
owned, contractor-
operated structure,
providing civilian pilots,
maintenance support and
services under the UK’s
Civil Aircraft Register.

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 9

NEWS United Kingdom

Identity revealed for joint

students, while QEAF
personnel will continue to
train Qatari fast-jet pilots.
It was also announced

QEAF-British Hawk unit that the programme will

In a ceremony at RAF
Leeming on November
24, it was announced
that the QEAF-British
Hawk training squadron
being established at the
Yorkshire base will be
known as 11 Squadron
(Qatar). It can be assumed
– as the backdrop to the
presentation was ZB134/
Q04; wearing the unit’s
provide eight QEAF pilots
and six weapons systems
operators (unlike the
RAF, the QEAF still has
this requirement) each
year. From late 2022, the
package will include 770
flying hours to qualify four
RAF pilots every year.
While the first Hawk
Mk167 airframe assembly
was taking place at BAE
Warton in Lancashire during
2018, three RAF stations
were being considered
as the host base for
the joint British-Qatari
Hawk training unit: RAF
Coningsby, Lincolnshire;
Above: BAE Systems Hawk Mk167 (serial ZB133/Q03) was one of the first two examples
RAF Valley and RAF
delivered to RAF Leeming. This aircraft arrived with ZB131/Q01 at the North Yorkshire base
from BAE Warton, Lancashire, on September 1, 2021. Derek Bower Leeming. The latter was
Left: The QEAF’s No 11 Squadron badge as seen on the Hawk Mk167 (serial ZB134/Q04) selected and infrastructure
during the presentation at RAF Leeming on November 24 Derek Bower work started at the North
badge – that all the Qatari to nine aircraft – with at Valley”, he was now Yorkshire base, including
Hawks will eventually be deliveries mid-2021. A “completely satisfied with establishment of two new
seen with the insignia. further amendment to the RAF Valley performance, Mk167 simulators (via
The squadron’s identity the package would also and training potential fast-jet CAE Canada).
continues the QEAF’s include RAF student pilots pilots at Leeming will give The first two Hawk
association with No 11 training alongside their me another option”. Mk167s – serials ZB131/
Sqn in the training role – it QEAF counterparts. He added that operations Q01 and ZB133/Q03
had been a training/light To some observers, this at Leeming will have – were delivered from
attack support squadron addition put doubt into the no impact on the pilot Warton directly to RAF
operating six Dassault- performance output of the throughput at Valley. Leeming on September 1,
Dornier Alpha Jets. Ascent training package During the presentation, wearing QEAF markings
To train next-generation of No 4 Squadron at RAF it was also confirmed but minus any squadron
fast-jet pilots, the QEAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales. that BAE personnel will identity. Rumours began as
entered a six-year contract But during a presentation initially manage and deliver to which number plate the
with BAE Systems in 2018 to QEAF guests at RAF the training before the joint squadron would wear.
to provide a training and Leeming on November 24, UK MOD takes over the The fifth Hawk (ZB135/
sustainability package, ACM Sir Mike Wigston, programme governance Q05) to leave Warton was
initially for six Hawk RAF Chief of the Air Staff, with RAF instructors in late- at the time wearing an
Mk167 advanced jet told AFM that “after past 2022. These instructors will unidentified unit badge on
trainers – later increased well-documented problems provide training to British its tail. Derek Bower

Celebrating 90 years of combined ops Three further

F-35Bs delivered
A TRIO OF Lockheed
Martin F-35B Lightning II
fifth-generation multi-
role stealth fighters have
arrived in-country.
The three additional
aircraft are serials ZM156
‘022’ (c/n BK022), ZM157
‘023’ (c/n BK023) and
A JOINT flight with both specially painted Chinook HC6 (ZD984) and Puma HC2 (XW224) ZM158 ‘024’ (c/n BK024).
helicopters took place on November 25 to celebrate the combined 90 years of service between
the aircraft. The Puma force – headquartered at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire – celebrates 50 They arrived on October
years of service, while the Chinook force – based at RAF Odiham, Hampshire – has clocked 28 at RAF Marham,
up 40 years of operational service. Each aircraft’s paint scheme was commissioned to Norfolk – the home of
commemorate the significant anniversaries of their entry-into-service with the Royal Air Force. No 617 Squadron ‘The
The Chinook force is set to continue operationally for the foreseeable future, while the Puma
fleet is scheduled to be retired in 2025. MOD Crown Copyright/Cpl Tim Laurence
Dambusters’. This
delivery increased the
UK’s Lightning Force to
24 aircraft.
However, this figure
was reduced to 23
examples on November
17, when one of the
F-35Bs that had been
deployed aboard HMS
Queen Elizabeth (R08),
crashed while attempting
to take off from the
aircraft carrier.

10 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

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NEWS Europe

First German C-130J

makes maiden flight
LOCKHEED MARTIN has
flown the first C-130J-30
Super Hercules for the
German Luftwaffe. The
aircraft, 55+01 (c/n 5930),
made its maiden flight
from Marietta, Georgia, on
November 8. It had rolled
out of the paint shop at
Marietta in its German
colours on August 21 –
see ‘First Luftwaffe C-130J
painted’, October, p14. The
aircraft, which is due for
delivery in 2022, is one six
German aircraft that will be
delivered to the new joint
Franco-German unit at
Base Aérienne 105 Evreux-
Fauville, France.
The German component
of the unit will comprise
three C-130J-30s and
three KC-130J tankers.
The French Armée de l’Air
et de l’Espace (French
Air and Space Force)
contribution to the unit
will comprise two C-130J-
30s and two KC-130Js.

The first German Luftwaffe C-130J-30 Super Hercules,

55+01, takes to the air for the first time from the
factory in Marietta, Georgia Bundeswehr

Spanish A330 MRTT US RC-12X passes

conversion contract
AIRBUS DEFENCE
and Space announced
on November 12 that
the Spanish Ministry
of Defence had signed
a formal order for the
acquisition of three Airbus
A330 Multi-Role Tanker
Transport (MRTT) aircraft.
The first aircraft has
already been completed
in basic transport
configuration (see ‘First
Spanish Air Force A330’,
December, p14) and was
formally handed over
to the Ejercito del Aire
(Spanish Air Force) on
November 30, barely
two weeks after the
announcement. It will
be converted to MRTT
configuration in 2024.
The handover of the first
fully MRTT configured
through Wiesbaden
aircraft is scheduled for
2023 and the third is to
be delivered by 2025.
The contract includes
spares, ground support
equipment, training
and in service support.
The aircraft are being
acquired from Spanish
flag carrier, Iberia.
They will be converted
at Airbus’ facility in
Getafe, Spain, with
a hose and drogue
refuelling system and
medevac kit, and
operated by Grupo 45’s
Escuadron 452, which
flies the Falcon 900B US Army RC-12X 93-00697 ‘Rail 13’ operated by B Company, 3rd Military Intelligence
and A310-304 for Battalion, at Camp Humphries in South Korea, taxies out for departure from Wiesbaden
transport missions. Air Base, Germany, on November 15 to Souda Bay, Greece. The aircraft had arrived on
November 9 from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Scotland, on its way back to its unit after
heavy maintenance in the US Dalibor Ankovic

12 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


Croatia signs German A321 takes flight
Rafale deal
with France
AFTER SELECTING the
Dassault Rafale F3-R as
the winner of its Multi-
Role Fighter Aircraft
contest, the Croatian
government has officially
signed an acquisition
agreement with its
French counterpart and
will become the third
European nation to equip
itself with the type.
Signing of the
agreement, valued at
€999m, was announced
by French Minister for the
Armed Forces, Florence
Parly, on November 25.
The deal was signed
during French President
Emmanuel Macron’s
visit to Croatian capital,
Zagreb. Croatia had
announced on May 28
that it would purchase
12 second-hand Rafale
F3-Rs from France –
see ‘Croatia to buy 12
second-hand Rafales’,
July, p6.
These will replace its
ageing fleet of Soviet-era
MiG-21bis-D/UMD
fighters, which currently
comprises just eight
airframes. These
upgraded fighters entered
operational service with
the the Croatian Air Force
and Air Defence in 2003.
The second-hand
Rafales will be sourced
from the Armée de l'Air et
de l'Espace (AAE, French
Air and Space Force),
before being upgraded
to F3-R standard
and handed over to
the Croatian military.
Payments for the aircraft
will be made in a series of
instalments. Parly added
that these French aircraft
will “be replaced by new
aircraft, which will be
ordered from 2023”.
The first six Rafales
are scheduled to be
delivered to the Croatian
www.Key.Aero
Air Force and Air Defence
in 2024, followed by the
remaining six airframes
in 2025. The Croatian
MiG-21 fleet’s service
life is due to expire in
2024, highlighting the
importance of getting
the new fighter fleet into
operational service as
quickly as possible.
Croatia had been
seeking a new multi-role
fighter since 2015, but the
process was repeatedly
delayed. In 2018, the
Croatian government was
set to acquire 12 surplus
Lockheed Martin F-16C/D
Fighting Falcons (ten
single-seat F-16Cs and a
pair of two-seat F-16Ds)
from Israel, but the deal
was blocked by the
US in December 2018
and was cancelled in
January 2019.
The country
subsequently relaunched
its search for a new
platform under the Multi-
Role Fighter Aircraft
programme on July 4,
2019. While the French
Rafale bid was selected
in the end, Croatia was
also offered new-build
F-16C/D Block 70s by
the US; new Saab JAS-
39C/D Gripens from
Sweden and second-
hand F-16C/D Block 30s
by Israel.
In addition to the 12
second-hand Rafales,
the deal also includes a
flight simulator, a basic
weapons package,
ground and test
equipment, spares/repair
parts, personnel training
and comprehensive
support for a three-
year period. A 12-month
warranty on each
aircraft, engine and other
equipment or parts has
also been included.
Khalem Chapman
Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com
THE BUNDESWEHR made its maiden flight. The fully painted in military
announced on November
5 that the first of two
Airbus A321-251NXneos
aircraft, 15+10 (c/n 10613),
test registration D-AVXU,
took flight for the first time
markings.
Acceptance of both
aircraft was anticipated
for the Luftwaffe had on October 26, already within a matter of weeks.
A contract for the two
aircraft had been signed
with Lufthansa Technik
on July 8, 2020. Before
entering service they will
be modified by Lufthansa
Technik with additional
fuel tanks, a VIP cabin
and the ability to be
Above The first A321-271NX for the Luftwaffe, 16+10/D-AVXU, converted into a medevac
takes off for its maiden flight on October 26 Bundeswehr configuration.
Slovenia to purchase
a C-27J from Italy
A GOVERNMENT-to- scheduled to be delivered UVP Turbolet.
government agreement to Slovenia in 2023. This need is despite the
was signed on November The deal was signed by country receiving medium
17 between Slovenia Italy’s Minister of Defence, and heavy strategic airlift
and Italy which will Lorenzo Guerini, and the either from the C-17As
see Slovenia procure a Slovenian Minister, Matej of NATO Strategic Airlift
Leonardo C-27J Spartan Tonin. Capability (SAC) at Pápa
tactical transport aircraft This agreement comes Air Base in Hungary, or via
from Italy. With a value of after a long evaluation for the NATO Strategic Airlift
€72m, the agreement also a medium airlifter by the International Solution
includes the provision of Slovenian Government, (SALIS) programme.
flight training to Slovenian this requirement being The C-27J originally
aircrew and maintenance highlighted through the came in second place to
services from Italy. COVID-19 pandemic with the Airbus C295 in 2008,
Funded by the 2021 and the country struggling when Slovenia ordered
2022 Slovenian defence to rely on its light cargo two Airbus C295s but the
budgets, the aircraft is aircraft, the Let L-410 deal never materialised.
New colour scheme
for police UH-139E
The third UH-139E (AW139) for the Italian Police, PS-119/CSX82034 (c/n 31956), in a new
colour scheme, during a pre delivery test flight from Venegono, Italy, on October 6. It will
be delivered to 3° Reparto Volo di Bologna, following on from delivery of the first two to 2°
Reparto Volo at Milano/Malpensa and to 10° Reparto Volo of Venezia. The first eight were
UH-139C variants, delivered in 2013 and 2014 Oscar Bernardi
January 2022 // 13
NEWS Europe

Final WTD61 Transall flight

GERMAN LUFTWAFFE at Manching, has made Army’s resident School for German Transall, as the Lufttransportgeschwader
(Air Force) Transall its final flight. After Airborne Troops. On arrival, type was scheduled 63 (Air Transport Wing
C160D 50+86, the last completing one last the aircraft was welcomed to be withdrawn from 63). At time of print,
of the type operated mission as a trials aircraft, by a water cannon salute. service on December 50+79 was due to make
by Wehrtechnische on November 23 it was This was the first time a 31, 2021. Retirement of its final flight and be
Dienststelle 61 (WTD61, flown to Altenstadt, where Transall had landed at the this aircraft leaves just ferried to Zweibrücken,
Bundeswehr Technical it will be decommissioned airfield since 1976. five active Transalls in where a private investor
Center for Aircraft and and dismantled for use as The flight also marked Luftwaffe service, all plans to convert it to a
Aeronautical Equipment) an exhibit at the German one of the last by a based at Hohn with hotel called the Trallotel.

Luftwaffe/WTD61 Transall C160D 50+86 makes

a low flypast over Altenstadt Airfield before
landing after its final flight on November 23
Bundeswehr/Andrea Rippstein

Serbia
signs LOI
Italian F-35Bs cross-deck
with Spain
for a pair
on HMS Queen Elizabeth
ROYAL NAVY aircraft
of C295s carrier HMS Queen
Elizabeth (R08) welcomed
A LETTER of Intent (LOI) F-35B Lightning IIs from
was signed in Madrid on both the Italian Marina
November 4, declaring Militare (Italian Navy)
the commitment of and Aeronautica Militare
the Serbian Ministry of Italiana (Italian Air Force)
Defence (MoD) to procure during a cross-deck
two Airbus C295 military exercise with the Italian
transport aircraft, and aircraft carrier ITS Cavour
the commitment of the (550) on November 21.
Spanish MoD to provide During the exercise,
support and assistance multiple US Marine
during the procurement. Corps/VMFA-211 F-35Bs
This signing came after departed HMS Queen
Serbian defence minister Elizabeth for the Cavour
Nebojša Stefanovic and and, in exchange, Italy
his Spanish counterpart, sent two of its F-35Bs
Margarita Robles, over to the UK carrier.
discussed enhancing Sailors aboard HMS
defence co-operation Queen Elizabeth refuelled Italian Air Force F-35B Lightning II MM7453 ‘32-14’ from 32° Stormo/13° Gruppo at Amendola
between the two and relaunched the Italian prepares to launch from HMS Queen Elizabeth on November 21, during a cross-deck exercise
countries. The LOI came jets as well as USMC MOD Crown Copyright/LPhot Unaisi Luke
less than a month after F-35Bs and a UK 617
Stefanovic announced Squadron F-35B. The jets flight deck. The Italian the F-35, which is the flew off to Rota, Spain,
Serbia’s plans to buy from the three nations jets were the first from a same variant as the UK from where they too will
two C295s on the first then flew interoperability European NATO partner and USMC jets that were head home. On the same
day of the Partner 2021 training flights in the area to be hosted by the UK aboard the UK carrier. day, the first UK F-35B left
defence exhibition, held of the two carriers. flagship. Italy is also The Queen Elizabeth is the carrier to return to RAF
in Belgrade in October. Italy is the third allied the only other NATO- now finally heading home. Marham, Norfolk, with the
Igor Bozinovski nation to operate from partnered nation to On November 24, the ten remaining UK aircraft due
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s operate the B variant of USMC F-35Bs on board to follow in December.

14 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

NEWS North America
Six more US
Special Ops
MH-47Gs
CENTCOM upgrades
are ordered
BOEING HAS been
awarded a contract to
supply an additional
to Super Herk
DURING A re-designation area of responsibility. departed from Ali Al is continuing its C-130
six MH-47G Block II ceremony at Ali Al These missions in support Salem on November 6. operations, the 908th AW
Chinook helicopters by Salem Air Base, Kuwait, of Operation Inherent Latterly, the 779th EAS will be transitioning away
US Special Operations on November 2, the Resolve have been taken comprised of aircrew from the tactical airlift
Command. The US Air Force/386th Air over by the newer model and C-130Hs deployed world and re-missioning in
$212,629,000 cost-plus Expeditionary Wing’s C-130J-30 Super Hercules from the 908th AW as April. As such, this is the
fixed fee and firm-fixed- 779th Expeditionary Airlift operated by the 61st EAS. the AFRC component last C-130 deployment for
price modification to an Squadron (EAS) was The final C-130H and the 166th AW from the 908th AW.”
existing delivery order formally re-designated as assigned to the 779th Wilmington, Delaware, The newly rotated
contract was awarded to the 61st EAS. The 779th EAS, serial number as the Air National Guard C-130J-30s and crew
the US manufacturer on EAS had operated the 89-9103 from Air Force component. members are deployed
November 24. legacy C-130H Hercules Reserve Command’s USAF Maj Bryan Powell, from the 19th AW/61st AS
In addition to the on airlift tactical order (AFRC’s) 908th Airlift 779th EAS assistant ‘Green Hornets’ at Little
procurement of six operations in US Central Wing (AW) at Maxwell Air director of operations, Rock Air Force Base in
MH-47Gs for US Army Command’s (CENTCOM) Force Base, Alabama, said: “While the 166th AW Arkansas.
Special Operations
Aviation Command, the
deal also includes eight
spare shipsets.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2021
procurement and aircraft
procurement, US Army,
funds are financing the
acquisition.
This covers all six that
were requested and
approved in the FY21
budget. Deliveries are
due to begin in 2023.
These helicopters will
be the first to include
the new Active Parallel
Actuator Subsystem
(APAS), a mission
system that helps pilots
execute more difficult
Above: The final US Air Force C-130H assigned to the 779th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, serial number 89-9103, from the
manoeuvres while 908th Airlift Wing, departing from Ali Al Salem for the final time on November 6 USAF/Senior Airman Michael S Murphy
improving safety and Below: Three of the US Air Force C-130J-30s (serial numbers 11-5752, 14-5796 and 15-5828) newly deployed with the 61st
reliability of flight. Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on the ramp at AliAl Salem on October 29. The aircraft are from the 19th Airlift Wing/61st Airlift
The MH-47G Block II Squadron ‘Green Hornets’ at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas USAF/Senior Airman Michael S Murphy
also features improved
structure and weight
reduction initiatives such
as new lighter weight
fuel pods that increase
performance and
efficiency.
With this additional
order, Boeing is now
under contract to
manufacture 30 MH-47G
Block II Chinooks, four
of which have been
delivered to date.
Prior to the Block II,
Boeing delivered 72
earlier model MH-47Gs
– 62 remanufactured
CH-47Ds, MH-47Ds and
MH-47Es and ten new
build examples.

16 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

 Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com

$10.8bn
deal for F-22
Raptor fleet
First KC-46A Pegasus
LOCKHEED MARTIN
was awarded a
$10,863,000,000
indefinite-delivery/
for McGuire
A FURTHER milestone in and 19-46060 (‘PUDGY Expeditionary Center New Jersey as a preferred
indefinite-quantity contract the US Air Force KC-46A 02’), arrived at the base commander, and Brig location to receive the
on November 5 by the Pegasus programme has on November 9 from Gen Neil Richardson, KC-46A was announced
US Air Force Life Cycle been reached with delivery Boeing Field, Seattle, Air Mobility Command’s on January 12, 2017, by
Management Center of the first two aircraft to Washington. The callsigns Strategic Deterrence the Secretary of the Air
for the F-22 Program Joint Base McGuire-Dix- pay homage to Lockheed and Nuclear Integration Force.
Office’s Advanced Lakehurst (MDL), New P-38 Lightning ‘Pudgy’, Operations deputy The installation, with
Raptor Enhancement Jersey, for the 305th and which was flown by Medal director. They will be co-located operations
and Sustainment (ARES) 514th Air Mobility Wings of Honor-awarded Maj operated and maintained between active and
programme. (AMWs). These were the Thomas B McGuire (who by the 305th and 514th reserve components,
This contract provides 49th and 50th KC-46A the base was named after) AMWs and will receive expects to receive 15
support for the necessary deliveries. during World War Two. installation support from additional aircraft during
supplies and services to The aircraft, serial The aircraft were the 87th Air Base Wing. Fiscal Year 2022, with
sustain and modernise numbers 19-46057 delivered by USAF Maj Selection of Joint nine more planned for
the USAF’s F-22A fleet. (callsign ‘PUDGY 01’) Gen Mark Camerer, USAF Base MDL in FY 2023.
This will include
modernisation hardware
kit procurement and
services such as
upgrades, enhancements
and fixes, as well as
performance-based
logistics services.
If all options are
utilised, work should
be completed by
October 31, 2031. Fiscal
year 2021 research,
development, test, and
evaluation funds of
$200,000 were released
for the first delivery order US Air Force KC-46A Pegasus serial number 19-46057 (callsign ‘PUDGY 01’) on final approach to Joint Base McGuire-
Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, following its delivery flight from Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, on November 9 to join the
at the time of award. 305th/514th AMW Glidepath Photography/Carl Kruse

Louisville greets first C-130Js

DELIVERY OF THE US Air directly from the Lockheed with the California Air Guard markings and tail 24, 2021, when serial
Force/Kentucky Air National Martin production line in National Guard’s 146th bands to both aircraft prior number 91-1233 was
Guard’s (ANG) first two new Marietta, Georgia. Airlift Wing at Channel to their delivery. delivered to the Delaware
C-130J-30 Super Hercules Prior to their arrival in Islands Air Guard Station. The last of the Wing’s Air National Guard’s
to its base at Louisville Louisville, the initial pair The California unit applied C-130H-models departed 166th Airlift Wing.
Muhammad Ali International of C-130Js were based the Kentucky Air National Louisville on September. Tom Kaminski
Airport took place on
November 6. Aircraft serial
numbers 18-5919 and
18-5921 arrived to join
the 123rd Airlift Wing’s
165th Airlift Squadron (AS)
‘Thoroughbred Express’.
The 165th AS was one of
the four ANG units chosen
for conversion to the
C-130J last year. Over the
next 11 months the unit
will receive six additional
Super Hercules airlifters.
Three of these will be
sourced from the existing
Above: US Air Force C-130J-30 Super Hercules serial number 18-5821 arrives at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
US Air Force inventory on November 6. The aircraft, along with serial 18-5819, was one of the first two delivered to the Kentucky Air National Guard’s
and three will be delivered 123rd Airlift Wing US Air National Guard/Dale Greer

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 17

NEWS North America

115 FW arrives in Saudi Arabia

for final F-16 deployment
A NUMBER of US Air
Force/Wisconsin Air
National Guard F-16C
Fighting Falcons along
with about 300 airmen
assigned to the 115th
Fighter Wing’s 176th
Fighter Squadron ‘Badger
Air Militia’ and active
associate 378th Fighter
Squadron have been
deployed to Prince Sultan
Air Base, Saudi Arabia.
The Wing announced on
October 19 that the aircraft
had departed for Prince
Sultan from their base
at Truax Field, Madison,
Wisconsin, earlier that
week, marking what will be
the unit’s final deployment
with the F-16. They joined
the 378th Air Expeditionary
Wing to provide agile
combat air support for
US Central Command
operations throughout the
Middle East.
Although this is their
last F-16 deployment, US
Air Force Col Bart Van
Roo, commander of 115th
FW, noted the unit has
already flown over 49,000
sorties around the world.

Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16C Fighting Falcon 87-0252

‘WI’ assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing sits on the flightline
at Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin, ready to depart for an
aerospace expeditionary force deployment to
Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on
October 11 US Air National Guard/Senior
Master Sgt Paul Gorman

QF-16 contract award and warranty for drone

BOEING WAS awarded
a not-to-exceed
$49,677,000 firm-fixed-
price letter contract by the
US Air Force Life Cycle
Management Center on
November 23 for QF-16
Production Lot 6 Block
25 and Block 30 Unique
Material for Drone Peculiar
Equipment Package.
The deal also includes
programme integration
support, production
line support material
peculiar equipment lay-in
material. Work is expected
to be completed by April
30, 2025.
This award is the result of
a sole source acquisition.
Fiscal 2021 Navy
weapons procurement
funds of $4,186,507,
and fiscal 2022
procurement funds of
$20,651,992 have also
been released.

Delaware C-130H2 the last to depart

DEPARTING FROM New
Castle Air National Guard
Base on November 16
was US Air Force C-130H2
Hercules 90-1057, the
last of these 1980s
vintage aircraft operated
by the Delaware Air
National Guard’s 166th
Airlift Wing/142nd Airlift
Squadron. After being
flown on missions around
the globe, these older H2
variants, which the unit
has been operating since
1985, have been replaced
by eight newer C-130H2.5
models, built in 1991.
The first of the new
Hercules for the unit
arrived on July 16. The
C-130H2.5 features newer
avionics, an upgraded
airframe and more
powerful engines. The
aircraft, 91-1237, was
previously operated by
the Kentucky ANG’s 123rd
Airlift Wing/165th Airlift
Squadron ‘Thoroughbred
Express’ at Standiford
Field, Louisville, and still
wore the full markings
of its previous operator
on arrival. The 123rd has
been divesting its C-130H
models as it re-equips
with the new C-130J and Above: The final C-130H2 Hercules with the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing, 90-
1057, taxies out to Runway 27 for its last departure from New Castle Air National Guard Base on
has passed the older November 16. The variant has been replaced by newer C-130H2/5 models in Delaware ANG service
aircraft to Delaware ANG. USAF/166th AW

18 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

NEWS Latin America Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com

Brazilian Navy receives first

Exocet-capable Cougar
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS’
Brazilian subsidiary
Helibras delivered the first
naval combat-configured
Airbus H225M Cougar
(EC725BR-M) to the
Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian
Navy) on November 19.
The helicopter, N-4101
(BRA05, ex N-7110), locally
designated the AH-15B,
will be operated by the
Segunda Esquadrão de
Helicópteros Emprego
Geral (HU-2 – 2nd General
Purpose Helicopter
Squadron) at Base Aérea
Naval (BAN) de São Pedro
da Aldeia in the Rio de
Janeiro state.
It is the 12th H225M to
join the Marinha under the
H-XBR project, following
on from earlier deliveries
of UH-15A and UH-15B
utility variants. The AH-15B
is the first to be qualified
for carrying and launching
the MBDA AM39 B2M2
Exocet missile. It is also
equipped with the EWS
IDAS-3 Integrated Defence
The first Exocet-
capable Brazilian
Navy AH-15B, N-4101,
which was delivered
on November 19
Airbus/Eny Miranda
Aids Suite countermeasure
system, APS143 tactical
radar, Teledyne FLIR
Systems Star Safire III
multi-mission EO/IR sensor
and a Naval Tactical Data
Management System
(N-TDMS) developed
through a partnership
between Embraer Group
company Atech and Airbus
Defence and Space.
Introduction of the
AH-15B will significantly
increase the Brazilian
Navy’s mission capabilities,
particularly in the anti-
surface warfare and
maritime surveillance
roles. It will be particularly
useful in the latter role for
patrol in the Amazonia
Azul (Blue Amazon)
maritime territory – Brazil’s
exclusive economic zone,
an area of 3.6 million
square kilometres on the
Brazilian coast. Developed
by Hellibras, this variant
of the H225M is the most
complex configuration of
the multi-role helicopter to
be produced to date.
This latest delivery
under the H-XBR
programme is part of a
contract signed by the
Brazilian government on
September 9, 2008, for
the procurement of 50
H225Ms, in seven different
versions, to be operated
by all three branches of
the Brazilian Armed Forces
– the Air Force, Army and
Navy. A total of 39 H225Ms
have been delivered thus
far to the Brazilian Armed
Forces, all assembled in
country by Helibras at its
Itajubá facility. As part of
the AH-15B development
programme, the last stage
of the firing campaign
with the Exocet AM39
B2M2 missiles was
successfully carried out
in June, representing a
major milestone in the
programme, which paved
the way for qualification
and delivery.
The test campaign was
carried out from BAN São
Pedro da Aldeia, with
logistical and operational
support from the Marinha.

KC-390 issued interim safety certification

BRAZIL’S INSTITUTO de
Fomento e Coordenação
Industrial (IFI – Institute for
Development and Industrial
Co-ordination) has awarded
an Interim Type Certificate
to Embraer for the KC-390
Millennium. The milestone
was announced by the
Força Aérea Brasiliera
(FAB, Brazilian Air Force)
on November 17, although
a ceremony had already
been held the previous
week at the premises of
IFI’s Divisão de Certificação
de Produto Aeroespacial
(CPA – Aerospace Product
Certification Division).
Receipt of the document
follows more than ten
years’ work between
representatives of CPA and
Embraer and attests that
the project complies with
contracted requirements.
To achieve this, Embraer
presented the IFI evidence
that proves the project's
safety, as well as the
fulfillment of the missions
that the aircraft will carry
out on behalf of the FAB.
The provisional type
certificate indicates that
the aircraft meets the
requirements that have
been proven so far and is
safe for missions already
certified. The issuance
of this document shows
that the aircraft is already
close to final certification
and is able to fulfill several
missions. The definitive
certificate will come after
the end of the verification
process by the IFI and
other missions provided
Above: Brazilian Air Force KC-390 Millennium FAB 2855 participating in Exercise Tinia 2021
for in the contracted mid-November. The aircraft, along with C-105 Amazonas and C-130 Hercules, dropped around
requirements covering the 150 paratroopers as part of an air assault during the exercise, after loading up at Base Aérea
entire flight envelope. de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul state FAB/SECOMSAER/Sgt Figueira

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 19

NEWS
Super Hercules readied
for delivery to Algeria
Algerian Air Force LM-100J Super
Hercules 7T-WJA/N5103D during a
pre-delivery test flight from Greenville,
South Carolina, on September 30, 2021
Chase Hendrick
LOCKHEED MARTIN is
preparing to deliver the
first Super Hercules to the
Algerian Air Force (AAF).
The aircraft has already
been undergoing flight
testing for several months
from the manufacturer’s
facility at Greenville-
Donaldson Airport, South
Carolina. At time of print,
the Super Hercules was
Mi-171Sh helicopters to join
battle against insurgents
AN OFFICIAL hand-
over ceremony was held
at Base Aérienne 101
Modibo Keita International
Airport on November 26,
2021, for four new Armée
de l’Air du Mali (Malian Air
20 // January 2022
Africa
expected to be delivered
before the end of 2021.
The aircraft, N5103D
(c/n 382-5818), which is
the former commercial
LM-100J prototype, is
painted in a civilian-style
colour scheme, with white
upper surfaces and a grey
lower fuselage, separated
by a thin green cheat line.
It carries a military roundel
The formal hand-over
ceremony for the four
Mi-171Sh helicopters
FAMa
Force) Mi-171Sh transport
helicopters. The ceremony
was presided over by
Supreme Chief of the
Armed Forces, Colonel
Assimi Goïta, who has
acted as Mali’s interim
on the rear fuselage and
large AAF titles on the
forward fuselage, with
serial number 7T-WJA
on the tail. The scheme
is similar to that of older
Algerian Hercules models.
While the manufacturer
declined to comment on
the deal, as the order has
not been made public, it is
believed the contract is for
president since he seized
power in a coup d’état on
May 24, 2021. He arrived
at the ceremony on board
one of the new helicopters,
along with a Special
Forces detachment.
Goïta said the new
acquisitions formed part
of plans to strengthen
and modernise the Malian
Armed Forces. The
helicopters are the first of
the type in Mali service
and were acquired at a
cost of 36 billion CFA
francs, financed from the
national budget, through a
contract that was signed
four aircraft – it is unclear
whether all are of the
LM-100J model. Algerian
pilots and maintenance
personnel are reported to
have been training on the
type in the US for some
months and this initial
aircraft was first noted at
Greenville on May 23.
The current operational
AAF Hercules fleet is
in December 2020 and
came into force in June
2021. The helicopters
will be used to provide
fire support to ground
forces in the battle against
insurgents (see p70-75)
and also to undertake
humanitarian missions.
The Chief of Staff
of the Armée de l’Air,
Colonel Aliou Boi Diarra,
noted that, even before
the official induction
ceremony, the Mi-171s had
their ‘baptism of fire’ in the
type’s first mission in an
operational theatre at the
beginning of November,
believed to comprise six
C-130Hs, seven C-130H-
30s and one L-100-30, all
operated by the 312ème,
322ème and 332ème
Escadrons de Transport
(Transport Squadrons)
of the 2ème Escadre de
Transport Tactique et
Logistique (2nd Tactical
Transport and Logistics
Wing) at Boufarik Air Base.
when they assisted
security forces in the
rescue of three Chinese
construction workers
who had escaped after
being abducted and held
hostage since July 17.
Delivered from Russia
on September 30, all four
helicopters arrived in the
Mali capital, Bamako,
as airfreight on board
an Antonov An-124. Mali
Defence Minister Colonel
Sadio Camara was there
to welcome the delivery.
The aircraft also brought
weapons and ammunition
supplied by Russia.
www.Key.Aero

Niger to be first Hurkus
export customer
TURKEY’S DIRECTORATE
of Communications
confirmed on November
18, 2021, that the country
will supply Hurkus
turboprop light attack/
trainer aircraft and
Bayraktar TB2 unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs), as
well as armoured vehicles,
to Niger. The agreement
was reached following
a discussion between
Turkish President Recep
Erdogan and his Nigerien
counterpart Mohamed
Bazoum earlier that month.
On November 11, Turkish
Aerospace CEO Temel
Kotil stated, in an interview
with CNN Turk, that the
first export Hurkus-B
would be delivered by mid
2022 but did not reveal the
customer at that time. In
April, Kotil had stated that
the company was close
Egyptian Rafale contract
comes into force
DASSAULT AVIATION
announced on November
15, 2021, that a contract
for an additional 30
Rafales for the Egyptian
Air Force (EAF) has come
into effect. The deal
was first announced on
May 4 (see AirForces
Monthly, July 2021, p25).
Adding to the original
contract, signed in 2015
Burkina Faso C295MW boost
Burkina Faso Air Force C295W XT-MBH is pictured preparing to depart from Seville-San Pablo
Airport in Spain, ready to begin its delivery flight to capital Ouagadougou on November 16
Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta
www.Key.Aero
to finalising a deal with
an unspecified customer
for 12 Hurkus-C armed
close air support variants.
It is not yet clear whether
these referred to the
Niger deal, as neither the
variant selected by the
African country or the
number involved have
been announced.
Similarly, it is not
yet known how many
Bayraktar TB2s will be
supplied to Niger. The
UAV has already seen
considerable export
success, with previous
sales to Azerbaijan,
Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Qatar,
Poland, Turkmenistan
and Ukraine. Meanwhile,
in October, Turkey
was reported to have
negotiated additional
contracts with Ethiopia
and Morocco.
and covering 24 aircraft,
this now brings total EAF
Rafale orders to 54.
The initial order was
for 16 two-seat Rafale
DMs and eight single-
seat Rafale EMs. The the
additional 30 aircraft’s
mix of variants has not
been confirmed but is
reported to be 18 single-
seats and 12 two-seats.
Tunisian AB205s deployed
for MINUSCA missions
THREE TUNISIAN Air
Force Agusta-Bell 205A-1s
were formally declared
fully operational with
MINUSCA (the United
Nations Multidimensional
Integrated Stabilisation
Mission in the Central
African Republic) on
November 10, 2021,
when MINUSCA chief
Mankeur Ndiaye visited
the Tunisian Aviation Unit.
The three scout and utility
helicopters (serials L81-
705, L81-714 and L81-
717) had departed for the
Central African Republic
(CAR) on September
25, to strengthen the
MINUSCA mission.
Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com
Tunisian Air Force AB205A-1s L81-705 and L81-
714 at Bangui-M’Poko International Airport,
Central African Republic, wearing UN markings
for their MINUSCA operations
MINUSCA
They were airfreighted rapid intervention until
into the country – partially the end of 2022. They
disassembled – on have been accompanied
Tunisian Air Force C-130 by 120 personnel
Hercules. After being (including pilots and
reassembled and tested technicians), plus a
by Tunisian technicians, Special Forces team.
they were handed over Tunisia’s Parliament
to the MINUSCA Tunisian approved a troop
Aviation Unit on October deployment to the CAR
7 at Bangui-M'Poko in November 2020.
International Airport and Then, in March 2021,
began operations on members of the House of
October 13. People’s Representatives
Under the framework voted to extend the
of UN Security Council deployment and also
Resolution 2566, they will send a helicopter unit.
be used for air escort, The AB205A-1s all come
aerial reconnaissance, from 32 Squadron, home
medical evacuation, based at Bizerte-Sidi
search and rescue and Ahmed Air Base.
AIRBUS DEFENCE and 2019. It was ordered under
Space has delivered a Burkina Faso’s 2018-2022
new C295MW to the Military Acquisition Law,
Burkina Faso Air Force. after the purchase had
The aircraft, XT-MBH (c/n been approved in 2017 by
S-202), departed from the country’s parliament.
Seville-San Pablo Airport, The aircraft will be
Spain, on its delivery flight a major boost to the
on November 16, 2021. country’s military
It will be operated by the transport capability. The
Escadron de Transport only sizeable transport
at Base Aérienne 511 aircraft the BFAF has, a
Ouagadougou. CN235M-220 delivered
The order for just one in 2007 from PTDI,
aircraft was announced by Indonesia, has been been
Airbus on December 11, grounded for years.
January 2022 // 21
NEWS
Dubai Airshow
The biennial Dubai Airshow was held in November at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali and
marked the first major aerospace show for nearly two years. Alan Warnes was there
W
hile most
aerospace shows
have been a
victim of the COVID-19
pandemic over the past 20
months, it was business
as usual for the Dubai
Airshow (DAS) 2021, which
was held for the fifth time
at Al Maktoum International
Airport in Jebel Ali from
November 14-18.
Fortunately for the
organisers, the biennial
event took place two
years ago, before most of
us had even heard of the
coronavirus. So after all
The UAEAF&AD operates
eight C-17A Globemaster
IIIs. During the opening
ceremony, this aircraft put
on a pretty impressive flares
display as it flew by
All images: Alan Warnes
22 // January 2022
Dubai Airshow 2021
the airshow casualties, it
was nice to return to some
kind of normality, meeting
people again in person,
rather than talking virtually.
More than 104,000
people attended DAS 21
from over 148 countries,
with more than 170 aircraft
either in the flying or static
display – with around 75 of
them being military. Deals
worth a total of US$78bn
were struck, of which AED
22.5bn (US$6bn) were
signed off by the United
Arab Emirates (UAE)
Ministry of Defence.
Opening flypast
and UH-60M ABH (Armed appear and had been
The airshow began on Black Hawk). Then came scrubbed of all national
Sunday November 13, with the UAEAF&AD’s Al markings, undoubtedly so
a ceremony that included Fursan aerobatic team, as not to be recognised as
an impressive flypast by with seven MB339A(NAT) being from the UAE when
aircraft of the UAE Air s trailing an Etihad Boeing carrying out clandestine
Force and Air Defence 787 Dreamliner. flights into places such
(UAEAF&AD). There were more UAE as Libya.
First to arrive were six airliners before the star of The multi-role tanker
Joint Aviation Command the fly-by arrived, the Saab transporter was being
(JAC) helicopters flying GlobalEye (serialled 1341) escorted by two Mirage
in echelon formation: an airborne early warning 2000-9s, which were
AH-64D Apache; Bell and control (AEW&C) followed by four F-16Es.
407MRH (Multi-Role aircraft, escorted by two A UAEAF&AD Boeing
Helicopter); AS365N3 Mirage 2000-9s, making C-17 Globemaster III, put
Dauphin; UH-60M Black its first-ever public flying on a spectacular flare
Hawk; AS332 Puma; appearance. A UAEAF&AD show before banking
Boeing CH-47D Chinook; A330MRTT was next to away.
www.Key.Aero

UAE A330 fleet to grow
AT DAS 2019, the UAE
announced a requirement
for two A330MRTTs
(Multi-Role Tanker
Transports) with an option
for another. So it came
as no surprise when, on
the show’s first day, the
UAEAF&AD announced
an order for two Airbus
A330MRTTs, although no
value was given.
This will allow the UAE’s
busy fleet to grow to five,
with deliveries of the two
new aircraft expected to
start in 2024. The deal will
also include the upgrade
of the current A330MRTT
fleet to the latest version.
This is likely to include
the automatic air-to-air
refuelling system that is
now on the cusp of being
certified after four years of
integration and trials work.
Since a contract with the
Republic of Singapore Air
Force (RSAF) was signed
Local interest in L-15
ON THE ground there
was an impressive mix of
exhibits coming from all
over the world. For the
first time since 2009, the
Hongdu L-15 was making
an appearance. Two
were present (labelled
as L15s on the aircraft),
manufactured at Hongdu
Aviation Industry Group
(HAIG) in 2017. Chinese
defence company CATIC
revealed to AFM that
the two aircraft had
One of the two L-15s at the show taxies out for its ten-minute flying slot. It’s the first time the L-15 has appeared at Dubai
since 2009, and is being considered by the UAEAF&AD as a replacement for the Al Fursan aerobatic team’s 12 MB 3390A NATs
www.Key.Aero
Airbus received an order from the UAEAF&AD for two more
A330MRTTs that will push the fleet up to five. This unmarked
example, 1300, participated in the flypast
in 2019, Airbus has been
developing the system,
using an RSAF A330MRTT
that has been based in
been in the UAE since
October 20, undergoing
evaluation, and had
been flown “quite a few
times by UAEAF&AD
personnel”.
Along with the Aero
L-39NG, the aircraft is
being considered as
a replacement for the
12 MB-339s of the Al
Fursan aerobatic team
with a decision on a
replacement being made
in the next year or so.
Madrid for the past year.
Ivan Garcia Ferreiros,
A330MRTT marketing
manager with Airbus
The author saw the
UAEAF&AD Commander
Maj Gen Ibrahim Nasser
Mohammed al-Alawi
visiting the aircraft in the
static display on show
Tuesday, as discussions
on the type’s possible
acquisition continue.
One of the L-15s flew
in the display most days
and the other was in the
static, surrounded by a
plethora of weapons. A
look at the CATIC stand
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Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com
Defence and Space, told
AFM prior to the show: “We
flew to Singapore earlier
this year and carried out
showed that the Chinese
are catching up with
rest of the aerospace
industry, by developing
ground based training
systems for the L-15.
A CATIC spokesperson
said: “We have
made some major
improvements to the
aircraft for the training
role since 2017 – there
is now an embedded
tactical training system, a
mission planning system
more than 200 ‘contacts’
with RSAF F-16s, and
next year’s campaign will
concentrate on the F-15s.”
– where the pilots can
load the mission profiles
onto the aircraft and
then debrief afterwards.
There is a datalink added
so that instructors on
the ground can work
scenarios with students
while flying the jet in the
air, and a much improved
Head Up Display with a
wider screen.”
The jet’s Motor Sich
AI-222 has suffered
supportability issues
in the past, but CATIC
stressed those issues
have been resolved: A
source told AFM: “It’s
true, that some parts
of the engine supplied
by the Russians was
stopped. But they have
been replaced by Ukraine
parts now.”
To date only six L-15s
have been exported, to
Zambia. China’s People’s
Liberation Army Air Force
(PLAAF) refers to the
advanced jet trainer/light
attack aircraft as JL-10.
January 2022 // 23
NEWS
E-11A BACN surprise
THE US Air Force (USAF)
boasted a sizeable
presence at DAS 21,
with the E-11A Battlefield
Airborne Communications
Node (BACN) being a
surprise exhibit. The
need for this modified
Bombardier 6000 came
about during the war
in Afghanistan, to relay
communications to/
from personnel working
in mountainous terrain,
struggling to get their
signals over the peaks.
Three aircraft are
operated with the 430th
Expeditionary Combat
Squadron (ECS), which
is permanently deployed
to Prince Sultan Air
Base (PSAB) in Saudi
Arabia. The unit was
Examining training upgrades
THE UAEAF&AD is looking
to modernise its training
fleets, by replacing the
Grob 115 Acros and PC-7
Mk IIs with trainers that
have glass cockpits.
Consequently, a MFI-17B
Super Mushshak, Textron
T-6C Texan II, Pilatus PC-7
Mk X and the Embraer
Super Tucano were on
view in the static display.
Notable was the T-6C,
which had made 11 stops
Above: The PC-7 Mk X was making its public debut, with Pilatus touting the new trainer as a replacement for the UAEAF&AD’s
Grob 115s and 1982-era PC-7s
24 // January 2022
Dubai Airshow 2021
Above: The first E-11A and RAF Sentinel development aircraft on show at Dubai. Is the USAF
trying to interest the UAEAF&AD in this beyond-line-of-sight capability?
previously based at
Al Dhafra, UAE, after
moving out of Kandahar
in Afghanistan, and lost
an aircraft in a tragic
accident that claimed
the lives of the two pilots
during Operation Inherent
Resolve operations on
January 27, 2020.
Although the E-11A on
static has been heavily
getting to Dubai from
Wichita, while the PC-7
Mk X was making this, its
public debut.
During DAS 21, Textron
announced the deal for
eight Royal Thai Air Force
AT-6C Wolverines, so the
Kansas-based company
was upbeat.
While the UAEAF&AD
wants to modernise its
fighter fleets with the
procurement of 50 F-35As
modified, with a canoe
under the centre forward
fuselage and a SATCOM
bump on the roof, there
is nothing but orange test
equipment inside from
the days it was used as
a Sentinel development
aircraft, according to
the pilot. The aircraft is
manned with just two
pilots, with the equipment
and 60 Dassault Mirages,
its training systems have
pretty much remained static
over the past 20 years.
I asked a Textron
company spokesperson,
why the firm had not
achieved success in the
region and was told:
“The challenge here has
been the focus on bigger
aircraft, but now they are
starting to look at training.
The UAE now wants glass
in the rear being operated
remotely by personnel on
the ground.
Earlier in 2021, the
US Air Force awarded
Bombardier a US$465m
indefinite-delivery,
indefinite-quantity (IDIQ)
contract, for up to six
E-11As. In June, the
company confirmed an
immediate firm order for
cockpits for students [who
are] going to fly in glass
cockpits.”
The Pilatus PC-7 Mk X
is being billed by Pilatus
as the world’s best smart
basic trainer. Although
the airframe is based on
the PC-7 Mk II, there are
number of improvements
over its older brother.
State-of-the-art avionics
from Canada’s CMC
Electronics ensure the
one Global 6000 aircraft,
with the other five on
option, but it’s highly likely
all six will be acquired.
It is unclear why the
E-11A was sent to the
show, but obviously
the USAF and Northrop
Grumman, which sustains
the capability, are keen
to make the UAEAF&AD
aware of its role.
The latter already
operates five Global
6000s – three Saab
GlobalEyes with two more
on order, and the two
Project Dolphin electronic
intelligence (ELINT) aircraft
converted by QinetiQ and
Marshalls of Cambridge.
Perhaps the USAF is
looking to offload some, if
not all three E-11As.
glass cockpit is a world
away from the analogue
PC-7 Mk II – the trainer
uses conventional
semi-monocoque
construction for the wing,
fuselage and empennage
and is designed to be
used to train the broadest
possible range of aircrew.
The cockpit houses three
high definition multi-function
displays, made up of a
large primary flight display
with various flight modes,
sandwiched between two
smaller screens.
Pilatus’ Fabrio Cabrini
said of the new aircraft:
“Although the Mk II and Mk
X look similar, the Mk X is
equipped with new, smarter
technologies that can lead
the pilot through different
stages of training, and at
the same time the aircraft
can be connected with
our ground-based training
system, which makes a big
difference.”
The UAEAF&AD took
delivery of 31 PC-7 Mk IIs
in 1982/83 and 12 Grob
115TA Acros in 2001,
which were augmented by
25 PC-21s in 2011/12.
www.Key.Aero
 Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com

Checkmate
checks in Grand Caravan joins JAC
A RECENT acquisition by N571TW, N572TW and when compared with around 1,000 miles” one
to Dubai the UAE's Joint Aviation N573TW that were other ISR platforms”. In crew member told AFM.
AFTER BEING unveiled Command (JAC) was a delivered to Al Bateen in addition to a new Garmin The Cessna 208B was
at Russia’s MAKS new Cessna 208B Grand October/November 2020. 1000 glass cockpit, the fitted with four hardpoints
airshow in July 2021, Caravan, fitted with a MAG Aerospace refers aircraft on static had and, by the second
the Su-75 Checkmate MX-15 electro-optical/ to the aircraft as a a work station in the morning, the two inner
made its overseas debut infrared (EO/IR) system. MC-208 Guardian. The rear cabin, manned by stations were carrying a
at the Dubai event. The One of five modified company acquired Florida- a weapons systems rocket launcher that could
full-scale mock-up of by Florida-based MAG based North American operator, who works house seven Advanced
Sukhoi’s next-generation Aerospace within the past Surveillance Systems the L3Harris MX-15 EO/ Precision Kill Weapons
fighter was shown to year, the example on show (NASS) in June 2018, IR turret fitted under the Systems (APKWS) or
the media inside a large (serial 2243) was delivered which had a history of forward fuselage. Hydra 70 Folding Fin
pavilion on DAS 21’s ‘“in the past few months”, Cessna 208 conversions. The imagery can then be Rockets, while two AGM-
opening day. according to a member of MAG Aerospace’s CEO, data-linked by the MX-15’s 114 Hellfire air-to-ground
Speaking through the Cessna 208 aircrew. Joe Fluet told AFM in integrated laser to other missiles were fitted to
a translator, Sergey The former US civilian September that “the platforms or ground the outer stations on
Cjemezov, head of United registration N574TW Cessna 208 gives a ton of stations. “We can stay twin racks. The JAC has
Aircraft Corporation could still be seen on the flexibility at a price point airborne for up to six acquired 13 Cessna 208
parent company, Rostec, fuselage. It joins N570TW, that cannot be matched, hours, with a range of Caravans over time.
said: “It is no coincidence The newest Cessna 208 Grand Caravan to join the JAC,
the first international 2243 and formerly N574TW is seen fitted with a MX-15 EO/
presentation of the Su-75 IR turret and a WSO’s work station in the rear. The following
is taking place here. day, the aircraft had been armed
Russian weapons are
appreciated by the
Middle East people,
who have shown
interest in our advanced
projects and seek
the development of a
partnership with Russia.”
Back in February 2017,
at UAE’s International
Defence Exhibition (IDEX),
Rostec said it would
work with the UAE to
co-develop a
fifth-generation light
combat fighter. As
part of that agreement,
Russia would provide
the UAE with fifth-
generation technology,
to be developed by UAE
Japan shows off Kawasaki C-2
businesses. Undoubtedly,
this would help to
undermine the UAE’s
need for 50 Lockheed
Martin F-35s, which is still
in the balance, and many
are hoping Checkmate
will kick-start discussions
again. The slick, half-hour
presentation to the media
highlighted the capabilities
Checkmate will bring,
including a new active
electronically scanned
array (AESA) radar.
First flight is expected
in 2023, with small-scale
serial production starting
in 2025-26. Clemezov
told the media: “No
decision has yet been Japan continues to try to export the Kawasaki C-2, which was a regular feature in the DAS 21 flying display. The Japan Air
made on the AESA radar Self-Defense Force (JASDF) operates 13 such tactical airlifters to date, and is obviously looking to offset the huge cost of
or powerplant.” developing an aircraft for such a small purchase

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 25

NEWS Dubai Airshow 2021

Calidus B350 unwrapped on the production line (983
and 984). Mustapha Skhiri,
Calidus head of Aerospace
Cluster, told AFM: “We
are now under contract
with the UAEAF&AD for 12
B250s with 12 on option.
Deliveries are expected to
commence within the next
two-and-a-half years.”
He continued: “The B250
will fulfil a light attack/
border patrol aircraft
role and, while not all
the weapons have been
decided, the Desert Sting
series and many other
EDGE weapons from
Above: The Calidus B350 is a huge single-engine aircraft. It is currently only a concept, but the Halcyon and Al Tariq will
company hopes to develop it as a combat ISR platform be included.
UAE’s CALIDUS finally wings that housed a huge attack aircraft, announced “The B250 avionics
unveiled a mock-up of assortment of weapons. at the last airshow in Dubai are now being supplied
its big B350 BPA (border The UAEAF&AD is in 2019. There have been by CMC Canada, not
patrol aircraft) after years investing much into some design issues, but Rockwell Collins [as was
of keeping it under wraps. Calidus with a US$620m it seems they are being originally intended]. Longer
There were a dozen deal for 24 Calidus B-250 fixed, and two more term, we believe the B250
hardpoints under the turboprop trainer/light development aircraft are can replace the IOMAX
AT802 Archangel BPA,
which has a low speed and
is not pressurised.”
On the B350, Mustapha
Skhiri said: “The B350 is
predominantly combat ISR,
with six hardpoints under
each wing.
“It is still a concept at
the moment, and you will
see from the mock-up
that we have a retractable
MX-25 EO/IR system under
the nose and a Leonardo
Osprey 30 AESA radar
under the fuselage.
“This will give you an
idea of what we want.
As of yet we don’t know
when development will be
completed, perhaps in a
couple of years.
“The engine will be a
Pratt & Whitney PW127
and a Collins propeller, the
same as on the ATR 72”
he concluded.

New Al Tariq 1,000lb

PGM is revealed
Russian gunships
on display

Above: A new Al Tariq 1,000Ib precision guided munition was

seen strapped underneath a Mirage 2000-9 in static display
Right: There were two Russian helicopter gunships that flew
in the afternoon display: the Mi-28NE Night Hunter and the
Kamov Ka-52 Alligator (shown at right), which have both
been upgraded specifically for the export market

Massive MRO contract

THE BIGGEST defence
deal came on the first day
of the show, when EDGE
Group’s GAL (Global
Aerospace Logistics) was
awarded an exclusive
three-year AED11bn
(US$3bn) maintenance,
repair and overhaul (MRO)
deal with the UAEAF&AD.
It comes two years after
the UAE withdrew its
support for the Lockheed
Martin-Sikorsky-Mubadala
backed AMMROC
(Advanced Military
Maintenance Repair and
Overhaul Center), which
was creating a new
MRO hub at Al Ain. The
business is now being run
by EDGE, a UAE business.
The Performance
Based Logistics (PBL)
arrangement will provide
military MRO services
organised under a
cost-per-flying-hour
model, that will go a
long way to supporting
operational readiness.
Khalid Al Breiki, president
and mission support at
EDGE and managing
director of GAL, said:
“Signing this contract
represents the trust our
team has built with the
UAEAF&AD allowing us
to further grow our work
force of UAE nationals.”
While no one would
confirm the aircraft
that will come under
the contract, only that
it includes 35 different
types, it will undoubtedly
involve the same aircraft
in the original AMMROC
agreement: Boeing
C-17A Globemaster
IIIs; Lockheed Martin
C-130/L-100 Hercules;
Lockheed Martin F-16E/F
Desert Falcons; Dassault
Mirage 2000-9s; Boeing
AH-64D/E Apaches; and
Boeing CH-47F Chinooks.
A visit to the GAL stand
at DAS 21 showed off a
large model of the MRO
facility with several of
these types on display. On
the last day of the show,
November 18, EDGE’s
AMMROC announced
that it had done a deal
with the Tunisian Air Force
to perform programmed
depot maintenance (PDM)
and upgrades on one of
its C-130 aircraft.
The Hercules was
recently delivered by
Tunisian Air Force
personnel to AMMROC’s
MRO facility in Al Ain,
UAE, with work now
well under way following
aircraft induction.

26 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

 NEWS Asia Pacific

Taiwanese president hails The initial Philippine Air Force AH-1F Cobra, 1027,
arrives at the 15th Strike Wing headquarters at Major
Danilo Atienza Air Base in Sangley Point, Cavite City, on

F-16V fighter achievement November 18 to be greeted by a traditional water cannon

salute. It will be operated by the Wing’s 20th Attack
Squadron PAF/15th Strike Wing

A CEREMONY was held At present, the ROCAF the most F-16V fighters
at Chiayi Air Base on has a total of 141 in the world.
November 18 to mark F-16s, which are being The ROCAF F-16V
the F-16V achieving full handed over in batches project is being carried
operating capability with to Taiwan’s Aerospace out by Lockheed
the Republic of China Industrial Development Martin under the
Air Force’s (RoCAF’s) Corporation (AIDC) Peace Phoenix Rising
4th Tactical Fighter for performance programme. Lockheed
Wing. Emphasising its
significance, the event
enhancements to
bring them up to F-16V
Martin has partnered
with AIDC to upgrade First Cobra flies in
was personally hosted
by Taiwan President Tsai
standard. Another 66
new production F-16V
the existing 141 F-16A/B
Block 20s to F-16V for Philippine Air
Ing-wen. The RoCAF has (F-16C Block 70) fighters standard and to date
now received all of the
first batch of 60 F-16V
are being purchased
from the US. This makes
a total of 64 F-16V
upgrades have been
Force Sangley Point
upgrades. Taiwan the country with completed. Peter Ho ONE OF the two recently Jordanian Air Force
acquired Philippine (RJAF) helicopters and
Air Force (PAF) Bell prior to that had been in
AH-1F Cobras has Israeli Defence Force/
finally been delivered Air Force service. The
to the 15th Strike Wing second example is serial
headquarters at Major number 1023. They will
Danilo Atienza Air Base complement the current
(MDAAB) in Sangley MD520MGs of the
Four of the newly Point, Cavite City. 20th Attack Squadron,
upgraded ROCAF
F-16Vs (serials The helicopter, serial providing support to
6626, 6628, 6648 number 1027 (c/n 21718, other Armed Forces of
and 6816) perform ex-RJAF 1027), flew into the Philippines units.
a flypast during the the base on November The two ‘new’
ceremony at Chiayi
on November 18 18 and was greeted by a attack helicopters
Peter Ho traditional water cannon were donated by the
salute. The Cobra, Jordanian government
piloted by Maj Reese when, in September
James A Obeso, PAF, 2018, the Philippine
Manila prepares for arrival Squadron Commander,
20th Attack Squadron,
Department of National
Defense and the

of Turkey-built ATAKs batch and Capt Wilmore

DELIVERY OF the
first batch of Turkish
Aerospace Industries
(TAI) T129 ATAK attack
helicopters to the
Philippine Air Force
(PAF) were due to take
place in December.
This was revealed by
PAF Commander Lt
Gen Allen Paredes on
November 23, although
he gave no further details.
Six T129s are being
acquired from Turkish
manufacturer TAI under
a $270m government-to-
government procurement.
The Philippine Defence
Minister Delfin Lorenzana
officially confirmed on May
24, 2021 that the contract
had been finalised,
although the deal had
apparently already been
signed by him in July 2020.
The first two had
been due for delivery in
September but were then
delayed.
Under previously
announced plans, two
more are scheduled to
arrive in February 2022
and the final pair in
February 2023.
Kristus A Tanamor, took
off from Clark Air Base
and performed low
passes before making
its first touchdown at
MDAAB.
The 15th Strike Wing
commander, Brig Gen
Aristotle Gonzales and
other ranking officers
of the unit welcomed
the aircraft and its crew.
Both are former Royal
Jordan Armed Forces-
Arab Army signed
a memorandum of
understanding on
defence co-operation.
They arrived in the
Philippines in November
2019, but since then had
remained at Clark Air
Base being prepared for
service. It has not been
announced when the
second Cobra will join
the first at Sangley Point.

Indonesia orders two A400Ms

AIRBUS DEFENCE and
Space has received an
order for two A400Ms
in multi-role tanker and
transport configuration
from the Indonesian
Ministry of Defence.
The contract, which included signature of a package. It brings the Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU,
becomes effective in letter of intent for the total number of A400M Indonesian Air Force)
2022, was announced future acquisition of a operators to ten nations. will also employ the
by the European further four A400Ms. In addition to utilising A400M for human
manufacturer at the The agreement includes its tactical and air-to-air assistance and
Dubai Air Show on a complete maintenance capabilities, the Tenatara disaster response
November 18 and also and training support Nasional Indonesia missions.

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 27

NEWS
$143m contract makes Thailand
launch customer for AT-6 Wolverine teams with Korean
Two of the 12 new T-6TH Texan IIs for the Royal Thai
Air Force (RTAF) being inspected by Thai officials
at the factory in Wichita, Kansas, in mid-November.
The RTAF has now also ordered six AT-6TH variants
Textron Aviation Defence
TEXTRON AVIATION
Defense announced
on the first day of the
Dubai Air Show that it
has signed up the Royal
Thai Air Force (RTAF)
as the international
launch customer for
the Beechcraft AT-6
Wolverine.
The $143m contract will
provide an integrated
system including eight
Wolverine aircraft, ground
support equipment, spare
parts, training and other
equipment.
They will support the
light attack operations
of the RTAF’s 41st Wing
at Chiang Mai Air Base.
The AT-6s will conduct a
Final Black Hawks
go into PAF service
DELIVERY OF the last
batch of Poland-built
Sikorsky S-70i Black
Hawks to the Phillippine
Air Force (PAF) has
been completed. PAF
spokesperson Col
Maynard Mariano
said the helicopters
arrived at Clark Air
Base in Angeles City,
Pampanga, at around
1045hrs on November
8, on board an Antonov
An-124. They were then
due to undergo rigorous
technical inspections
28 // January 2022
Asia Pacific
Northrop Grumman
broad array of missions in
support of border security
and anti-smuggling,
counter-narcotics and
anti-human trafficking
operations.
The AT-6s, locally
designated the AT-6TH,
will replace the L-39ZA/
ART Albatros aircraft
currently operated by
the RTAF’s 41 Wing/411
Squadron.
Textron Aviation
Defense training of RTAF
maintenance personnel is
set to start in Thailand in
2023, while pilot training
will begin in Wichita,
Kansas, in 2024. The
AT-6TH will join the RTAF
fleet in 2024.
before being accepted
and commissioned
into service.
The PAF ordered 16 of
these helicopters from
PZL Mielec in a contract
worth $241m. The first
six were delivered on
November 9, 2020, while
the second batch of five
followed on June 7, 2021.
One of the initial six
crashed on June 23 while
on a night-flying exercise,
killing all six on board.
The second group
arrived well ahead of
companies for JSTARS-K
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
has teamed with two local
South Korean firms as part
of the development of its
Joint Surveillance Target
Attack Radar System –
Korea (JSTARS-K) solution
to bid for the Republic
of Korea Air Force’s
(ROKAF’s) Joint Moving
Target Surveillance and
Control Aircraft (JMTSCA)
requirement.
The US company
announced on October 19
that it signed co-operative
Previously, the RTAF had agreements with Korean
selected the Beechcraft aerospace and defence
T-6TH Texan II for businesses LIG Nex1 and
operation by the RTAF Huneed for JSTARS-K. The
Flying Training School co-operative agreements
at Kamphaeng Saen Air are memoranda of
Base. Textron Aviation understanding to
Defense announced a deliver airborne battle
contract on September management command
28, 2020 for 12 of these and control (BMC2).
aircraft to replace the Northrop Grumman’s
Pilatus PC-9 for its
training requirements.
The manufacturer
confirmed in November
Sixth TNI-AD Bell 412EPi
The Indonesian Army Bell 412 EPi HA-5229 (c/n 37035,
that it is nearing ex HX-4148, C-FXEW),the sixth of nine on order from
PTDI, prepares to depart from Bandung on November
manufacturing completion
19. It will join Skadron 11 Serbu (11 Squadron-Assault) at
of all 12 aircraft, which Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base
are scheduled to arrive
at Kamphaeng Saen Air
Base between late 2022
and early 2023.
Collins’ modernisation
the original delivery plan for Indonesian fleet
schedule, but were not COLLINS AEROSPACE
formally commissioned has announced that it
into service until has been selected by the
October 13 – see ‘New Tentara Nasional Indonesia-
Philippine Black Hawks Angkatan Udara (TNI-
and ScanEagles arrive’, AU, Indonesian Air Force)
December, p12. to modernise its C-130H
Regarding that story, Hercules fleet.
the gap of several The company will provide
months between arrival its Flight2 avionics suite,
and commissioning of enabling replacement of
this second batch led outdated analogue flight
to the erroneous report instruments with a modern
that it had been the third digital glass cockpit.
batch commissioned at Collins will act as
that time. a subcontractor to
Indonesian MRO company
JSTARS-K offer will be
based on the Gulfstream
G550 business jet.
South Korea’s Ministry
of National Defence is
seeking between four
and eight intelligence
surveillance, target
acquisition and
reconnaissance – ISTAR/
JSTARS-type aircraft for
the Republic of Korea Air
Force under its
2019-2023 Mid-
Term Defense Plan.
Approximately $1.71bn
has been allocated for the
programme, and deliveries
are being sought from
2023.
Raytheon Technologies
announced a year ago
that, partnered with
Bombardier and Korean
Air, it would formally offer a
Bombardier Global 6500-
based ISTAR-K solution.
GMF AeroAsia to supply
the new avionics suite.
The Flight2 avionics
modification will provide
seven multifunction
displays, three control
display units and a new
digital autopilot.
The aircraft will also be
equipped with the Required
Navigation Performance/
Area Navigation flight
management system, with
high altitude release point
and computed air release
point precision airdrop
software.
www.Key.Aero
NEWS Australasia Subscribe to www.Key.Aero for breaking news stories.
Email the news team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com

More F-35As arrive at RAAF base

A FURTHER three Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF)
F-35A Lightning IIs have
been delivered. They
arrived at RAAF Base
Williamtown, New South
Wales, on November 20.
The aircraft comprised
A35-042 (No 77 Squadron
markings), A35-044 (No
2 Operational Conversion
Unit [OCU] markings) and
A35-045 (also 2 OCU
markings). Under Exercise
Lightning Ferry 21-4 they
were flown to Williamtown
from Eglin Air Force Base
(AFB), Florida, via Hickam
AFB, Hawaii, to join the No
81 Wing fleet.
The delivery flight was
carried out by No 77
Squadron, RAAF.
Before the ferry flight, the
Squadron had participated
with the aircraft in
Exercise Lightning Spear
2021 at Eglin between
November 1-5.
Lightning Spear was an
operational test activity for
No 81 Wing intended to
verify weapons integration.
The latest arrivals bring
the current RAAF fleet to
44 out of a planned total
of 72 aircraft. These were
the final RAAF deliveries
for 2021.
We last updated details
of RAAF F-35A deliveries
after three more aircraft
arrived at Williamtown on
February 11 (see Further
RAAF F-35As delivered,
May, p22), bringing the
total in service to 33.
Since then, four more
(A35-034, A35-035, A35-
036 and A35-037) arrived
on May 6, followed by a
single aircraft (A35-038)
on September 4 and
another three (A35-039,
A35-040 and A35-041)
on September 14. This
brought the total deliveries
to 41 at that time, with the
latest arrivals topping it up
to the 44 now in service.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II A35-042 in 77 Squadron markings, followed by A35-044 and A35-045, taxies in at RAAF Base Williamtown,
New South Wales, on November 20 on completion of its delivery flight from the US Commonwealth of Australia-DoD/Cpl Craig Barrett

Two Boeing Loyal Wingmen now undergoing flight testing

BOEING AUSTRALIA
announced on November
4 that it had expanded
the flight-test programme
of Boeing’s Airpower
Teaming System, known
as the Loyal Wingman,
with two aircraft
successfully completing
separate flight missions
at the Royal Australian Air
Force (RAAF) Woomera
Range Complex in South
Australia recently.
Developed in partnership
with the RAAF, the
first Loyal Wingman
aircraft – serial PRV-
001 – demonstrated key
characteristics during
the test flight to expand
the flight envelope of the
programme, including the
raising and engaging of
the undercarriage for the
first time in flight. RUAG
Australia supplied the
undercarriage system, with
BAE Systems Australia
also involved in the design,
supply and support of
the flight control and
navigation systems.
Whilst the first aircraft was
performing these tests, the
second Loyal Wingman
was also airborne
performing its first test
flight mission, this being
the first time two Loyal
Wingman aircraft shared
the same airspace.
AVM Cath Roberts,
RAAF Head of Air Force
Capability, said: “This
opens up significant
capability agility for [the
RAAF], particularly with
features such as the
reconfigurable nose. We’re
heavily engaged in the
payload development and
the element of surprise
that it gives us in the
battlespace. You never
really know what’s in the
nose.” Throughout both
test flights, personnel from
Boeing and the RAAF
gathered data on the
aircraft’s performance.
The data will then be
utilised to refine the
digital twin of the Boeing
Airpower Teaming System.

Aussie Tigers train in Arizona

Ground crew from the 1st Aviation Regiment re-arm and refuel Australian Army Tiger ARH A38-009 on October 6 during Exercise Griffin Eagle at a US Marine
Corps CH-53E Super Stallion air-deployed ground refuelling point in Arizona. The exercise involved testing of the Tiger’s systems at Naval Air Weapons
Station China Lake, Arizona, along with a number of training qualification activities with the USMC Commonwealth of Australia-DoD/Capt Gavin Partridge

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 29

 USAF Special
Libya 10 years ars on Ops The elite aviators
RAF helped to topple Gaddafi
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Italian Harriers

OM
FR

Above: A single-seat McDonnell Douglas AV-

8B+ Harrier II from the Italian Navy’s GRUPAER
approaches the ITS Cavour (550) for landing.
Note that this aircraft is equipped with an AN/
AAQ-28(V) Litening II targeting pod All images
Italian Navy, unless otherwise stated

Right: The badge approved by the GRUPAER for

the unit’s 30th anniversary Riccardo Niccoli

32 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


With a past featuring the
AV-8B+ Harrier II and
a future with the F-35B
Lightning II, the Gruppo
Aerei Imbarcati has enjoyed
an exciting 30 years.
Riccardo Niccoli visited
the unit at Grottaglie
www.Key.Aero
I
n 2021, the Marina Militare Italiana (MMI;
Italian navy) celebrated the 30th anniversary
of the establishment of the Gruppo Aerei
Imbarcati (GRUPAER; Carrier Aircraft
Squadron), formed on February 1, 1991.
The anniversary offered an excellent
opportunity to explore the current state of this
flying unit, from its past – represented by the
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B+ Harrier II – to the
future, which is now well-defined in the shape
of the short take-off and vertical landing
(STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II
fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter.
During AFM’s visit to the MMI’s home at
Grottaglie Air Base, located in Italy's Taranto
province, we had the opportunity to meet the
service’s two fixed-wing test pilots: Capitano
di Corvetta (Lt Cdr) Matteo Brambilla, the
current commander of the GRUPAER, and
Capitano di Fregata (Cdr) Gian Battista
Molteni, one of the MMI's first four Harrier
pilots. The latter is currently the chief of the
Public Affairs Office at Grottaglie and also
serves as an instructor pilot on the AV-8B+.
Both men are qualified to fly the F-35B.
Complex technical needs
The Italian Harrier fleet is currently engaged
in two important technical programmes, as Lt
Cdr Brambilla explained: “The first, launched
in 2014, has involved the Italian Harriers in
the Planned Maintenance Interval-1 (PMI-1)
programme – the same as that reserved for
the AV-8Bs of the US Marine Corps (USMC),
which are almost at the mid-point of their
theoretical operational lives.
“One aircraft per year has been sent to
the Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) of
US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock, North
Carolina, to undergo a general overhaul. This
also includes a variety of minor technical
interventions, as required by the
prescriptions applied by the
US Navy to its Harrier
fleet. Each aircraft
has been out of
service for around
nine or ten months.”
The seven aircraft subjected
to the PMI programme
are destined to fly until the
conclusion of operations with the
type, which is currently planned for
December 21, 2024. The first example to
undergo a PMI-1 left Italy in February 2012,
while the last to pass through the process
– AV-8B+ serial MM7199 ‘1-03’ (c/n 248) –
returned to Grottaglie in January 2020.
The transfer of these machines to the US
was not a simple operation. For each aircraft,
it was necessary to exploit the Mediterranean
transit of a marine expeditionary unit (MEU)
– plus associated amphibious assault ships
- so that the Harrier could hitch a ride to
America. Embarkation of the aircraft also
involved a pilot and some technicians. The
return to Italy required a similar plan.
Derived from a study commissioned
by Boeing in 2015, the second technical
programme was launched in 2019 and
denominated Materiale Contenente Amianto
(MCA; Material Containing Asbestos). This
involves the removal of all parts containing
January 2022 // 33
Italian Harriers

“Once they
have returned to
Italy, it becomes the
GRUPAER’s task to complete
their training, aimed at
achieving Limited Combat
Ready and then Full Combat
Ready status”
Lt Cdr Matteo Brambilla,
commander of the
GRUPAER

asbestos from the Harrier. "The work is
immense,” Cdr Molteni explained. "In
every AV-8B+, there are hundreds of these
components, some situated in positions that
never have to be inspected during the entire
operational life of the aircraft. To reduce
this impact on unit operations, it has been
decided to move in two directions.”
The first type of intervention is defined
as ‘Total’, and involves more than a third-
level inspection, given that it requires the
dismantling of all the Harrier’s parts, the
replacement of all asbestos components and
the re-assembly of the aircraft. In this case,
the fighter is grounded for about one year.
High personnel synergy
The first Harrier to be subjected to this
maintenance entered the hangar at the start
of 2020, with the work being completed in
February 2021. Despite the complexity of
the task, the aircraft was accepted after the
first test flight, confirming the high level of
efficiency and synergy between the personnel
from Leonardo (tasked with disassembling the
aircraft) and the Navy technicians who then
reassembled it. The GRUPAER is scheduled
to subject a maximum of two aircraft at a time
to this treatment and to assign an element
of its engineers exclusively to the conduct
of MCA inspections. This process does not
involve the entire fleet.
The second type of planned intervention is
defined as ‘Point-to-Point’, and involves the
examination of individual components when it
becomes necessary to perform maintenance
operations on specific areas of the aircraft.
To this end, a controlled, up-to-date map of
each Harrier's configuration is maintained in
order to record which components have been
replaced and which have not.
Self-evidently, this is complex work in both
cases, requiring the intervention of Leonardo
and other companies that specialise in the
disposal of asbestos. It absorbs much of the
unit's maintenance energy and personnel. (It
is worth noting that similar MCA programmes
have not been planned by the other two
operators of the Harrier II, the USMC and the
Armada Española (Spanish Navy).)
Serviceability issues
Unfortunately, and partly due to these
supplementary activities, the MMI’s Harrier
fleet has not benefitted from the highest
A pair of AV-8B+ Harrier IIs on ‘Garibaldi’ prior to
levels of serviceability. an air-to-ground bombing mission at a training
The initial force comprised 16 single-seat range on Sardinia. Note the blue bomblets on
AV-8B+ Harrier IIs and a pair of two-seat TAV- the underwing TER Riccardo Niccoli
8Bs. Over the past 30 years, some incidents
have reduced the fleet of single-seaters to 13
aircraft, while one of the two-seaters – serial
MM55033 ‘1-02’ – was retired from service
several years ago.
In the summer of 2020, AV-8B+ serial
MM7212 ‘1-06’, which had suffered a severe
emergency and was scheduled to be retired,
was returned to the USMC at the unit’s
cost, because it had a requirement to obtain
an airframe. Separately, the retirement of
aircraft with the highest usage started in
2019. Adding to this is the fact that Grottaglie
has also suffered from severe foreign object
debris (FOD) issues in recent years, makes
it easy to understand why the GRUPAER
has not managed to produce the number of
flying hours that would have normally been
expected over the last decade.
Due to its large air intakes and the strong air
ingestion generated by its engine, especially
during vertical/short take-off and landing (V/
STOL) operations, the Harrier is an aircraft
that is highly susceptible to FOD. In the past,

34 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


Above: A pair of Italian Navy AV-8B+ Harrier IIs
conduct a sortie over the Mediterranean Sea
Below: AV-8B+ Harrier II, serial MM7224 ‘1-19’,
was the last example delivered to the Italian
Navy. It is seen here during it’s take-off run,
before being launched on the ‘Cavour’ ski-jump
Two AV-8B+ Harrier IIs
approach ITS ‘Garibaldi’ (551),
the aircraft carrier of the
Italian Navy until 2009, when
it was replaced by ‘Cavour’.
Harriers can still be operated
from ‘Garibaldi’, if required
www.Key.Aero
some five line engines have gone ‘OFF’ in
a short time, due to the ingestion of foreign
objects from the airfield's runway – which,
incidentally, is also open to civil air traffic – so
much so that it was decided to construct the
shorter M2 runway at Grottaglie.
This was exclusively reserved for V/STOL
operations, and was initially 579m long.
However, at the beginning of 2021, the runway
length was doubled to 1,158m.
Inspection and maintenance activities at
the first and second level are performed
in-house by the Grottaglie-based unit, while
those at the third level are conducted by
Leonardo engineers at the same base. The
basis of the maintenance model is by ‘phase’,
namely every 200 flying hours. There are four
phases – A, B, C and D – and when an
aircraft reaches 2,500 flying hours, it is
subjected to a PMI-1.
Subsequently, the second PMI should occur
after a further 1,500 hours of flight – therefore
at the recording of an overall 4,000 flying
hours – with the third conducted when 5,500
hours is reached. The overall operational life
of a Harrier II airframe is theoretically around
6,500 hours but, as of today, not even the
USMC has had to subject one of its aircraft
to a PMI-2.
The average life of an Italian airframe should
be approximately 2,800 hours, but it is evident
that there is also some ageing caused by
the high number of years in service and the
level of fatigue and corrosion to which the
airframes have been subjected.
Weapons upgrades
Even today – and despite the type’s
serviceability issues – the MMI’s Harriers
continue to be effective combat aircraft, if
not state-of-the-art.
In terms of operational capability, some
upgrades have recently been integrated into
the Italian AV-8B fleet, such as the AT version
of the AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening II targeting pod
and the Rover 4 for interfacing with land-
based joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs)
on close air support (CAS) missions.
The weapons available for the Italian Harrier
fleet's armoury remain the AIM-9L Sidewinder
short-range air-to-air missile and AIM-120B
advanced medium-range air-to-air missile
(AMRAAM). However, for air-to-ground
operations, the platform employs GBU-32
and GBU-38 GPS-guided joint direct attack
munition(JDAM) bombs, GBU-12 and GBU-
16 laser-guided bombs (LGBs) and AGM-
65G Maverick infrared-guided air-to-ground
missiles. The GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJDAM)
munition has also been introduced and has
been specifically adapted for use against
moving targets.
To accompany the introduction of GPS-
guided weapons, improved triple ejector
racks (TERs) have been acquired. These
accommodate digital cabling, which enables
the aircraft to dialogue with the smart bombs.
Finally, the Italian Harriers can also be
equipped with AN/ALQ-164 jamming pods.
In terms of onboard software, the USMC's
examples are equipped with the H6.2 release,
while the Italian aircraft feature release H6.0
in the expectation that the US will also issue
Italy with the new software, albeit in the usual,
so-called ‘version for our allies’.
Pilot training
Pilot strength of the GRUPAER is not optimal,
mainly due to an exodus a few years ago.
However, the training of new pilots is ongoing,
following well-consolidated agreements with
the US Navy. Future Harrier pilots are fed
January 2022 // 35
Italian Harriers
down the ‘strike’ pipeline, which includes an
initial phase on the Beechcraft T-6B Texan II,
before moving onto the T-45C Goshawk and
achieving the coveted ‘Wings of Gold’.
At present, pilots who are training on the
T-45C also obtain their carrier qualification
(CQ), but it seems that this activity will only be
conducted in simulators in the future and will
only be carried out by operational conversion
units (OCUs) in live environments.
Once they have qualified, the new MMI
fighter pilots pass under the control of the
USMC at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock,
North Carolina, where they are hosted by
Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 (VMAT-
203) ‘Hawks’, the fleet replacement squadron
(the US Navy/USMC equivalent of a traditional
OCU) for the entire Harrier fleet.
Lt Cdr Brambilla told AFM: “At Cherry Point,
the course has a duration of around nine
months, equivalent to a very variable number
of flying hours, ranging from a minimum of 60
to a maximum of 120, depending on various
factors. Apart from learning to fly the aircraft,
the pilots also receive an initial grounding in
all the various missions assigned, with the
exception of air-to-air combat.
“Once they have returned to Italy, it becomes
the GRUPAER's task to complete their
training, aimed at achieving Limited Combat
Ready and then Full Combat Ready status.
"The first qualification - achieved after
around 400 hours on the aircraft – is that of
flight leader in the air-to-ground role. After
another 150 hours, the pilots become Multi-
Role Combat Ready, which also includes the
air-to-air capability,” he explained.
Carrier qualification
Alongside these activities, there is also the
CQ (Characteristic Bravo, according to the
MMI designations), which involves landings
primarily on the carrier ITS Cavour (550).
For this activity, there are three levels of
increasing difficulty: Level 1 (Day), Level 2
(Night) and Level 3 (Night-Vision Goggles).
Level 1 is normally completed as early as
A two-seat TAV-8B Harrier II takes off
into dusk skies from the ITS ‘Cavour’
36 // January 2022
possible, usually when the pilot has flown
more than 100 hours on the type, which
normally occurs between 3-4 months to a
year after they have been assigned to the unit.
In pre-COVID-19 times, CQs were
programmed four or five times per year during
dedicated cruises, and also during exercises
such as ‘Mare Aperto’, among others. Since
the beginning of the pandemic, cruises have
been intensified, but periods at sea have been
shortened in order to avoid the problems of
quarantining and potential hotspots. In any
case, it is the norm that when the Cavour
is put to sea, it accommodates Harriers on
board to permit embarked operations.
“In 30 years of Harrier operations, firstly on
the [ITS Garibaldi (551)], and from 2009 on
the Cavour, the GRUPAER has accumulated
a large and valuable experience in off-deck
flying,” Lt Cdr Brambilla reported.
The future is Lightning
The GRUPAER’s future is focusing on the
F-35B programme. This aircraft is already
a reality for the MMI, although it has yet to
formally enter service with the squadron.
Despite being in the unit’s charge, the first
two aircraft are assigned to Marine Fighter
Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-
501) ‘Warlords’ at MCAS Beaufort in South
Carolina, where they are embedded within
the USMC’s sole OCU for the F-35B Lightning
II. The third example – which was delivered
on July 30, 2021 – is presently aboard Above: An AV-8B+ pilot assigned to GRUPAER
disembarks at Grottaglie, as ground crew arrive to
the Cavour, awaiting the final definitive perform post-flight checks Riccardo Niccoli
organisation of the fleet.
All USMC pilot training is centred at Right: The Italian Navy’s first Lockheed Martin
Beaufort, as is that of the MMI and F-35B Lightning II arrived at NAS Patuxent River in
Maryland from Italy on January 31, 2018. Italy will
Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI;, Italian Air procure 30 F-35Bs split between the Navy and Air
Force). The only other operator of the F-35B Force F-35 Joint Program Office/Dane Wiedmann
- the Royal Air Force in the UK – has, after an
initial period at Beaufort, elected to conduct
the conversion of its own pilots in-house.
The US base also undertakes the training of
technicians for the aircraft, following an initial
theory/practical phase with the Integrated
Training Center at Eglin Air Force Base in
www.Key.Aero

Florida, which is common to all the technical
personnel posted onto F-35 support.
At the time of going to press, a total of
seven pilots from the GRUPAER had been
qualified on the Lightning II and, to maintain a
minimum currency, they travel to the US to fly
the real aircraft or simulators at Beaufort.
The final retirement of the Italian Harrier
fleet is planned for December 31, 2024, when
the single-seat AV-8B+ aircraft will come to
the end of their service lives. By then, the
GRUPAER will probably possess six F-35Bs
to deploy on initial operational capability.
What is not yet clear is the eventual location
of the MMI's Lightning IIs. At Grottaglie, they
are tight-lipped about this aspect, so we can
only speculate.
The MMI originally planned to base the
F-35Bs at Grottaglie, which would have been
the subject of extensive and costly work to
accommodate the jet. Nevertheless, some
time ago, the Italian Defence Staff decided to
base the Navy F-35Bs at Amendola Air Base
in Italy's Foggia province, alongside the AMI’s
F-35A/B fleet. A final decision on this matter
has yet to be made. AFM
www.Key.Aero
For the GRUPAER’s 30th anniversary, the
unit revealed this special schemed AV-8B+,
serial MM7223 ‘1-18’, that pays homage to the
camouflage of the Italian Navy’s Littorio-class
battleship, ‘Roma’, sunk by German forces
during World War Two Riccardo Niccoli
Mission training
The missions assigned to the GRUPAER have
remained unchanged since the unit was established.
First and foremost comes the protection of the
naval force (which incorporates the air-to-air mission
above all else), followed by air-to-ground missions
for both naval/surface interdiction operations or CAS
taskings in support of amphibious forces during
landing operations.
However, in real employments, the utilisation of the
Harrier has been concentrated on the air-to-ground
mission set, such as those conducted in the Kosovo,
Afghanistan and Libya conflicts.
The GRUPAER trains against threats of the highest
level in the entire air-to-air and air-to-ground
spectrum of activities, although not in the suppression
of enemy air defence (SEAD) operations. For this –
apart from the activities conducted independently
from Grottaglie or from the ITS Cavour – the unit
also conducts joint missions with the AMI, such as
mini-combined air operations (COMAO) with the
Eurofighter F-2000As of 36º Stormo (Wing) and
occasionally with the F-35As of 32º Stormo or the
F-2000As of 37º Stormo.
Then there are the Tactical Leadership Programme
(TLP) courses at Albacete in Spain, which had been
interrupted for a number of years, but which were
resumed in November 2021, as well as various AMI-
led exercises, such as STAREX and VEGA.
In-flight refuelling opportunities are based on the
availability of the AMI-operated Lockheed Martin
KC-130J Hercules tactical tanker/transports. However,
in recent months, these activities have also been
practised with a KC-130J operated by the USMC,
which came from Spain to Naval Air Station (NAS)
Sigonella in Sicily, Italy.
January 2022 // 37
COP26
Boeing VC-25A (serial 92-8000, otherwise known as ‘Air Force
One’) arrives at an autumnal-looking Edinburgh Turnhouse from
Rome, Italy, where US President Joe Biden had been attending
the G20 summit before flying to Scotland. The aircraft remained at
Edinburgh for the duration of his visit
I
n a world where climate change is becoming
a repeat offender in increasingly dangerous
natural disasters, such as forest fires and
flooding, it was vital for the recent United
Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference to be
a success and for world leaders to leave with
positive discussion and a plan of action.
Thousands of activists, speakers and even
celebrities attended the 26th edition of the
conference – commonly referred to as COP26
– as the leaders of a variety of countries came
under the spotlight and watchful eye of the
media at the event, staged in Glasgow from
October 31 to November 12, 2021.
Although the summit was about the world’s
current climate woes, no expense seemed
to have been spared in attending COP26.
Countries used whatever resources necessary
to ensure their heads of state could come and
go as they pleased.
While the aviation industry is making
significant progress in reducing emissions
around the world, it still has some way to go
before it will truly be a carbon neutral sector.
Although controversial, air travel is still the
safest and most efficient way to attend large-
scale events, such as COP26.
Many of the nations that attended COP26
brought their own aeroplanes, while others flew
in aboard unmarked private aircraft, such as
Boeing 737s and Gulfstream G650s.
The attending countries taking their own
aircraft were Albania, Argentina, Australia,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, France,
Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kenya, Kuwait, Lithuania, Mauritius, Namibia,
the Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar,
Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the
UAE, the UK, the US and Vietnam.
Due to the sheer number of aircraft attending,
finding parking and extra stands was a
challenge. This resulted in the visiting platforms
being spread across five different locations in
Scotland, including Glasgow Airport, Glasgow
38 // January 2022
One of the more colourful aircraft to visit Scotland during the COP26
climate conference was this Bolivian Air Force-operated Dassault Falcon
900EX (serial FAB-001, callsign ‘FAB001’). The presence of more business
jets at this event highlights the growing shift that governments are making
from older aircraft types to newer, more efficient platforms
Prestwick Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Aberdeen ‘KAF001’ rotates out of
Airport and Inverness Airport. Some aircraft Glasgow Airport bound for
Budapest, Hungary, after
even repositioned further south to Newcastle attending COP26. The
International Airport, Manchester Airport and conference marked the final
London Gatwick Airport, visiting Glasgow time that the Republic of
when required. Korea Air Force-operated
Boeing 747-4B5 (serial 10001)
These mass gatherings of world leaders and will visit the UK before it is
government aircraft at the same location are replaced by the more
not a common occurrence. As pleasant as it is modern Boeing 747-8i
to see modern, rare and unique aircraft flying All images: Chris Melaisi
for different countries, times are starting to
change in the aviation world.
COP26 highlighted how changes in aircraft
type – due to their running costs and
environmental impact – have occurred in
recent years, with the majority of platforms
in attendance being smaller business jets or
modern airliners.
At previous, similar events, Russian-built
hardware and older Western aircraft have
dominated the government scene with little
thought for the environment.
For example during COP26, Kyrgyzstan used
an Embraer 190 instead of its older Tupolev
Tu-154M (NATO reporting name Careless)
VVIP transport. The Russian delegation flew
in aboard a Dassault Falcon 7X, instead of
using the variety of Russian-built types that
the country has at its disposal. Having retired
their older Boeing 747s, India and Japan both
attended with their cleaner and more modern
Boeing 777-300ERs.
Among the modern types, there was a
to
couple of older, rarer aircraft present during
the conference, which are ‘on their last legs’.
The Republic of Korea Air Force’s Boeing 747-
Gla
Gla
4B5 (serial 10001) provided Glasgow Airport
with a first and last visit before its upcoming
retirement. The aircraft visited Italy, Hungary
and the UK on what is said to be the platform’s
final international mission. Another notable
attendee was the Egyptian government’s
Airbus A340-212 (registration SU-GGG), which
is due for retirement in early 2022.
As upsetting as it is to see older, more
vulnerable types disappear; change must
occur in the industry to reduce emissions
and meet the 2030 targets set at the COP26
summit.
www.Key.Aero
An Airbus A340-212 operated by the Egyptian government
lines up to depart Glasgow Airport for Cairo, Egypt, using
the callsign ‘EGY001’. At 27 years old, it is one of the oldest
Airbus aircraft still flying today. The type will be retired from
service early next year
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Boeing 777-300ER (serial
80-1112) arrives directly from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport with Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida on board. Two weeks prior to this, the
aircraft visited Edinburgh, Glasgow and Prestwick airports from
Tokyo on a practice run for the conference

Flocking Chris Melaisi was present for the mass arrival of

world leaders and their delegations at the COP26
climate change conference in Scotland and
noted its effect on the VVIP
transport sector

asgow
www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 39
Exercise
Report
The Mi-8MTV-5-1s involved
in the Mulino training range
operations were provided by
the 440th and 549th Otdelnyi
Vertoliotnyi Polks (Independent
Helicopter Regiments)
All images: Andrey Zinchuk,
unless otherwise stated
T
he Zapad 2021 (West
2021) exercises were
the culminating event
of an annual combat training
campaign that comprised more
than 4,800 separate exercises
within Russia and Belarus.
The scenario called for large-
scale defensive and offensive
operations on the western
borders of both countries. It
offered a welcome opportunity
to test new doctrine and
tactics, in addition to some
newly inducted or experimental
40 // January 2022
Zapad 2021
weapons, represented this year
by multiple armed unmanned air
and ground systems.
As a strategic command/
staff exercise, Zapad 2021
represented an ambitious effort
by a more-assertive Russia to
show the West the enhanced
military potential of its joint
forces with Belarus, together with
significant political signals.
During the active phase –
conducted between September
10-16 – the manoeuvres
followed a scenario in which
a sudden assault of extremist
forces against Belarus and
Russia was launched, enjoying
comprehensive logistic and
air support from neighbouring
countries. According to Lt Gen
Yunus-Bek Evkurov – the Russian
deputy defence minister, who
was responsible for the combat
training – the evolving combat
tactics shown at Zapad 2021
drew upon the newly gained
experience of the wars in Syria
and Nagorno-Karabakh (a region
in the South Caucasus).
The scenario
The exercise scenario laid out a
supposed war coalition of three
fictional hostile states – Nyaris,
Pomoria and the Polar Republic
(resembling Lithuania, Latvia
and Poland to some extent) –
which have eagerly supported
an ill-fated coup to change the
government in the independent
state of Polesia (a fictional
country on Belarusian territory)
belonging to the Union State of
the Republic of Polesia and the
Central Federation (Russia).
www.Key.Aero

The largest joint strategic exercise
between Russia and Belarus saw a
wide range of mobile air operations
carried out in the territories of both
the allied countries, as revealed by
Alexander Mladenov
The coalition of the three hostile
neighbours then launched a
large-scale military intervention
in Polesia, preceded by air and
missile strikes. At this phase, the
Central Federation stepped in to
try to repel the aggression against
Polesia, to liberate its occupied
territories and eventually to crush
the aggressor forces in the final
phase of the manoeuvres.
Large-scale event
The Russian Ministry of Defence
(MoD) claimed that nearly
www.Key.Aero
ON
200,000 personnel; 760 combat
vehicles (including no fewer than
290 main battle tanks); 250 large-
calibre artillery pieces; multiple-
launch rocket systems and
mortars; 80 fixed-wing aircraft
and helicopters; plus as many as
15 Baltic Fleet and Northern Fleet
ships participated in all phases of
the large-scale exercise.
The drills were held on nine
training ranges on Russian
territory and the Baltic Sea,
augmented by five more on
Belarusian soil. As well as
NATO’s
Russian and Belarusian forces,
troops from Armenia, India,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Mongolia participated.
The Russian aviation element
included front-line tactical air
units stationed in the Western
Military District (WMD), including
all Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye
Sily (VKS, Russian Aerospace
Force) Frontal Aviation and
Army Aviation regiments and
independent squadrons of
the WMD, in addition to units
of Military Transport Aviation
doorstep
Command stationed in the
western part of the country.
The exercise also saw the
participation of attack aircraft
from air units drawn from the
Southern Military District. Long-
Range Aviation Command was
also present – two long-range
bomber types were dispatched.
Aviatsiya Voenno-Morskovo
Flota (AVMF, Russian Naval
Aviation) also participated with
its Baltic Fleet component.
The Belarusian Air and
Defence Force took part with
January 2022 // 41
Exercise
Report
its Army Aviation component,
including Mil Mi-24P/K (Hind-F/
G2) attack and Mi-8MTV-5-1
Hip-H tactical transport
helicopters. Frontal Aviation
assets comprised newly delivered
Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker-H multi-
role fighters and legacy Su-25
Frogfoot attack aircraft.
A news highlight of Zapad 2021
was the establishment of the
Joint Command and Control
(JC2) Air Defence Centre between
Russia and Belarus.
This high-level command-and-
control structure ran the joint
air defence system of the two
countries in the exercise area,
incorporating a network of early
warning (EW) radars, fighters, and
ground-based air defence (GBAD)
units equipped with long-range
surface-to-air missiles.
It cannot be ruled out that
the newly established JC2 Air
Defence Centre (after testing
during Zapad 2021) will continue
to operate on a regular basis
now and in the future, further
expanding Russia’s military
footprint in Belarus.
Belarus ops
The first stage of the active phase
in Belarus called for defensive
operations, with initial large-
scale drills carried out at Obuz-
Lesnovsky training range, near
the city of Baranovichi.
On September 12, an operation
– aimed at retaking a mock-up
city seized by extremist forces –
saw close air support provided
by Belarusian Mi-24 attack
helicopters, flying shoulder to
shoulder with VKS-operated
Kamov Ka-52 Hokum-Bs, while
the fixed-wing element included
Su-34 Fullbacks and was tasked
with destruction of the enemy
air defences, using free-fall
fragmentation/blast bombs.
The rotorcraft employed a
new attack tactic (mastered in
Syria) known as the ‘helicopter
42 // January 2022
Zapad 2021
carousel’, while Belarusian and
Russian ground units mastered
counter-drone defences.
A new tactical element,
mastered by Russian Army
Aviation units during the initial
defensive operations, included
flying sorties from the so-called
ambush positions on the
ground, in an effort to destroy
highly manoeuvrable enemy
units. It involved pairs of attack
helicopters operating from
dispersed forward sites, well
hidden in forest areas.
Upon detection of enemy ground
mobile units penetrating at high
speed through the defensive
lines of the friendly forces, the
helicopters waiting in ambush
were called upon to launch and
mount attacks on advancing
enemy combat vehicles from
ultra-low altitude. After firing their
weapons, the pairs left the attack
and returned to their operating
sites, to be rearmed and refuelled
for further combat sorties, while
newly scrambled pairs continued
the attacks on enemy columns.
The Kaliningrad exclave –
isolated from the rest of Russia
and Belarus, and encircled by
the NATO member states of
Above: A four-ship Mi-24P flight conducts a pass while firing 80mm rockets.
Poland and Lithuania – also These attack helicopters are assigned to the 440th Otdelnyi Vertoliotnyi Polks,
saw a fair share of action in the which is home-based at Vyazma
active phase of Zapad 2021, with
the first episode organised at Fencer-Ds from the 4th Morskoy Eskadril'ya (Independent
Khmelevka training range on the Shturmovoy Aviatsionnyy Polk Reconnaissance Aviation
Baltic Sea coast. (MShAP, Maritime Attack Aviation Squadron) from Shatalovo, with
The action included an assault Regiment), called upon for a handful of Su-24MR Fencer-Es,
landing by Naval Infantry units attacking shore targets. and the Kursk-based 14th GvIAP,
provided by the Northern Fleet, In addition to their airspace with 16 Su-30SMs, tasked with
with an air defence umbrella control mission, the Baltic Fleet providing air superiority over the
provided by Su-27 fighters Su-27s – held on Quick Reaction battlespace. The 960th ShAP
of the Baltic Fleet aviation Alert (QRA) at Chkalovsk Air from Primorsko-Akhtarsk also
arm, assigned to the 689th Base, near Kaliningrad – were participated with 12 Su-25SM3
Gvardeyskiy Istrebitel'nyy scrambled to destroy targets Frogfoot-A attack aircraft, along
Aviatsionnyy Polk (GvIAP, Guards simulating ship-launched cruise with six Su-24M bombers from
Fighter Aviation Regiment), missiles over the Baltic Sea. the 11th Svodnyy Aviatsionnyy
while the Baltic Fleet coastal Polk (Composite Aviation
forces organised defence of the Main episode Regiment), based at Morozovsk.
exclave. Close air support during The largest and most spectacular Additionally, 16 Su-34s from
the operation was provided manoeuvres in the active phase the 47th Bombardirovchnyy
by Su-30SMs and Su-24M of Zapad 2021 were carried out Aviatsionnyy Polk (BAP, Bomber
at the Mulino training range, Aviation Regiment) at Voronezh
located near Nizhny Novgorod, and six Su-35S fighters from
deep inside Russian territory. The the Khotilovo-based 790th IAP
manoeuvres there simulated a took part in the operation. Six
large-scale offensive operation. Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire-C
The aviation element that heavy bombers from the 52nd
participated in this operation Tyazhelobombardirovochnyy
included 60 aircraft, which were Aviapolk (TBAP, Heavy Bomber
tasked with mounting a strike on Aviation Regiment) at Shaikovka
the enemy positions, providing also participated in the strike
top cover and delivering assault mission at Mulino, using live,
parties in the rear areas. high-powered weapons.
The units involved in the A formation of 12 Su-25SM3s
operation were the 4th Otdel'naya was used to destroy the enemy
Razvedyvatel'naya Aviatsionnaya air defence positions, expending
www.Key.Aero
 48 fragmentation/high-explosive
unguided bombs. The main
defensive positions and an
armour column on the move were
knocked out by four Su-34 flights,
which used 24 FAB-500M-52
1,100lb high-explosive bombs.
Then, a six-strong Tu-22M3
formation joined the action – with
each heavy bomber dropping
eight 3,306lb FAB-1500 high-
explosive freefall bombs on
targets that simulated command-
and-control centres of the
fictional enemy. The airspace
control over the battlespace
during the strike mission was
provided by Su-35S fighters.
The large-scale, combined-
arms, offensive operation at
www.Key.Aero
Mulino continued with a large-
scale helicopter tactical assault
in the enemy rear areas. As
many as 32 Mi-8MTV-5-1s
and Mi-8AMTShs delivered
assault parties from the 31st
Landing-Assault Brigade of the
Airborne Troops (VDV) branch,
transporting 122mm D-30
howitzers, Sarmat all-terrain
vehicles and various supplies and
munitions in an external sling.
The escort of the air assault
formation and its close air
support was provided by 14
attack helicopters, a mixture of
Ka-52s, Mi-28N Night Hunters
and Mi-24s.
Forward control of the strike
operations was carried out by a
deep-reconnaissance team of the
VDV’s 45th Independent Guards
Special-Purpose Brigade – home-
based at Kubinka near Moscow.
The team was initially delivered
at Zhitovo drop zone by an
Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid strategic
transport, with the drop made
from an altitude of 26,240ft, and
the special operators using high-
altitude parachute systems and
life-support equipment.
Then, another Il-76MD dropped
various supplies on cargo
platforms and weapons from
4,920ft, each weighing 3,354lb.
An Antonov An-26 Curl light
transport was also used to
deliver an eight-strong forward air
co-ordination and control team
Above, left: Airborne troops – from
the VDV’s 31st Air Assault Brigade
at Ulyanovsk – begin their mission
after being inserted into the Mulino
training range by Mi-8MTV-5-1
tactical transport helicopters
Main image: The Mulino air assault
operation included 32 Mi-8s, which
were used to transport VDV troops
and their equipment around the
training range. The initial parties were
delivered via fast-roping equipment
Left: A line of Mi-28N and Ka-52
attack helicopters on the ground
at Savastleika Air Base, where the
rotorcraft were staged for the air
assault operations at the Mulino
training range. The helicopters were
all provided by the Army Aviation
squadrons equipped with these
new-generation types in Russia’s
Western Military District
January 2022 // 43
Exercise
Report Zapad 2021
to Mulino, together with cargo TBAP – home-based at Engels. Regiment) based at Pskov. The 106th Guards Airborne Division.
platforms loaded with mission On September 14, the aircraft assault was delivered at a small- The airborne assault force –
equipment, which were dropped flew a mission requiring it to size drop zone also situated near consisting of 31 BMD-4Ms and
from an altitude of 8,200ft. penetrate the air defence system Pskov, with the troops jumping 300 troops (including 20 Indian
Another large-scale air strike of the Western Military District from 1,312-13,120ft. Army soldiers) – was dropped at
was mounted on September before simulating cruise missile Then the assault party the Zhitovo range in Russia.
13, at a training range in the launches while facing dense demonstrated a rapid seizure of Drops were made from 2,620-
Smolensk region of Russia – electronic jamming. an enemy airfield, in an effort to 3,600ft, with the Il-76MDs aircraft
which is close to the border with enable the landing of transport maintaining tight formations at
Belarus. It saw formations of Airborne assaults aircraft on a non-paved runway, short distances between the
Su-34 and Tu-22M3 bombers, Zapad 2021 saw a series of to deliver the main assault force three-ship flights. Top cover for
operating in a co-ordinated large-scale air assault operations for a follow-on, large-scale this air assault operation was
manner to pound a variety of mounted by the VDV. The offensive operation. provided by Su-35S fighters.
high-value targets, including first and, perhaps, the most The top cover during the The concluding operation saw
underground command posts, impressive of these was carried night air assault was again a large-scale air assault carried
concrete shelters, and armour out at night by a battalion of provided by Su-30SM fighters, out at the Brestkiy training range,
columns on the move. Bomb the Pskov-based 76th Guards augmented by Mi-8AMTSh and mounted by a combined Russian-
drops were made in level flight Airborne Division, including 600 Ka-52 helicopters from the 15th Belarusian airborne task force,
from 3,330ft, in tight formations, troops and 30 combat vehicles. Brigada Armeyskoy Aviatsii (Army comprising 400 troops and 39
including two-ship and four-ship The troops used night-vision Aviation Brigade), which is based combat vehicles, which were
flights, with top cover protection goggles and parachuted from at Ostrov. The command-and- dropped from VKS Il-76MD
being provided by Su-30SMs. more than 20 VKS Il-76MD control element of the air assault transports in low-level flight.
The VKS’s Long-Range airlifters, most of which operation included one Ilyushin The Russian troops involved in
Aviation Command also belonged to the A-50U Mainstay-B airborne early the air assault were provided by
participated with a 334th Voyenno- warning and control aircraft, the Pskov-based 76th Guards
single Tupolev “We can Transportnyy complemented by an Il-22M-11 Airborne Division, airlifted to the
Tu-95MS plan combat Aviatsionnyy Coot-B airborne command post. range in Belarus from Pskov-
Bear-H Polk (VTAP, At the next stage of the mission, Kresti Air Base, located more
strategic
operations in any Military the assault group committed than 540nm away from the drop
bomber direction, to deny Transport a high-speed, 54nm raid to zone. The jumps were made
from the aggression and then, with Aviation the Strugi-Krasnye training from an altitude of 1,900ft. The
184th decisive strikes, make the range, where it was tasked with Belarusian troops launched from
enemy sane and sober” establishing defensive lines Machulishchy Air Base (near
and destroying enemy assets, Minsk) were also delivered to
Lt Gen Yunus-Bek carrying out manoeuvring the drop zone by VKS Il-76MDs,
Evkurov, Russia’s defence and establishing control which joined the main formation
deputy defence over the state border line. coming from Kresty.
minister Another night air assault
operation was practised at the
The air assault operation
practised at the Brestkiy training
Brestkiy training range in Belarus range was intended to overrun the
on September 12. This involved enemy defensive positions, before
a composite assault party with the airborne troops were tasked
troops from Russia, Belarus with setting up suitable defences,
and Kazakhstan. pending the arrival of the main
The next large-scale air assault group of forces and blocking the
operation was carried out in movements of the fictional enemy,
daylight on September 14. It saw by seizing a trio of key bridges
as many as 21 Il-76MDs deliver in the area.
a complete airborne troops On September 14, yet another
battalion, equipped with new air assault operation took place.
BMD-4M infantry fighting vehicles This time, it was carried out at the
(IFVs) drawn from the Tula-based Pravdinsky training range in the
Above: A VDV-operated BMD-4M IFV is loaded onto an Il-76MD heavy-lift
strategic transport, before being dropped over a training range for Zapad 2021
Russian MoD

Below: A VKS-operated An-26 twin-turboprop transport was used to deliver a

forward air control and co-ordination party to Mulino training range
Russian MoD

44 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

Kaliningrad enclave. The assault
party numbered some 300 troops
and 12 BMD-2KU IFVs, which
were delivered by ten Il-76MDs.
During the drop and the
subsequent offensive, it also
received air support from Baltic
Fleet Su-24Ms, while Su-27s
secured the airspace in the area
of operations.
Air defence
A large-scale air defence
operation was also practised
within the frame of Zapad 2021.
It was designed to test the
readiness and response of the
air defence units placed on QRA
duty and stationed in the Western
Military District. The mass drill
saw more than 50 VKS fixed-
wing aircraft and helicopters
dispatched on a mission to
simulate a large-scale air strike.
The list of the VKS types
called upon in the probing raids
included An-2 Colt single-
engine biplanes and An-26 twin-
turboprop transports in addition
to Su-35S and Mikoyan-Gurevich
MiG-31BM Foxhound jets, along
with Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters.
The strike formations had to
penetrate through the defensive
belts formed by EW radars
and GBAD units – approaching
from different directions and at
different altitudes, day and night,
with their IFF systems switched
off and flying in tight formations.
Some of the aircraft
participating in the operation,
such as the Su-35Ss, are
reported to have also created
electronic jamming, to make
the work of radar and GBAD
operators more difficult.
In turn, the crews manning the
EW radar installations had to
detect and classify the multiple
air targets participating in the
raid and then – using dedicated
datalinks – report their position
and direction of flight to the 6th
Air and Air Defence Army C2
post, which was tasked with
the target distribution as well
as control of the subsequent
engagements against the
intruders with GBAD systems
and fighters.
Countering drones
The intense counter-UAS (or
counter-drone) operations
practised at Zapad 2021 saw the
establishment of highly mobile
composite teams comprising
GBAD, chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear (CBRN)
www.Key.Aero
Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-role fighters
from the Baltic Fleet’s 4th MShAP
were used in a variety of close air
support missions during the different
Zapad 2021 episodes held within the
Kaliningrad exclave
warfare and electronic warfare
elements for the first time.
The CBRN element, in
particular, was used to rapidly
create large-size smoke/
aerosol screens (using TDA-3
truck-mounted smoke/aerosol
generators), in an effort to
hide the positions of friendly
forces and their command
posts from the sensors of the
intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR) and
strike drones operated by the
fictional enemy.
In turn, the electronic warfare
element of the counter-
UAS teams – using truck-
mounted R-330Zh Zhitel
jammer systems with an
effective range of up to 13nm
– was tasked with creating
powerful electronic jamming
to render the drone command
and sensor feed datalinks
inoperable, in addition to
disabling their satellite
navigation capability.
The widespread use of
electronic jamming systems
and smoke/aerosol generators
– to hide important positions
and objects on the battlefield
from ISR and unmanned
combat air vehicles circling
overhead – is one of the
important lessons learned from
experiences during the war
in Nagorno-Karabakh, which
occurred between September
and November 2020.
As Lt Gen Yunus-Bek Evkurov
noted, after the concluding
phase of Zapad 2021, the
exercise has shown that the
country’s military is able to
promptly set up powerful inter-
service groups of forces. He
said: “We can plan combat
operations in any direction,
to deny aggression and then,
with decisive strikes, make the
enemy sane and sober.” AFM
Above: The Forpost-R UAS made its debut in an armed role during Zapad
2021. The platform delivered KAB-20 small-size guided munitions
Russian MoD
Armed drones
in action
Zapad 2021 was the first large-scale
exercise in Russia to see the mass use of
armed drones.
The Kronstadt Inokhodets, also known
as the Orion programme – the first
medium-altitude, long-endurance-class
unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – is also
the first Russian-made UAS capable of
employing air-launched weapons (proven
in combat in Syria in 2020).
During the Zapad 2021 exercise, the
Inokhodets was joined by the Forpost-R
and both types were tasked to provide
air support to an advancing motorised
infantry brigade at the Mulino training
range, using guided munitions.
The Inokhodets (which appeared in the
static display at Dubai Air Show as the
Orion-E) – bears a resemblance to the
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’s
MQ-1 Predator – fired Vikhr-1 anti-tank
guided missiles with laser-beam-riding
guidance kits borrowed from the Ka-52
helicopter. In addition, the drone provided
targeting support to long-range artillery
and mortar units (firing laser-guided
rounds), and laser targets for air strikes
delivered by manned aircraft. Russia
began fielding the Inokhodets in regular
service when the first system was taken
on strength in April 2021.
The Forpost-R UAS (a much-improved
and Russified IAI Searcher MkII
derivative) is manufactured by the UZGA
company in Yekaterinburg – reportedly
from Russian-supplied materials,
systems and mission payloads. It is set
for widespread service with the Russian
military and has been initially tailored for
the ISR role. Its newly added armaments
enable it to strike ground targets, using
munitions weighing up to 265lb.
During Zapad 2021, the Forpost-R
was armed with two KAB-20 small-size
guided munitions – each weighing 44lb
and outfitted with satellite guidance kits.
There were no fewer than 18 Forpost-R
systems ordered for various Russian
military branches in 2019 and 2020,
with each of these including one ground
control station and three air vehicles.
The Orlan-10 was another UAS to
make its debut at Zapad 2021, where
it was operated in the strike role for
the first time. This is a new derivative
of a widespread and affordable drone,
which has been employed in the ISR role
by the Russian military since the early
2010s, and has now been armed with
Myrotvorets unguided munitions.
Each of the UAS platforms that
participated in Zapad 2021 were
networked with the Strelets-M
reconnaissance, command, control and
communications systems of the ground
units, to facilitate network-enabled
battlefield operations. The networked
drones were used for target detection,
identification and geolocation –
establishing positions to pinpoint targets
and mount an effective strike from
artillery and air platforms.
January 2022 // 45
RCAF Hornets in Romania
T
he Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
409 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS)
‘Nighthawk’ and its ageing Boeing
CF-188A/B Hornets were kept busy after
the unit arrived at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air
Base (AB) near Constanta, Romania. The
veteran jets from Canadian Forces Base (CFB)
Cold Lake, Alberta were supporting NATO’s
ongoing enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission,
alongside colleagues from the Fortele Aeriene
Române (FAR, Romanian Air Force).
A detachment from the Canadian unit
was deployed there from September 1 to
November 30, 2021, with approximately 150
military personnel and six legacy Hornets.
It participated in Block 57 of the NATO-led
eAP mission, which began after the Russian
annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
‘Block’ is the name given to each rotation
conducted by a NATO air arm under the
Providing
REASSUR
During this latest deployment, the RCAF-operated
Hornets flew mixed training flights with the FAR’s
MiG-21 LanceR B/C and F-16C/D (MLU) squadrons,
while supporting NATO’s ongoing eAP initiative.
Note that this CF-188A was equipped with a live
AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile
as it conducted intercept training with a pair
of Romanian F-16Cs and a C-27J Spartan on
November 1, 2021
All images: Josef Campion
46 // January 2022
eAP initiative.
Dubbed Operation Reassurance, this
deployment marked Canada’s latest
contribution to NATO’s Assurance Measures
to deter adversary air activities within and
near allied airspace.
As well as being busy conducting scheduled
multinational training missions with allies,
unscheduled intercepts of Russian military
aircraft not complying to NATO regulations
were also carried out by the Canadian
Hornets. A spokesperson from the RCAF’s
Air Task Force-Romania told AirForces
Monthly: “We cannot comment on the specific
numbers of intercepts, but we can say we
have been busy during our deployment here.”
As per NATO’s chain of command, the
orders given for the interceptions made by the
RCAF CF-188A/Bs – and the other alliance
combat aircraft on their respective eAP
rotations – originate from the Combined Air
Operations Centre in Torrejón, Spain. They are
then relayed through Bucharest’s Command
and Reporting Centre to Canada’s Wing
Operations Centre for the deployed aircrew
and aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)
duty at Mihail Kogalniceanu AB to scramble
and intercept the adversary aircraft.
Deployed ops
Operation Reassurance has been designed to
demonstrate Canada’s ability to perform QRA
missions alongside its allies to strengthen
the collective security of the NATO alliance.
This Block 57 rotation marked the sixth time
that RCAF-operated Hornets have deployed
to Romania in support of the eAP initiative.
For the past five rotations, the Canadian
CF-188A/Bs have been operated from Mihail
Kogalniceanu.
Lt Col Corey ‘Alcan’ Mask, commander of
Canada’s Air Task Force-Romania, told AFM:
“It is a great opportunity to support NATO
Assurance Measures with the Canadian
Armed Forces Air Task Force-Romania’s
sixth [eAP] mission. Working closely with
our Romanian partners for the collaborative
www.Key.Aero
 A pair of Romania’s recently acquired F-16C (MLU)
Fighting Falcons in flight during a sortie with
RCAF CF-188A/Bs. These aircraft were acquired
second-hand from the Portuguese Air Force and
are currently operated by the FAR’s 53rd Fighter
Squadron ‘Warhawks’

Below: RCAF CF-188A/B pilot, callsign ‘Housecat’,

runs to his assigned aircraft during a Tango
(training) Scramble scenario at Mihail Kogalniceanu
Air Base, Romania

RANCE
RANCE
AFM’s Josef Campion visited the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 409
Tactical Fighter Squadron at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania,
as the unit carried out NATO enhanced air policing operations with
its CF-188A/B Hornets alongside the Romanian Air Force
protection of NATO’s eastern flank is a great
privilege to be a part of and we are proud to
demonstrate the best Canada has to offer.”
As the RCAF’s Air Task Force-Reassurance
(ATF-R) segment, 409 Sqn has served
alongside ground and naval-based
components during Operation Reassurance.
While deployed in Romania, the detachment
conducted a variety of multinational
training flights. These missions were mostly
conducted with the FAR’s two frontline fighter
fleets, comprising the old Soviet-era Mikoyan-
Gurevich MiG-21 LanceR B/Cs and the more
modern Lockheed Martin F-16C/D (MLU)
Fighting Falcons – recently procured second-
hand from the Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP,
Portuguese Air Force).
Romania’s remaining MiG-21s are operated
by Escadrila 711 Aviatie Lupta (711th Air
Combat Squadron) at Campia Turzii and
Escadrila 861 Aviatie Lupta, at Mihail
Kogalniceanu while the country’s growing
F-16C/D (MLU) fleet at Festesti is assigned
to Escadrila 53 Vânatoare (53rd Fighter
Squadron) ‘Warhawks’.
The training missions performed between
the two nations included defensive counter-
air,basic fighter manoeuvres (BFM), air
combat manoeuvres (ACM) and close air

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 47

RCAF Hornets in Romania

A pair of RCAF CF-188A Hornets (serials

188784 and 188749) fly off the wing of
a FAR-operated C-27J Spartan while
conducting a training mission over
Constanta, Romania, during Operation
Reassurance on November 1, 2021

48 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

support operations with each other’s assets. interoperability requirements. Additionally, 36 aircraft for use as spare parts sources and
The RCAF CF-188A/B detachment synced CF-188A/Bs will receive combat capability training aids. The first former Royal Australian
its training schedules with those of the FAR’s upgrades to ensure Canada has fighters that Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18s arrived at Canadian
F-16C/D (MLU) squadron and started by can match modern battlespace requirements. Forces Base (CFB) Cold Lake in February
conducting BFM sorties, before progressing One key upgrade was announced in June 2019 and the IOC for these two supplemental
to more complex ACM missions, 2v2 flights 2020. As part of the HEP, the Hornets will be aircraft was declared just four months later.
and air combat tactics. Towards the latter equipped with Raytheon’s APG-79(V)4 active In April 2021, the final two ex-RAAF Hornets
stage of the deployment, 4v4 ACM sorties electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. arrived in Mirabel, Quebec, completing
took place with mixed flights of Canadian and This will increase the detection range and the delivery of 18 second-hand aircraft to
Romanian aircraft. This clearly demonstrates overall capabilities of the platform until it is Canada. These fighters are split between 3
the strong bond that has developed between eventually replaced in the early 2030s. Wing at CFB Bagotville, Quebec, and 4 Wing
the two nations, which has grown stronger Including upgrades to base infrastructure, at Cold Lake.
every time the RCAF has deployed to project management and contingency, the Despite these upgrades and additional
Romania for eAP operations. HEP is estimated to cost a total of $1.3bn. aircraft, the RCAF’s Hornet fleet is still moving
Commenting on these joint training missions, Approved in early 2020, the first HEP- towards the end of its operational service life
Maj Costinel ‘Dobrica’ Dobre – a FAR MiG-21 configured Hornets are scheduled to achieve and a replacement has yet to be selected
pilot – said: “It is a great opportunity for us to initial operational capability (IOC) in late 2023, for it. In 2017, Canada announced that 88
have the Canadian detachment here at Mihail with six aircraft completing the first and advanced fighter aircraft would be procured
Kogalniceanu, because beyond the fact that second phases of the project. Current plans to replace the Hornets.
they are bolstering NATO air policing here in stipulate that the full fleet of 94 upgraded There are three contenders in Canada’s
Romania, we get to train together and it is CF-188A/Bs will reach full operational Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP):
probably the best feeling to realise while flying capability (FOC) by 2025. Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II;
on the wing of a CF-188, that we are all on To address a capability gap while working Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; and
the same page.” towards sourcing a permanent Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen E/F. The competition
As well as working replacement for its Hornet was initially a five-horse race, but Dassault
alongside the host nation, “Working closely fleet, in late 2018 the Aviation officially withdrew its Rafale offer in
the RCAF Hornets also Canadian government 2018 and the Airbus Defence-led Eurofighter
flew mixed training with our Romanian signed an agreement offer under the ‘Typhoon Canada’ campaign
missions with partners for the collaborative with Australia followed suit in August 2019.
USAF-operated to purchase 18 The FFCP contract award – worth an
Boeing F-15E protection of NATO’s eastern airworthy F/A- estimated $15-19bn – will be announced in
Strike Eagles flank is a great privilege to be 18A/Bs to 2022. The nation anticipates that the first
from Seymour supplement aircraft will be delivered in 2025 and the
Johnson Air a part of and we are proud to its CF-188A/ selected type will reach FOC in the early
Force Base demonstrate the best Bs. The deal 2030s, to coincide with the withdrawal of
in North includes up to the CF-188A/B fleet. The fighter selected in
Carolina, which Canada has to offer” seven the FFCP competition will have a projected
had deployed non-flyable service life beyond 2060. AFM
to Larissa
Lt Col Corey ‘Alcan’ Mask,
AB, Greece, in commander of Canada’s This RCAF CF-188A Hornet touches down at Mihail Kogalniceanu
early October to
participate in Exercise
Air Task Force AB after carrying out a training mission with FAR-operated F-16C
Fighting Falcons over Romania on November 1, 2021
Castle Forge. The – Romania
Canadian fighters also flew
alongside Ukrainian Sukhoi
Su-27s during the Ukraine-led Exercise
Joint Endeavour 21.

40 years of service
Canada has relied on the Hornet to defend
its domestic airspace and support NATO
operations since the type entered service
in October 1982, thus by the end of 2022
completing its fourth decade of service.
To prolong the type’s service life, Canada
initiated the Hornet Extension Project (HEP)
in 2019, which will modernise the RCAF’s
Hornet fleet and keep it operational until its
scheduled retirement in 2032, its half-century.
The HEP is currently in its penultimate
phase and covers the enhancement of up
to 94 CF-188A/Bs. As part of this process,
the Hornet fleet will receive upgrades to its
civilian air traffic management systems to
meet evolving regulations and allied military

Two FAR-operated F-16C (MLU) Fighting Falcons – serials 1607

and 1615 – fly in formation with a pair of Canadian CF-188As
– serials 188749 and 188784 – over Romania. The four aircraft
intercepted a Romanian C-27J Spartan light transport before
conducting air combat manoeuvre training

January 2022 // 49
Force
Report AFSOC

Air
Comm

AFSOC’s Osprey fleet is assigned to the command’s four different operating locations.
Landing at Florala Municipal Airport in Alabama on July 27, 2016, CV-22B (serial 05-0030)
was operated by the 1st SOW’s 8th SOS at Hurlburt Field, Florida Antonio Gemma More
Insert: The AFSOC emblem USAF

50 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

mand Air Force Special Operations Command serves as the USAF component
of the wider, and rather secretive, US Special Operations Command.
Tom Kaminski explores its evolution and platforms

E
stablished
on May
22, 1990,
and headquartered at Hurlburt
Field, Florida, Air Force Special
Operations Command (AFSOC)
is responsible for six active-
duty Special Operations Wings
(SOWs), stationed at four bases in
the continental US and three other
overseas locations.
A single Air Force Reserve
Command (AFRC) and two
Air National Guard (ANG)
SOWs are directly assigned to
AFSOC, along with specialised
squadrons that report
administratively to ANG wings
gained by other major commands.
According to Lt Gen James
‘Jim’ Slife – AFSOC’s current
commander – the command has
evolved from “a specialised crisis
and contingency response force,
optimised for episodic theatre
engagement,” to a force “driven
by the need to counter global
violent extremist threats in the
aftermath of September 11, 2001.”
Today, AFSOC boasts more
than 19,500 active-duty and
reserve aircraft crew and civilians.
It provides air force special
operations forces (SOFs) for
worldwide deployment and
assignment to Theater Special
Operations Commands (TSOC)
that report to Geographic
Combatant Commands (GCCs).
A diverse fleet of aircraft
supports AFSOC’s eight core
mission areas: specialised
air mobility; precision strike;
battlefield air operations;
intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR); agile
combat support; command and
control; aviation foreign internal
defence (AvFID); and information
operations/military information
support operations.

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 51

Force
Report AFSOC

A small number of MC-130Hs – including serial 85-0011 – remain assigned to the 15th SOS. The Combat
Talon II will eventually be replaced by newer MC-130J models. This MC-130H is pictured departing
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) Fort Worth, Texas, on August 31, 2021 Keith Snyder

Several missions require the use
of large Hercules airframes, which
serve as tactical tanker-transports
and as airborne radio and
television broadcast platforms for
psychological operations. Ideally
suited for close air support (CAS)
and urban operations, AFSOC’s
AC-130 fixed-wing gunships
provide ground forces with a
persistent direct-fire platform,
which delivers precise, low-yield
munitions. Meanwhile, vertical
insertion missions require the
capabilities of the command’s Bell
Boeing CV-22B Osprey tiltrotors.
As a result of the types of
missions AFSOC has taken on
since 9/11, the number of aircraft
and units assigned to non-
standard aviation (NSAV) missions
has increased dramatically.
Although USSOCOM (United
States Special Operations
Command) remains engaged
worldwide, the end of operations
in Afghanistan will likely see
AFSOC reinvent itself, as it
prepares for combat missions in
more contested environments.
In March 2020, AFSOC released
a brand-new strategic guidance
document intended to support the
command's transition and address
new and evolving challenges over
the next 10-15 years.
Facilities and training
Located within the confines
of Eglin Air Force Base (AFB),
Hurlburt Field is home to the
1st, 24th and 492nd SOWs.
Designated as Eglin AFB Auxiliary
Field No 9, Hurburt has been
home to the ‘Air Commandos’
since the 4400th Combat Crew
Training Squadron was activated
in April 1961.
Flying operations are conducted
by the squadrons within the 1st
and 492nd SOWs. The seven units
reporting to the 1st SOW’s 1st
Special Operations Group (SOG)
fly operational missions with the
AC-130J, MC-130H/J, CV-22B
and U-28A.
Training requirements for several
aircraft types are supported by the
492nd SOW’s Special Operations
Training Group at Hurlburt and
the nearby Duke Field. Training
associated with the AC-130J,
MC-130H, C-145A, C-146A
and U-28A is carried out by the
group’s 19th Special Operations
Squadron (SOS) at Hurlburt and
Duke Field. Until its deactivation
on June 15, 2021, the group’s
551st SOS supported MC-130W
Combat Spear and U-28A
training requirements at Cannon
AFB, New Mexico.
The 24th SOW is responsible
for AFSOC’s Special Tactics
Squadrons and their special
reconnaissance operators and
Combat Control Teams, as well
as pararescuemen (PJs), tactical
air control party personnel
and Combat Rescue Officers
(CROs).
Osprey operations at
Hurlburt are supported by the
Florida ANG’s 249th SOS.
Reporting administratively
to the 125th Fighter Wing
(FW) in Jacksonville, this
associate unit was activated
on August 20, 2020. The ANG
unit initially began operating
CV-22Bs alongside the 8th SOS
‘Blackbirds’ as Detachment

The Pennsylvania ANG’s 193rd SOW operates three EC-130J(CS) Commando Solos, including this aircraft, which was
preparing to depart from Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview, Florida, on January 27, 2017 Antonio Gemma More
Right: Lockheed Martin AC-130J Ghostrider (serial 15-5825) from the 1st SOW’s 73rd SOS rolls down the runway as it
departs NAS JRB Fort Worth on August 17, 2021 Keith Snyder

52 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

2, Headquarters Florida ANG in
December 2015.
Also known as Eglin AFB
Auxiliary Field No 3, Duke Field
is home to the 492nd SOW’s
492nd SOG. The group’s 6th
SOS is responsible for the fixed-
wing AvFID (aviation foreign
internal defence) mission. The
programme’s combat aviation
advisors (CAA) are specifically
trained and tasked to assess,
train, advise and assist foreign
aviation forces in airpower
employment, sustainment and
force integration.
Foreign iternal defence is a core
USSOCOM mission, assisting
US allies and partner nations in
dealing with security and stability
issues, including insurgency,
terrorism and illicit drug threats.
The 6th SOS has operated an
assortment of fixed- and rotary-
wing aircraft – including US,
Russian and other foreign-built
types – and currently employs
the C-145A Combat Coyote and
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
Responsibility for the rotary-
wing mission was transferred
completely to the US Army Special
Operations Command almost a
decade ago, in 2012.
In operating the C-146A
Wolfhound from Duke Field, the
524th SOS ‘Hounds of Heaven’
provide agile intra-theatre mobility
support for SOF units worldwide.
Operationally gained by AFSOC,
the AFRC’s 919th SOW and 919th
SOG are also headquartered at
Duke Field. The group’s 711th
SOS supports the AvFID and
CAA programmes, alongside
the 6th SOS, as an associate
squadron. The wing’s 859th SOS
supports the NSAV programme
A Lockheed AC-130W Stinger II (serial
88-1304) from the 27th SOW’s 16th
SOS receives fuel from a Boeing KC-
135R Stratotanker. This variant of the
AC-130 family will be replaced by the
new-generation AC-130J Ghostrider
USAF/Senior Airman Mary Begy
with the C-146A through a classic
association with the 524th SOS.
Located at Hurlburt, the 5th
SOS conducts U-28A, C-145A
and AC-130J formal training unit
(FTU) flight instruction through an
association with the 492nd SOW’s
19th SOS. It also provides an
instructor cadre for the 492nd’s
CAA programmes. Meanwhile,
the 2nd SOS performs MQ-9A
remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)
operations from Hurlburt.
Prior to its transfer to AFSOC on
October 1, 2007, Cannon AFB was
assigned to Air Combat Command.
Its transfer to AFSOC followed
the recommendations of the 2005
base realignment and closure
commission process. Following
the withdrawal of the 27th FW’s
F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, the
wing and its operations group (OG)
were re-designated as the 27th
SOW/27th OG on October 1, 2007.
Since the arrival of the 73rd
SOS's MC-130Ws in December
2007, the wing has undergone
steady expansion. Despite being
deactivated in June 2015, the 73rd
was reactivated to fly the AC-130J
under the 1st SOW at Hurlburt in
February 2018.
The first Pilatus U-28As arrived
at Cannon in January 2008,
followed by the 3rd SOS and its
MQ-1B Predator RPA in October
that year. In June 2009, AC-130H
Spectre gunships from the 16th
SOS were relocated to the New
Mexico base. By the end of 2011,
the wing assumed responsibility
for more than half of AFSOC's
manned aircraft, as well as the
command's entire unmanned fleet.
The 27th SOW's assets currently
comprise the U-28A, CV-22B,
MC-130J, AC-130W, AC-130J and
MQ-9A. The first AC-130J Ghostrider
arrived at Cannon on July 19, 2021.
These advanced, new-generation
gunships are operated by the 17th
SOS, which was reactivated on
October 1, 2021.
As the air force component for
Special Operations Command
Europe and Africa, the 352nd
SOW is stationed at the UK’s RAF
Mildenhall. The wing's 752nd SOG
employs two flying squadrons that
operate the MC-130J (67th SOS
'Night Owls') and CV-22B (7th
SOS ‘Air Commandos’).

Although USSOCOM remains engaged worldwide,

the end of operations in Afghanistan will likely see
AFSOC reinvent itself, as it prepares for combat
missions in more contested environments

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 53

Force
Report
U-28A (serial 08-0724) shares the ramp with MC-12W (serial 09-0681) at NAS Pensacola, Florida, on November 11,
2016. Both aircraft provide AFSOC with an ISR capability Antonio Gemma More
Based at Kadena Air Base (AB) in
Okinawa, Japan, the 353rd SOG
was upgraded to wing status on
July 14, 2021. It is the air force
component for Special Operations
Command Pacific.
Plans for basing ten CV-22Bs
in Japan were first announced in
2015. On July 1, 2019, the 21st
SOS 'Dust Devils' was activated
under the 353rd SOG at Yokota
AB, near Tokyo. The wing's 1st
SOS completed its transition
to the MC-130J Commando II
in December 2019, when the
last MC-130H Combat Talon II
departed Kadena.
Training for MC-130J and
CV-22B crews is conducted by
the 58th SOW at Kirtland AFB in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, which
is assigned to the USAF's Air
Education and Training Command
(AETC), rather than AFSOC.
In November 2020, the air force
announced plans to relocate
the AC-130J FTU to Kirtland.
Scheduled to begin next summer,
the move will consolidate
initial and mission qualification
training for the Ghostrider at the
Albuquerque base.
The Talons are out
The AFSOC has operated a
variety of platforms, including
the MC-130H Combat Talon II.
Based on the legacy C-130H
airframe, the aircraft is equipped
with an AN/APQ-170 terrain-
54 // January 2022
AFSOC
following/terrain-avoidance (TF/
TA) radar, advanced navigation
systems and a high-speed, low-
level aerial delivery system. The
MC-130H was initially tasked
with delivering SOF personnel
and equipment into hostile
territory during day/night and
adverse weather conditions.
These aircraft are equipped
with Eaton/Cobham MK-32B-
902E aerial refuelling pods
(ARPs), enabling them to refuel
both helicopters and tiltrotors.
A phased retirement of the type
began in September 2015, when
serials 88-0192 and 89-0281
arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB,
Arizona, to be placed into long-
term storage with the 309th
Aerospace Maintenance and
Regeneration Group (AMARG).
The last Combat Talon II
operated by the 353rd SOG's
1st SOS departed Kadena AB on
December 4, 2019.
At the start of the Fiscal
Year 2022 (FY22), a total of
12 MC-130Hs remained in
operational service with the 15th
SOS ‘Global Eagles’ at Hurlburt
Field and eight aircraft were in
storage at Davis-Monthan.
Commando upgrade
Development of the MC-130J
Commando II began under the
HC/MC-130 recapitalisation
programme in June 2008.
First flown in April 2011, the
Commando II initially replaced
AFSOC’s MC-130E/P fleets,
but will ultimately succeed the
MC-130H in service as well.
In total, the USAF plans to
procure 96 aircraft, including 37
airframes that will be converted
to AC-130J standard. The
Commando II is tasked with
conducting clandestine, or low-
visibility, single- or multi-ship,
low-level infiltration/exfiltration
and SOF resupply operations.
Additionally, the type performs
air-to-air refuelling missions in
support of special operations
helicopters and CV-22Bs.
The MC-130J features an
enhanced cargo handling system;
higher-capacity generators; an
aerial refuelling receptacle and
Eaton/Cobham 48-000-series
ARPs, along with an AN/AAS-
52 electro-optical/infrared (EO/
IR) sensor, AN/APN-241 radar
and a combat systems operator
(CSO) station on the flight
deck. The platform’s aviation
survivability equipment (ASE)
includes an AN/AAR-47 missile
warning system; AN/ALR-56M
radar warning receiver; AN/ALE-
47 countermeasure dispenser
system; AN/ALQ-147 infrared
countermeasures and AN/
AAQ-24 large aircraft infrared
countermeasures (LAIRCM).
Raytheon’s AN/APQ-187 Silent
Knight radar will provide the
MC-130J with a TF/TA multi-
mode radar capability. Additional
upgrades for the Commando
II include the airborne mission
networking system, which
fuses data from different
sources and provides battlefield
management, threat avoidance,
surveillance information and
improved situational awareness.
The MC-130J’s typical crew
complement comprises two pilots,
a CSO and two loadmasters.
By the start of FY21, a total of 46
MC-130Js were being operated
by AFSOC, with an additional
five airframes in service with
AETC. Deliveries of the type are
scheduled to conclude in 2025.
Stinger II retirement
Beginning in 2008, 12 legacy
C-130Hs were converted to
MC-130W standard for special
missions purposes. Known as the
Combat Spear, the MC-130Ws
received improved navigation,
threat detection, countermeasures
and communication suites.
Plans to expand the fixed-wing
gunship fleet (beginning in 2010)
saw the MC-130Ws receive
precision strike package (PSP)
modifications that converted them
to a gunship configuration. The
modifications installed comprised
a mission management console;
additional communications; dual
EO/IR sensors; synthetic aperture
www.Key.Aero

Above: Wearing a new all-white paint scheme and extended nose configuration, MC-12W (serial 09-0635) arrives at
Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland on October 3, 2021. AFSOC’s remaining Liberty aircraft are assigned to the
Oklahoma ANG’s 137th SOW and operated by the 185th SOS Gordon Macadie
Below: Four AFSOC squadrons operate the U-28A, with two assigned to the 1st and 27th SOWs. Pilatus U-28A (serial
08-0850), assigned to the 1st SOW, is pictured landing at the Florala Municipal Airport in 2016 Antonio Gemma More
radar (SAR) and advanced fire
control equipment.
The platform also received
a precision-guided munitions
delivery capability for the GPS- or
laser-guided AGM-176 Griffin and
AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground
missiles; GBU-44/B Viper Strike
GPS-guided glide bombs and
250lb GBU-39/B small diameter
bombs (SDBs). Initially equipped
with a trainable 30mm GAU-23
cannon, the aircraft later gained a
105mm M102 howitzer.
In May 2012, the MC-130Ws
were officially re-designated as
AC-130W Stinger IIs. The aircraft
is manned by two pilots, two
CSOs, a flight engineer and two
special mission aviators.
The type’s
formal retirement
began in
February 2021,
www.Key.Aero
when serial 88-1305 was placed
into long-term storage with the
309th AMARG at Davis-Monthan
AFB. At the start of FY22, ten
examples remained in service.
Like the AC-130U, the Stinger II
fleet will be replaced by the new-
generation AC-130J.
Ghostrider evolution
Having completed its maiden flight
at Eglin AFB in January 2013, the
AC-130J Ghostrider is essentially
a baseline MC-130J airframe
that has been integrated with the
modular PSP.
Operated by a seven-strong
crew, the initial Block 10 gunship
featured dual MX-20 EO/IR
sensors, a GAU-23 cannon, and
precision-guided munitions,
including Griffin missiles and
GBU-39/B SDBs. The Block 20
version of the Ghostrider gained
An MC-130J Commando II from the 27th SOW’s 522nd
SOS lands with cargo and supplies during an exercise
at the Melrose Air Force Range in New Mexico on
October 29, 2012 USAF/Staff Sgt Matthew Plew
two additional crew members, a
105mm M102 howitzer, a pilot
helmet-mounted tactical display,
LAIRCMs and laser-guided GBU-
39B/B SDBs.
After achieving initial operational
capability (IOC) in September
2017, the Block 20 AC-130J
was initially operated over
Afghanistan, providing CAS and
armed overwatch to US and
Afghan operations in June 2019.
The Ghostrider replaced the
earlier AC-130U Spooky gunships
that first entered service in July
1994. The AC-130U completed
its final scheduled combat
deployment on July 8, 2019, and
the final example was retired
almost a year later, in June 2020.
The AC-130J’s Block 30
upgrades provided an integrated
CSO station on the flight deck,
along with a dual-console mission
A brief
history
AFSOC’s history can be traced back
to the activation of the 23rd Air Force
under Military Airlift Command on
March 1, 1983. Initially located at Scott
Air Force Base, Illinois, the organisation
was relocated to Hurlburt Field in 1987.
At that time, the command was
responsible for the 1st, 39th and 353rd
SOWs at Hurlburt Field; Rhein Main Air
Base in West Germany; and Clark Air
Base in the Philippines. Additionally, the
1720th Special Tactics Group (STG),
the USAF Special Operations School,
and the Special Missions Operational
Test and Evaluation Center (SMOTEC) at
Hurlburt were assigned.
The reserve components comprised
the AFRC’s 919th SOG at Duke Field and
the Pennsylvania ANG’s 193rd SOG at
Harrisburg International Airport. On May
22, 1990, the 23rd Air Force became
AFSOC – it assumed responsibility for
Hurlburt Field in October 1992.
Further changes saw the relocation of
the 353rd SOW from Clark to Kadena
Air Base, Japan, in June 1991, and
the 39th SOW from Rhein Main to RAF
Alconbury in Cambridgeshire, UK, in
January 1992. Meanwhile, the 1720th
STG was renamed the 720th STG on
March 31 that year.
In December 1992, the 39th was
re-designated as the 352nd SOW.
It was then realigned to become an
independent group, as was the 353rd
SOW – the pair becoming the 352nd
and 353rd SOGs. The SMOTEC was later
re-designated as the 18th Flight Test
Squadron (FLTS) in April 1994.
Although the 1st SOW and 1st SOG
were deactivated and replaced by the
16th SOW and 16th SOG on October 1,
1993, both commands reverted to their
previous designations on November 16,
2006. The 24th SOW became AFSOC’s
third operational wing when it was
activated on June 12, 2012, at Hurlburt
Field. The wing (and its 720th STG
recruits) trains, develops and deploys
special tactics operators worldwide.
The Air Force Special Operations
Air Warfare Center was activated at
Hurlburt on February 11, 2013. On May
10, 2017, it was renamed the 492nd
SOW. This wing executes irregular
special warfare missions and develops
the doctrine, tactics, techniques and
procedures used by AFSOC forces.
On March 23, 2015, the 352nd SOG
was re-designated as the 352nd SOW
at RAF Mildenhall. The 752nd SOG was
activated the same day. The 353rd
SOG was renamed and became the
353rd SOW on July 14, 2021. Unlike
the Mildenhall wing, no new SOG was
activated under the 353rd SOW.
January 2022 // 55
Force
Report AFSOC
The C-146A Wolfhound provides an
airlift capability for SOF personnel in
support of TSOC operations. This
C-146A (serial 11-3016) is assigned
to the 524th SOS and is pictured
after landing at Bob Sikes Airport
on May 22, 2016
Antonio Gemma More
operator pallet in the cargo bay,
which controls all subsystems.
Wing-mounted munition racks
for up to eight GBU-39/B and
GBU-39B/B SDBs, and AGM-114
missiles were also added.
Ten launch tubes for AGM-176
missiles and GBU-69/B small glide
munitions were also provided,
along with MX-20 and MX-25 EO/
IR sensors and multiple video, data
and communications links.
The first Block 30 example
was delivered to the 4th SOS
‘Ghostriders’ at Hurlburt in March
2019. By the start of FY21, 20
AC-130Js had been handed over
to AFSOC. The command will
receive its final Ghostrider in 2024.
Working in conjunction with the
Naval Surface Warfare Center in
Dahlgren, Virginia, USSOCOM
began developing plans to equip
the AC-130J with an airborne

AFSOC: current organisation

Air Force Special Operations Command – Hurlburt Field, Florida CCT, PJ,
23rd STS Hurlburt Field, FL
CRO
WG/GRP Squadron Location Aircraft CCT, PJ,
26th STS Cannon AFB, NM
AFSOC OC Hurlburt Field, FL N/A CRO
1st SOW Hurlburt Field, FL Pope Field, Fort Bragg, CCT, PJ,
724th STG 24th STS
NC CRO
1st SOG 4th SOS ‘Ghostriders’ Hurlburt Field, FL AC-130J
492nd SOW Hurlburt Field, FL
8th SOS ‘Blackbirds’ Hurlburt Field, FL CV-22B
C-145A,
15th SOS ‘Global Eagles’ Hurlburt Field, FL MC-130H/J 492nd SOG 6th SOS ‘Commandos’ Duke Field, FL
Cessna 208
34th SOS ‘Hunters’ Hurlburt Field, FL U-28A 524th SOS ‘Hounds’ Duke Field, FL C-146A
65th SOS ‘Lucky Dicers’ Hurlburt Field, FL MQ-9A RSO 492d 18th SOTES ‘Stingers’
Hurlburt Field, FL N/A
73rd SOS Hurlburt Field, FL AC-130J SOTRG (see note 1)
AC-130J,
319th SOS ‘Slayers’ Hurlburt Field, FL U-28A 19th SOS (FTU)
Hurlburt Field, FL MC-130H,
(see note 2)
27th SOW Cannon AFB, NM U-28A
27th SOG 3rd SOS ‘Dragons’ Cannon AFB, NM MQ-9A 19th Det. 1 Duke Field, FL C-146A
9th SOS ‘Night Wings’ Cannon AFB, NM MC-130J 371st SOCTS Hurlburt Field, FL N/A
12th SOS Cannon AFB, NM RPA LRE Air National Guard Units – JB Andrews-NAF Washington, MD
16th SOS ‘Spectre’ Cannon AFB, NM AC-130W Louisville Muhammad
123rd AW 123rd STS (see note 3) CCT, PJ
Ali airport, KY
17th SOS ‘Jackals’ Cannon AFB, NM AC-130J
142nd WG 125th STS (see note 4) Portland IAP/ANGB, OR CCT, PJ
20th SOS ‘Green
Cannon AFB, NM CV-22B JB McGuire-Dix-
Hornets’ 108th WG
Lakehurst, NJ
33rd SOS Cannon AFB, NM MQ-9A 150th SOS ‘Guardians of JB McGuire-Dix-
108th OG C-32B
310th SOS Cannon AFB, NM U-28A the Gate’ (see note 4) Lakehurst, NJ
318th SOS ‘Dark Horse’ Cannon AFB, NM U-28A 125th FW Jacksonville airport, FL
352nd SOW RAF Mildenhall, UK 125th OG 249th SOS (see note 4) Hurlburt Field, FL CV-22B
7th SOS ‘Air Will Rogers World
752nd SOG RAF Mildenhall, UK CV-22B 137th SOW Airport/ANGB,
Commandos’
Oklahoma City, OK
67th SOS ‘Night Owls’ RAF Mildenhall, UK MC-130J Will Rogers World
321st STS RAF Mildenhall, UK CCT, PJ 137th SOG 185th SOS ‘Sooners’ Airport/ANGB, MC-12W
353rd SOW Kadena AB, Japan MC-130J Oklahoma City, OK
1st SOS ‘Stray Goose 193rd SOW Harrisburg airport, PA
Kadena AB, Japan MC-130J 193rd SOS
Int’l’ 193rd SOG Harrisburg airport, PA EC-130J
21st SOS ‘Dust Devils’ Yokota AB, Japan CV-22B ‘Quiet Professionals’
CCT, PJ, Tenth Air Force – NAS JRB Fort Worth/Carswell Field, Texas
320th STS Kadena AB, Japan
CRO Air Force Reserve Command Units – Robins AFB, Georgia
24th SOW STTS Hurlburt Field, FL 919th SOW Duke Field, FL
720th STG Hurlburt Field, FL 711th SOS (see note 5) C-145A,
919th SOG Duke Field, FL
CCT, PJ, ‘Spectre’ Cessna 208
17th STS Fort Benning, GA 859th SOS Duke Field, FL C-146A
CRO
Pope Field, Fort Bragg, CCT, PJ, U-28A,
21st STS 5th SOS (see note 6)
NC CRO Hurlburt Field, FL C-145A,
‘Shadows’
CCT, PJ, AC-130J
22nd STS JB Lewis-McChord, WA 2nd SOS Hurlburt Field, FL MQ-9A RSO
CRO
Notes – 1: Conducts test and evaluation of special operations aircraft and equipment. 2: Utilises aircraft borrowed from host wing. 3: AFSOC-gained squadron is
assigned to AMC-gained wing. 4: AFSOC-gained squadron is assigned to ACC-gained wing. 5: 711th SOS operates as an associate squadron and supports the 6th
SOS training mission. 6: Associate unit, shares aircraft with co-located active-duty squadron, which supports AFSOTC/19th SOS U-28A and C-145A CAA training.

56 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

high-energy laser (AHEL) in 2016.
Formal development of the AHEL
system began when Lockheed
Martin received a contract to
design and integrate the system
with the Ghostrider in January
2019. The 60kW laser will be
capable of disabling radar and
communications antennae without
the explosion associated with
kinetic attacks.
In 2021, the contractor delivered
the first AHEL subsystem to the Above: A C-145A (serial 12-0338) taxies by before taking off from the Florala Municipal Airport on April 25, 2015. Known as
USAF for integration with the the Combat Coyote, this aircraft is one of five assigned to the 6th SOS at Duke Field, Florida Antonio Gemma More
beam control system and other Below: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registration N321NH) is one of three modified AC-208B Combat Caravans in
operation with the 6th SOS. Leased from North American Surveillance Systems, these aircraft are equipped to deliver
components. USSOCOM hopes AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles USAF/Airman 1st Class Rachel Yates
to conduct an operational flight
demonstration of the AHEL on
an AC-130J in late FY22. In June
2020, USSOCOM awarded Sierra
Nevada Corporation (SNC) a
contract to integrate a Northrop
Grumman radio-frequency
countermeasures suite onto the
AC-130J Ghostrider.

Electronic missions
The USAF has modified seven
standard-length C-130J airframes
for electronic missions as EC-130Js.
Three EC-130J(CS) Commando
Solos are tasked as airborne
military information support
operations broadcast platforms.
They conduct information,
PSYOP and civil affairs broadcast
missions over numerous
radio, television and military
communications bands. The type
is also tasked with command
and control, communications,
countermeasures and limited
intelligence gathering. It can also
support civil operations, in the
event of natural emergencies.
Lockheed Martin installed
and tested the airframe and
electronic modifications at its
facility in Palmdale, California. The
EC-130J features a pair of large
under-wing pods that carry VHF
and UHF broadcast antennae
for high-frequency television
channel broadcasts. Four pods
– mounted on either side of the
vertical stabiliser – house VHF
antennae dedicated to the lower
television frequencies. The first
EC-130J flew in late 2003 and was
delivered to the 193rd SOW in
September 2004.
Four ‘slick’ EC-130J(SJ) Super
J aircraft are tasked with ‘SOF
FLEX’ mobility operations, which
include SOF airlift; military free-
fall; joint precision air drop system
and PSYOP leaflet-drop missions.
The Super Js were upgraded at
Lockheed Martin’s Greenville,
South Carolina, facility, in a
process that started in 2004.
Both versions of the EC-130J
received aerial refuelling receptacles
and upgraded electrical systems.
In August 2021, an EC-130J(SJ)
supported a jettison test of the
Rapid Dragon munition pallet over
White Sands Missile Range, New
Mexico, by deploying a simulated
AGM-158B JASSM-ER (joint air-to-
surface standoff missile – extended
range) from its cargo bay.
Liberty fleet
In November 2008, the USAF
acquired the first of 42 Beechcraft
King Air 350ER aircraft, which had
been modified for the ISR role
under Project Liberty. Assigned
the MC-12W designation, the
platform was developed as a
quick-reaction capability (QRC)
in response to requirements in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
The manned ISR platform features
an EO/IR turret with a laser pointer;
a line-of-sight datalink for remote
video terminals; a limited signals
intelligence (SIGINT) collection
capability and a narrowband
INMARSAT datalink for beyond-
line-of-sight connectivity and
transmission of full-motion video.
Modifications were carried
out by L-3 Communications
Integrated Systems and the first
MC-12Ws were delivered to the
Mississippi ANG’s Key Field facility
in Meridian on April 28, 2009,
before being assigned to the 9th
Reconnaissance Wing at Beale
AFB, California. Between June
2009 and October 2014 – when the
US Army assumed responsibility
for the deployed aircraft – the

One of the AFSOC’s two Boeing C-32Bs arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on April 11, 2021. Based on the Boeing 757-23A airframe, these aircraft are operated by
the New Jersey ANG’s 150th SOS. This aircraft (serial 02-4452) was originally delivered to Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services in 1993 Gordon Macadie

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 57

Force
Report AFSOC
Alongside the CV-22Bs of the 7th SOS, RAF Mildenhall is also
home to MC-130J Commando IIs from the 67th SOS ‘Night
Owls’. Both units fall under the command of AFSOC’s 752nd
SOG – a component of the 352nd SOW Khalem Chapman

MC-12Ws flew more than 400,000
combat hours and completed in
excess of 79,000 combat sorties
over Iraq and Afghanistan.
As part of the drawdown in
Afghanistan, the USAF divested
the bulk of its Liberty fleet. Most
of the MC-12Ws were transferred
directly to USSOCOM, but eight
were reassigned to the US Army
and 13 were retained by the
USAF. The latter aircraft were
assigned to the Oklahoma ANG’s
137th SOW in July 2015. The
USAF’s final active-duty MC-12W
mission was flown from Beale AFB
on September 16, 2015.
AFSOC’s remaining MC-12Ws
are currently operated by the
185th SOS at Will Rogers World
Airport in Oklahoma City.
Developing Dragons
Based on the single-engine Pilatus
PC-12/45, 30 U-28As are operated
by four squadrons at Hurlburt
Field and Cannon AFB, where they
support USSOCOM’s airborne
ISR requirements. Another five
unmodified PC-12s are used for
training purposes.
Procured through SNC (starting
from 2005), these aircraft were
modified at the contractor’s
facility in Hagerstown, Maryland.
The modifications equipped the
PC-12s with military specific
communications, EO/IR sensors,
aviation survivability equipment
and advanced navigation systems.
The aircraft’s enhanced
communications suite features
datalinks that are capable of
transmitting video, data and voice
files. The upgrades also added
high-definition (HD) full-motion
video and SIGINT capabilities.
Powered by a single Pratt &
Whitney Canada PT6A-67B
turboprop, the U-28A is capable
of operating from short runways
and semi-prepared surfaces. It is
crewed by two pilots, a CSO and a
tactical systems operator (TSO).
Initially fielded by the 34th SOS
at Hurlburt, the platform’s first
combat deployment began in
2006. While the U-28A designation
was formally assigned to the type
on September 27, 2005, nearly
14 years passed before it was
officially named ‘Draco’ – Latin for
‘Dragon’ – on May 13, 2019.
Operational Ospreys
Developed as the SOF variant of the
Osprey tiltrotor family, the CV-22B
entered operational service with the
1st SOW in January 2007, when
the first example was delivered to
Hurlburt Field. The type achieved
IOC with the 8th SOS in March
2009 and its first operational
deployment began in March 2010,
when six arrived in Afghanistan.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce
AE1107C turboshaft engines,
the CV-22B can carry 18
combat-ready personnel and
has a mission radius of 538nm.
Its self-deployment capability
enables the CV-22B to travel up
to 2,100nm with a single air-to-
air refuelling, to execute long-
range infiltration, exfiltration and
resupply missions.
Meanwhile, the AN/APQ-186
TF/TA radar, EO/IR sensor and
other advanced avionics systems
permit the tiltrotor to operate at
low-altitude in adverse weather
conditions and in medium- to
high-threat environments.
Continued upgrades to the
type include communication,
navigation, surveillance
and air traffic management
modifications; enhanced
navigation accuracy, and
updates for the identification

AFSOC maintains two CV-22B squadrons outside the US – 7th

SOS at RAF Mildenhall, UK, and 21st SOS at Yokota AB, Japan.
This UK-based example demonstrated its capabilities during a
display at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford,
Gloucestershire, in July 2017 Khalem Chapman

58 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

friend-or-foe system. Installation
of the AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight
radar began in 2021 and retrofits
to the fleet are scheduled to be
carried out by 2027, as part of the
CV-22B Block 30 upgrade. The
multi-mode radar permits safe
flight at altitudes as low as 100ft
at night, in adverse weather and
high-threat environments.
AFSOC’s 50-strong fleet of
Ospreys is shared between four
operational squadrons and the
FTU. While most of the aircraft
are assigned to operational
units, eight examples are used to
support training requirements with
the 58th SOW at Kirtland AFB.
The operational fleet is divided
between bases in Florida, New
Mexico, Japan and the UK. Five
CV-22Bs initially arrived at Yokota
AB in April 2018, where the 21st
SOS was activated on July 1, 2019.
Ultimately, ten Ospreys and 450
personnel will be stationed at Yokota
as part of the phased basing plan.
By the beginning of FY21, 42
CV-22Bs were in operational
service with AFSOC, while the
remaining eight aircraft served
under AETC. In March 2021, the
Bell Boeing Joint Project Office
was awarded a $182.2m contract
modification for the production and
delivery of two additional Osprey
tiltrotors for the USAF.
Reaper vs Predator
AFSOC activated its first RPA
unit when the 3rd SOS stood up
at Cannon AFB in October 2005.
The squadron initially operated
the General Atomics Aeronautical
Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-1B Predator,
but began transitioning to the
company’s more-capable MQ-9A
www.Key.Aero
The second of three A-29B Super Tucanos destined for service with the 492nd SOW’s 6th SOS on final approach to
land at Centennial Airport near Denver, Colorado, on February 23, 2021. The aircraft (serial 20-2102) sports a heritage
scheme that includes the ‘Commando Stripes’ worn by aircraft flown by the US Army Air Forces’ 1st Air Commando
Group in the China-Burma-India theatre in 1944 Paul Filmer
Reaper in 2014. The transition to
the Reaper was completed when
the last Predator flight was logged
in February 2016.
Cannon’s units include two
mission control element (MCE)
squadrons that control the Reaper
from a ground control station,
along with one launch recovery
element (LRE) unit, which handles
ground, launch and recovery
operations. The LRE can be located
within the continental US or at a
location downrange.
While these RPA fly from Cannon
AFB, none are currently stationed
at Hurlburt Field, which has one
active-duty MCE squadron and
another assigned to the AFRC.
Developed as a growth version
of the earlier Predator variant,
the MQ-9A was first flown from
El Mirage, California, on February
2, 2001. Fielding of the Reaper
began in March 2007, before the
type was operationally deployed
to Afghanistan in September 2007.
Its first combat strike followed in
late October that year.
Designed as a multi-mission
‘hunter-killer’, the MQ-9A
performs ISR and target
acquisition missions, delivering a
persistent capability to find, fix,
track, target, engage and assess
time-sensitive targets.
Considered a ‘Tier II’ medium-
altitude, long-endurance RPA, the
Reaper is powered by a single
Honeywell TPE-331 turboprop
engine and can operate at
altitudes of up to 50,000ft. The
RPA’s Raytheon MTS-B features
four HD cameras; an
advanced laser designator/
rangefinder; three-mode
target tracker; automated
sensor and laser bore
sight alignment; and a
laser spot search and
track capability.
The MQ-9A’s GA-ASI-developed
AN/APY-8 Lynx II multi-mode
radar offers SAR and ground/
dismount moving-target indicator
modes. It’s four wing hardpoints
support weapons such as laser-
guided Hellfire missiles; GBU-12
Paveway II laser-guided bombs;
GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack
Munitions and GBU-39B/B SDBs.
AFSOC began deploying
extended-range MQ-9As in
2015. Developed as a QRC,
the variant features a four-
blade propeller and new wings,
equipped with extra fuel tanks.
These modifications increase the
Reaper’s endurance to 33-35
hours. At the start of FY22, 50
MQ-9As were in AFSOC service.
The Gatekeepers
The New Jersey ANG’s 150th
SOS operates two Boeing
AC-130J (serial 17-5872) – operated
by the 16th SOW’s 4th SOS –
conducts a formation flight with
a Douglas C-47D Dakota (c/n
20835, ex-USAF 43-16369) from
the American Flight Museum, near
Topeka, Kansas, on June 25, 2021.
The restored C-47 represents AC-
47B ‘Spooky 71’ (USAF serial 43-
48770), with the markings of the 3rd
SOS aircraft crewed by Medal of
Honor recipient, Airman 1st Class
John Levitow USAF/Master Sgt
Christopher Boitz
January 2022 // 59
Force
Report
Tech Sgt Jarred Huseman (left) and Tech Sgt Oscar Garcia – special missions aviators from the 1st SOG – load the
105mm M102 howitzer aboard an AC-130J during a training mission over the Eglin Range, Florida, in January 2017
USAF/Senior Airman Jeff Parkinson
757-23A-series aircraft in support
of USSOCOM, under the C-32B
Gatekeeper designation. Powered
by two Rolls-Royce RB211
turbofans, these C-32Bs were
acquired from commercial sources.
The two aircraft are reportedly
equipped with an in-flight refuelling
capability, along with an advanced
satellite communications package.
AFSOC’s C-32Bs provide a
dedicated rapid response airlift
capacity to the US Department
of Defense in support of US
government crisis response events
– domestic and abroad.
Combat Coyotes
The first PZL M28-05 Skytruck
entered AFSOC service in the
multi-engine light inter-theatre
mobility role in August 2009. The
command initially revealed plans
to acquire ten Skytrucks – which
are also known as the Combat
AFSOC
Coyote – in February 2009.
Produced by Sikorsky’s PZL
Mielec subsidiary in Poland, the
twin-turboprop, short take-off and
landing aircraft is a Westernised
version of the Antonov An-28. First
flown in July 1993, the M28-05 is
powered by two Pratt & Whitney
Canada PT6A-65B engines, and
can carry up to 18 passengers or
12 paratroopers.
AFSOC initially used the platform
to transport small groups of SOF
personnel to areas with unimproved
landing strips. SNC eventually
delivered 17 examples to AFSOC
– the final aircraft was handed over
to the 27th SOW’s 318th SOS at
Cannon Air Force Base in March
2012. In May that year, the aircraft
received the non-standard C-145A
military designation.
The Combat Coyote fleet was
later reduced in size, transferred
from Cannon to Duke Field in
2012, and reassigned to the AvFID
role. In total, five aircraft currently
support this mission set.
The remaining 11 examples
have been placed into long-term
storage with the 309th AMARG at
Davis-Monthan. Of these 11, two
were subsequently transferred to
the Arizona Department of Public
Safety, while the Estonian and
Kenyan Air Forces received two and
three C-145As, respectively. The
four remaining aircraft in storage
have been identified for transfer to
other allied air arms.
Releasing the hounds
A fleet of 20 Dornier Do 328-110
commuter airliners are operated
in support of the NSAV mission,
under the non-standard C-146A
designation. Having been assigned
the popular ‘Wolfhound’ name,
the aircraft are primarily used to
provide airlift for SOF personnel in
support of the TSOC.
Procurement of the Wolfhounds
began in FY10 and the first two
examples entered service in
October 2011, following their
modification by SNC. The C-146A
designation was assigned to the
type in May 2012.
Powered by a pair of Pratt
& Whitney Canada PW119C
turboprop engines, the C-146A is
capable of carring a maximum of
27 passengers, 6,000lb of cargo
or up to four litter patients. A
Federal Aviation Administration-
certified, night-vision goggle-
compatible cockpit was installed
as part of the platform’s Block
20 modifications.
The Wolfhounds are currently
operated by the 524th SOS and
the AFRC’s 859th SOS at Duke
Field, but are often deployed
downrange to support TSOC
mobility requirements.
Grand design
AFSOC operates three Cessna
208B Grand Caravans that are
flown by the 6th SOS. These
armed ISR aircraft are leased
to AFSOC in support of the
command’s AvFID mission set
by North American Surveillance
Systems (now MAG Aerospace).
Referred to as MC-208 Armed
Caravans, the single-engine
turboprops are operated from
the Destin Executive Airport,
which is located 17 miles south
of Duke Field. Modified by MAG
Aerospace, the Caravans are
capable of delivering AGM-
114 missiles and both guided/
unguided 2¾in Hydra rockets.
Replacing Caravans
The USAF purchased an initial
pair of Embraer EMB-314B

Above: An MC-130J equipped with the Raytheon AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight radar and a newly installed Airborne
Mission Networking secure communications suite undergoes a test flight in Colorado Sierra Nevada Corporation
Right: Although the PC-12/45 received its official U-28A designation on September 27, 2005, it was not formally
named the Draco (Dragon) until May 13, 2019. This example (serial 08-0850) taxies by after landing at Florala
Municipal Airport on April 4, 2016 Antonio Gemma More

60 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


MC-12W (serial 09-0681) taxis by after landing at NAS Pensacola on November 18, 2016. This aircraft is one of 13
examples that remain in operation with the Oklahoma ANG’s 137th SOW Antonio Gemma More
Super Tucanos (also known
as A-29s) from SNC in March
2020, with a third example being
subsequently ordered that May.
The aircraft will be delivered to the
6th SOS at Duke Field, where they
will be used to support the AvFID/
CAA mission sets, replacing the
Caravans in this role. AFSOC will
initially use the A-29s to develop
an instructor pilot programme for
the CAA mission.
Produced by Embraer Defense
An MQ-9A Reaper operated by the 27th SOW’s 3rd SOS performs a low pass at
Cannon AFB, New Mexico, on May 29, 2016 USAF/Master Sgt Dennis J Henry Jr
www.Key.Aero
& Security in Jacksonville, Florida,
the new-build Super Tucanos are
subsequently fitted with AFSOC-
specified systems by SNC at the
company’s Centennial Airport
facility (near Denver, Colorado)
prior to delivery. The firm will
reportedly deliver the three A-29Bs
to AFSOC by the end of 2021.
Powered by a single Pratt &
Whitney PT6A-68 turboprop, the
A-29B is equipped with two wing-
mounted .50 calibre machine guns
and its five hardpoints permit
the aircraft to carry up to 3,307lb
of munitions and external fuel
tanks. The A-29B – along with
the Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine
– had been considered to fulfil a
requirement for a light attack aircraft
under a now-cancelled programme.
The US has previously
contracted for or delivered
A-29Bs to partner nations under
the Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
programme. The Super Tucanos
were initially acquired on behalf
of the Afghan Air Force in early
2013 – 32 were supplied in total.
Additionally, Lebanon took six
A-29Bs and 12 examples went to
Nigeria.
Armed Overwatch
USSOCOM is moving ahead
to acquire a fleet of fixed-
wing aircraft under the Armed
Overwatch programme, details
of which were announced on
February 3, 2021. They will
replace AFSOC’s U-28A fleet
and support several mission sets,
including CAS; armed ISR; strike
interdiction and
reconnaissance;
and airborne forward air control in
a range of environments.
In May 2021, USSOCOM
awarded contracts totalling
$19.2m for prototype
demonstrations to five companies:
Leidos Inc; MAG Aerospace;
Textron Aviation Defense; L3Harris
Communications Integrated
Systems and SNC, which
respectively demonstrated the
Bronco II; MC-208 Guardian;
AT-6E Wolverine; MC-145B Wily
Coyote and AT-802U Sky Warden
at Hurlburt Field. Following the
evaluations, the Bronco II and
MC-208 were eliminated from
further consideration.
AFSOC should begin the
acquisition process in 2022, with
production expected to cover
around 75 aircraft, procured
over a five-to-seven year period.
Current fielding plans would see
60 examples divided between four
operational squadrons, with 10-15
being used for training.
Future flexibility
As the US military has spent
decades focusing on asymmetric
threats from non-state actors
and insurgent groups, a great
deal of AFSOC’s operations have
been against lesser threats that
have little in the way of capability
to combat the aerial assets the
command has at its disposal.
However, as the USAF begins to
focus more on the Indo-Pacific
region, as tensions continue to
rise, AFSOC will need to prove
its adaptability in developing new
tactics that will be important when
going up against potential near-
peer threats of the future.
January 2022 // 61
Op Ellamy: Ten Years On

Freeing
Libya
Air Vice-Marshal Gary Waterfall (Ret'd) provides his perspective
of Operation Ellamy – the UK’s contribution to NATO’s wider Operation
Unified Protector over Libya in 2011, telling how co-operation was key
to the success of this global mission

T
he events of the Arab Spring in 2011 Operation Herrick in Afghanistan was still
altered the lives of many, and indeed its described as the ‘main effort’ for the UK,
repercussions are still being felt today. and the routine flow of information about UK
In March 2011, I was nearing the end of my forces suffering serious injuries or death was
tenure as the Joint Force Harrier Commander a sobering reminder of the true cost of the
and Station Commander of RAF Cottesmore, freedom we enjoy.
Rutland, following the premature demise of the With little reinforcement, PJHQ stood up
iconic Harrier in the 2010 Strategic Defence and to ‘surge’ levels to meet the demands
Security Review. of a highly complex and still fluid
Within 24 hours of the first British strike into Libya leadership perspective across
– conducted by Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado European nations, NATO and the
GR4s from the air and Royal Navy submarines US. All of this took place while
at sea – I was attached to the Permanent Joint the RAF conducted kinetic strike
Headquarters (UK) (PJHQ) to supplement ops from the UK mainland – the
manpower as they moved to 24/7 ops. first such missions since US
After a month, I moved to the UK Ministry of Air Force (USAF)-operated
Defence (MOD) Crisis Office, leading Operation General Dynamics F-111Fs
Ellamy at the strategic level before deploying struck Libya from RAF
to Poggio Renatico, Italy, to assume command Lakenheath, Suffolk,
of the UK’s air contribution to NATO’s some 25 years earlier.
Operation Unified Protector – the assigned At this stage, each
mission to uphold United Nations Security target struck needed
Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. permission from
UNSCR 1973 was adopted by NATO on senior politicians.
March 17, 2011. It demanded an immediate This involved a
ceasefire, authorised the international process that
community to establish a no-fly zone and to was multi-
use all means necessary – short of foreign layered
occupation – to protect civilians in Libya. and time

Incredible machine
Stepping from the retirement of a proud Harrier
Force and the closure of an RAF station to
a major UK military operation became an
immediate focus upon my arrival at Northwood,
Hertfordshire. This was a quick transition, and
I was instantly taken by the incredible machine
that is PJHQ, commanding and sustaining
multiple operations around the globe.

62 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

 Left: As the sun sets over Gioia
del Colle Air Base in southern
Italy, an RAF Typhoon FGR4
pilot climbs into the aircraft
cockpit before carrying out
a mission in support of
Operation Ellamy
on June 1, 2011
MOD Crown Copyright
/Sgt Pete Mobbs

‘It is hard to understate the difficulty of ascertaining the

ground picture without communications with those on
the ground, who were being subjected to assaults and
continual bombardments from the Pro-Gaddafi Forces’

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 63

Op Ellamy: Ten Years On
consuming and demanded 24-hour ops in
order to maintain momentum.
PJHQ’s role became fixed in supporting the
deployed forces from a command and control
(C2) perspective, offering evidence-based advice
to the Strategic Headquarters (MOD), and laying
out future choices for operational decisions.
After the first month of Ellamy, I returned to
Cottesmore for 48 hours, before moving to the
MOD Crisis Team for the operation to view the
conflict from a different lens.
My time in the MOD offered a rare insight
into the powerful strategic decision-making
by the government and the pivotal role played
in the provision of true military advice. Then-
Prime Minister David Cameron had recently
instigated his National Security Council (NSC),
and it was the first run out in times of conflict.
The constant pressure to provide supporting
evidence and answers in response to
questions from the NSC was unrelenting,
particularly when the council sat twice a day
during the initial period of the operation.
Moreover, it became clear that Ellamy was to
prove an ideal ground to establish that the
Lancaster House Treaties between the UK and
France – signed on November 2, 2010 – were
real and backed by joint action.
Deployed to Italy
With a purely accidental perfect preparation
for what lay ahead, I was promoted to Air
Commodore and assigned as the UK Air
Component Commander (ACC) for Operation
Ellamy on June 11, 2011 – based at Poggio
Renatico.
64 // January 2022
Above: A trio of now-retired Vickers VC-10 C1Ks
– belonging to the RAF’s No 101 Squadron – are
prepared for a mission in support of Operation
Ellamy at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, on March
18, 2011. The VC-10s provided essential AAR and
troop transport services for UK and coalition forces
throughout the operation
MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Neil Chapman
Below: The interior of the author’s small office
at the CAOC, which he used for the duration of
the operation. The CAOC was located at Poggio
Renatico in Italy Gary Waterfall
Bottom: A pair of Typhoon FGR4s from the RAF’s
No 3 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Coningsby,
Lincolnshire, on the ground at Gioia del Colle Air
Base after completing their first mission over Libya
on March 21, 2011. This initial combat sortie lasted
just under five-and-a-half hours
MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Neil Chapman
At the time, the UK force comprised: No 5
(Army Co-operation) Squadron Sentinel R1s
and No 51 Squadron Nimrod R1s at RAF
Akrotiri, Cyprus; No 101 Squadron VC-10
C1K/K3/K4s and No 8 Squadron E-3D Sentry
AEW1s at Trapani-Birgi Airport in Sicily, Italy;
and No 11 Squadron Typhoon FGR4s and
No 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron Tornado
GR4s operating from Gioia del Colle Air
Base, Italy.
In addition, No 216 Squadron Tristar K1/KC1s
were also committed to the operation, flying
from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, along
with Tornados at RAF Marham, Norfolk, which
remained on standby for long-range Storm
Shadow low-observable, air-to-surface cruise
missile strike missions.
Ellamy was supported throughout by British
C-17A and C-130J/K squadrons through
aerial resupply missions and the RAF’s No
2 Mechanical Transport Squadron (2MT)
maintained a logistical convoy, providing
continuous support from RAF Wittering,
Cambridgeshire. Sadly, it would be Wittering
that suffered the only loss of life during the
op – SAC James Smart lost his life in northern
Italy, while conducting a land resupply task.
However, the UK contribution was much
broader and deeper. It was no accident that
the Coalition Forces Air Commander, USAF
Lt Gen Ralph Jodice, cherry-picked a large
number of UK service personnel to sit in
pivotal positions across his Combined Air
Operations Centre (CAOC). Many of whom
were taken from the UK’s standing Joint
Forces Air Component Headquarters, which
had initially deployed before the multinational
command had been defined.
The UK contribution was truly joint, but I
won’t dwell on our broader contribution aside
from the Army Air Corps’ fearless WAH-64D
Apache AH1 crews flying from HMS Ocean
(L12). I had been at the NSC session that took
the advice, resulting in Prime Minister Cameron
committing attack helicopters to Ellamy,
alongside France’s then-President Nicolas
Sarkozy’s commitment of Tiger and Puma
rotorcraft to the same role. Little did I know
that I would be in command of their high-risk
missions over the shores of Libya.
People over process
On my arrival in Italy, I was immediately struck
by the fact that this would not be an ordinary
conflict – if there is such a thing. The portacabins
used as the CAOC were exactly that; functional
but not a permanent CAOC base, such as the
one at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Coalition assets were scarce, and the US
had taken a position that Libya was largely a
www.Key.Aero
Two fully armed RAF-operated Tornado GR4s transit over the Mediterranean Sea while en route to Libya from RAF Marham,
Norfolk, on March 1, 2011 – during the early days of Operation Ellamy MOD Crown Copyright/Ed Marshall
European problem. Nevertheless, the pivotal
US support of MQ-1 Predators, suppression
of enemy air defences (SEAD) configured
F-16CJ/DJs, air-to-air refuelling (AAR) and
combat search and rescue (CSAR) assets
was instrumental to the conduct of safe
operations and invaluable intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) over a
huge area that had little previous coverage.
On a single day, there was typically a single
line of US-operated Predators allocated for
ISR operations – sometimes flown by an
RAF Exchange Officer. The live feed was
presented on a 44in Samsung TV placed on
a table toward the front of the CAOC.
When the standard North African summer
cumulus built, it would often hamper our
‘eyes on’ ISR capabilities, placing a reliance
on our fast-jet assets to spot enemy activity
and to uphold UNSCR 1973 by protecting
civilians from further Gaddafi-led atrocities.
With resources scarce across the coalition,
and without a definable ground component
to work with, Unified Protector would be
a triumph of ingenuity and ‘people over
process’ to ensure that we could uphold
our stated mission to protect civilians and
maintain a no-fly zone over the skies of
Libya. CAOC staff quickly settled into a
traditional Airspace Co-ordination Order
(ACO) cycle with a three-day drum beat
of clearing targets to be struck through a
meticulous scrutiny of intelligence – passing
details to planning crews and then executing
those tasks. Alongside these daily missions,
'Combat ISR' missions would also be flown
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by Tornados, Typhoons and other coalition
assets that were able to strike reactively if a
situation developed on the ground, warranting
the use of inherent right of self-defence to
protect those on the ground whose lives were
in imminent danger.
It is hard to understate the difficulty of
ascertaining the ground picture without
communications with those on the ground,
who were being subjected to assaults and
continual bombardments from the Pro-Gaddafi
Forces (PGF).
Quickening
Early July 2011 saw a dramatic shift to the air
campaign due to an improvement of all source
intelligence, which could be rapidly verified and
cross-checked for use as actionable information
to support the delivery of effect, when needed.
The tempo increased markedly with as many
strikes daily than had previously occurred
across a whole week.
All strikes were heavily restricted to ensure that
no damage was inflicted on critical infrastructure,
including roads, world heritage sites and religious
sites. They were only approved when it could
be justified that striking a target fitted within
the mission mandate under the leadership of Lt
Gen Jodice – who led from the very front at the
CAOC, was inclusive in his leadership and took
Above: Still images taken from footage of an RAF Tornado GR4 using Brimstone air-to-ground missiles to
destroy a main battle tank in Libya during Operation Ellamy in April 2011 MOD Crown Copyright
the whole team with him.
His inspirational leadership – and that of his
CAOC director, Col ‘Woody’ Yarborough –
kept the coalition together and speaking with
one voice. The UK was just part of a truly
international team.
The results of this new stream of intelligence
delivered remarkable results on the ground.
Key targets precious to the PGF were struck,
eroding their will to wreak havoc and inflict
heavy AGF and civilian casualties. In particular,
the much-feared 32 Brigade’s will to fight was
severely dented.
The AGF were emboldened and started to make
measurable progress on the ground across Libya.
From Benghazi, working west towards Ras Lanuf
and Sirte, and across the Berber Highlands, they
started to close in on Tripoli.
The pace in the CAOC had increased
dramatically in response to the changes on the
ground. Once more, processes were changed
and amended by the staff’s dedication to
respond to the conditions faced. A process of
finding, verifying, approving and then striking a
target was shortened from days to hours.
This whole new approach was no better
epitomised than by a series of strikes against
the PGF in Az-Zawiyah, to the west of Tripoli.
In the middle of the town – around Martyr’s
Square – in high-rise buildings (and a hotel),
January 2022 // 65
Op Ellamy: Ten Years On

the PGF were engaging the population with a

variety of munitions, including sniper fire.
Using already gathered intelligence, coupled
with a live view from an orbiting Predator,
RAF Tornados were tasked while taking fuel
from a VC-10 tanker to conduct a strike of five
Paveway IV laser-guided bombs with a variety
of fuse settings against a complex target set.
These targets were all successfully struck
within two hours from receipt of information to
the delivery of ordnance.
The PGF attacks stopped, AGF troops were
able to continue through the town unopposed
and the civilian population could come out
from hiding once more and no longer be in
fear for their lives.

An effects-based approach
Many details regarding the execution of
these attacks still remain classified and will
do for many years. However, it is important
to recognise that the attacks were not
all limited to hard, kinetic approaches. A
Above: This still image was taken after RAF Tornado GR4s carried out a missile strike on a Libyan variety of effects were used, from delivering
warship at the naval base at Al Khums. As well as hitting two corvettes in the harbour, the Tornados
were credited with destroying a facility in the dockyard that was manufacturing fast inflatable ships, paper leaflets persuading the PGF that it
which were used to lay mines and attack other vessels in the area MOD Crown Copyright/Royal Air Force was time to look for a peaceful solution, to
Below: An RAF Tornado GR4 – equipped with the Storm Shadow air-launched, low-observable cruise an orchestrated series of message delivery
missile – prepares to take off from Gioia del Colle Air Base for a strike mission over Libya, June 2, 2011 across many forums that would lead to kinetic
MOD Crown Copyright/Sgt Pete Mobbs
strikes if conditions did not change.
This was very much a cognitive conflict
‘Meanwhile, the centred on degrading the will of the PGF
to continue delivering attacks across
Typhoon continued Libya. Importantly, kinetic strikes were only
to refuel until full, undertaken when there was no expectation of
causing civilian casualties – any doubts would
then climbed to result in a termination of the strike.
The layered intelligence available in countries
the highest of such as Afghanistan or Iraq was not available
for Libya, as – until the Arab Spring – it was
altitudes, transited not considered to be a high enough watchlist
to warrant resources.
supersonically and Moreover, the only access to Libya from the air

joined the Tornado as was via the vast coastline, where much of the
fighting was occurring. If there was a need to
it arrived at the target protect the population deep within Libya, then
assets would be tasked to undertake the 250nm
area, which was mission without CSAR cover. This led to the
novel employment of munitions on occasion.
300nm away from the
Consideration and delivery
AAR location’ Striking targets deep within Libya without

An Army Air Corps-operated WAH-64D Apache

AH1 attack helicopter departs HMS ‘Ocean’
(L12) for a mission over Libya’s coastal corridor
on July 29, 2011. While the Apache was initially
deployed to support Operation Ellamy for
political reasons, the platform quickly became a
valuable asset in the combat theatre
MOD Crown Copyright/LA(Phot) Guy Pool

66 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


An RAF Tornado GR4 pilot climbs out of his aircraft after completing a mission over Libya on March
24, 2011. This particular aircraft was involved in a mission that destroyed four tanks belonging to the
Libyan regime MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Neil Chapman
CSAR increased the risk of missions and so
was only done after deliberate consideration
and weighing the risk to crews against the risk
to the population.
Where possible, Storm Shadow was used
by RAF crews to allow firings from stand-off
distances in the relative safety of the coastal
strip, allowing the missile to transit south and
meet its intended target. Often the target
did not need the bunker-busting abilities of
Storm Shadow, but it delivered the effect at a
reduced risk to crews.
Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone (DMSB) came
of age and was the precise weapon of choice
across the coalition. Carried only by RAF
Tornados, it was tasked against a wide variety
of targets to great effect.
Arguably, the most challenging task followed
the need to disable some communications
equipment in Tripoli – satellite dishes and
aerials were being used to spread propaganda
and incite violence against civilians. The
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equipment was on a rooftop in-between
high-rise buildings. With amazing precision,
a Tornado GR4 crew fired a single DMSB
between the buildings and guided it to
successfully strike and disable the equipment.
The legacy Brimstone air-to-ground missile was
also used during the operation. This was the first
and last time the millimetric wave seeker variant
was used operationally, with the munition having
been procured against a Cold War landscape
and the need to attack armour columns.
In the town of Sebha – some 250nm deep
within Libya – assorted PGF armour, truck-
mounted artillery and guns were operating in
a large area afforded by the plentiful natural
camouflage of trees, and most were dug in
revetments. Coalition aircraft were tasked,
unsuccessfully, with destroying the PGF assets
with laser or GPS-guided bombs. Each vehicle
needed a single bomb, which vastly increased
the number of assets tasked at increased
risk – and only a slight miss would inflict little
Below: Mission ready! A Typhoon FGR4 from No 3 (Fighter) Squadron endures the rain at Gioia del Colle Air
Base as it awaits its next mission over Libya on March 21, 2011. Note, this aircraft is equipped with ASRAAMs
on its underwing hardpoints and AMRAAMs are fitted to its fuselage MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Neil Chapman
Multi-domain,
multinational ops
I have written almost exclusively about the UK’s
contribution to Operation Unified Protector and have still
not been able to do justice to the many assets involved.
But the campaign was much broader in contribution and
involved many nations – not all from NATO.
Qatar and the UAE contributed aircraft and personnel to
the campaign to great effect. Sweden deployed
JAS-39C/D Gripens throughout in the ISR role, delivering
a game-changing difference. The participants were from
many nations, yet all shared one purpose – to protect
the civilian population of Libya. It was truly humbling
to see the dedication of all under the inspirational
leadership of Lt Gen Ralph Jodice.
Multi-domain integration is a term in vogue among
the UK military following the recent Integrated Review
(published in March 2021). However, integration across
all domains was in full flow in 2011 and used the
strengths of all participating nations to best effect.
This was a coercive campaign, where the aim was to
destroy the morale of fighting forces and to make them
realise that committing atrocities was not going to be
tolerated and would be met by the use of lethal force,
if required. Therefore, messaging, leaflet bombardment
and other coercive techniques were all employed
throughout the conflict.
damage due to the revetments.
I was struck that the PGF fielded forces
that looked very similar to the target set that
had been used by No 41 Squadron when
the Brimstone’s operational evaluation had
been conducted during my tenure as officer
commanding. Following consultation and a
rapid move to the theatre within 48 hours, a
pair of Tornados undertook the hazardous
transit south and released 24 missiles into
the designated area in a single pass and with
stand-off from the complex target set.
The mission was a great success and led to
an immediate cessation of aggression on the
town’s population. The Typhoon came of age
in 2011. At the time, it was still purely an Air
Defence platform with a rudimentary air-to-
ground capability. Equipped with Enhanced
Paveway IIs, providing a GPS-guidance ability,
the crews normally flew in formation with a
Tornado GR4, as they were simply better
together.
January 2022 // 67
Op Ellamy: Ten Years On
Typhoon comes of age
Pairing Typhoon and Tornado aircraft into
dedicated pairs proved to be a real force
multiplier, both in human and capability
terms. With a mature link-16 datalink and a
state of the art air-to-air radar, the situational
awareness of the Typhoon pilot was much
higher than the Tornado crew – they were
far more aware of the surrounding air picture
and were delivered far more information. In
contrast, the Tornado crew were largely reliant
on communications from E3 AEW C2 aircraft
to provide an air picture of their surroundings;
the aircraft was equipped with a radar, but it
was optimised for air-ground work.
The Typhoon was also able to carry a mix
of air to air missiles, Enhanced Paveway II
(EP2) bombs, capable of GPS and/or laser
guidance, and a Lightning Targeting pod.
Conversely, the 2 seat Tornado had a
distinguished operational career and had
been totally optimised for medium level air-
surface operations. Moreover, most of the
crews were significantly experienced and
veterans of both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the
aircraft’s weapon load of DMSB and Paveway
4 proved the most potent and flexible load
across the whole coalition. Lastly, in such
a confusing and complex environment with
no indications who was who on the ground,
the 2-seat environment was ideal – the WSO
dealing with the weapons system with 100%
concentration leaving the pilot to concentrate
on operating the platform. Together the
aircraft were a potent pair.
On one evening, that dramatic difference in
technology became immediately apparent.
Tasked while conducting night AAR to transit
south, the venerable Tornado had plenty of fuel
to conduct the mission and started to move
out due to its time-sensitive nature. Meanwhile,
the Typhoon continued to refuel until full, then
climbed to the highest of altitudes, transited
supersonically and joined the Tornado as it
arrived at the target area, which was 300nm
away from the AAR location.
All of the UK assets were in high demand,
but very much used as true coalition assets.
The integration of the Apache AH1s from
HMS Ocean was another first, and very much
employed for the political reasons laid out
earlier. Nevertheless, their crews delivered
a significant cognitive effect, as the attack
Right: An RAF Typhoon FGR4 – fitted with both
AMRAAM and ASRAAM weapons – departs Gioia
del Colla Air Base for a mission over Libya in
support of Operation Ellamy on May 1, 2011
MOD Crown Copyright/Cpl Babs Robinson
68 // January 2022
A flight of Tornado GR4s return
to RAF Marham on November
1, 2011, following the
conclusion of Operation Ellamy.
More than 1,400 sorties,
totalling 7,000 flight hours,
were flown by RAF Tornado
crews during the operation.
The type was formally retired
from British service on April 1,
2019 MOD Crown Copyright
/SAC Andy Masson
helicopters struck fear into the PGF and
deterred many an attack just by sound alone.
Night after night, they would launch to
the coastal strip of Libya under constant
threat of man-portable air-defence systems
(MANPADS), which were used prolifically by
the PGF.
There is no doubt they were the most
courageous of all the crews set against the
risks they faced.
The Sentinel played a pivotal role in the
operation throughout the period. The pinnacle
of their involvement saw the crew identify a
mobile Scud missile launcher following an
intelligence tip. After its initial identification, the
target was neutralised within an hour.
All the time, their mission – along with the whole
coalition – was being controlled and directed
by the E-3s operated by the RAF, NATO and
the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force). For No 8
Squadron, it was a relentless pace that had been
set from the initial rescue missions of entitled
people from the Libyan oil fields.
They flew daily without a single break and,
without their valuable contribution, it would not
have been possible to conduct the campaign. Of
note, both the Sentinel and Sentry were retired
from operational RAF service this last year.
To conclude
Operation Unified Protector ran from March
2011 until October 31 that year. It is not
appropriate to comment on the final day of
the conflict, nor the manner in which Col
Muammar Gaddafi lost his life. Moreover,
Libya remains a troubled country to this day
and is a long way short of the envisaged
peaceful state that many hoped for.
My mission as the UK ACC was to maximise
the UK’s contribution to Unified Protector
to uphold UNSCR 1973 and ensure the
protection of civilians across Libya. I would
argue that the NATO mission was a success,
but be under no illusion – such campaigns
cannot be ‘won’ from the air alone. It was the
bravery of the civilian population in rising up
that ultimately turned the tide.
Formed as the AGF, they took on the might
of the PGF – including the notorious 32
Brigade – in the face of significant adversary
and suffering great losses. By working
with truly inspirational people who worked
tirelessly to derive faster and better ways of
protecting the population, the international
community protected civilians
until the day it was no longer
required.
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 US AIR FORCES IN EUROPE: THE 1980S

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463/21
Hotspots // West Africa

Terror in
the

Sahel A guerrilla war involving African, European and insurgent forces

has been raging across a large swathe of West Africa for almost
a decade. Al J Venter – who has just returned from spending a
month embedded with a NATO tactical air unit in Mali – outlines
how the conflict has escalated in recent months

Above: An insurgent unit in Mali. These jihadist forces

are active across the region, are committed to their
cause and are utterly ruthless adversaries
Right: This map highlights areas of interest in the Central
Sahel and Lake Chad regions, including countries of
note, such as Mali and Libya

70 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

T
hings sometimes happen very quickly
in Africa. I had one of my books, ‘Al
Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Shadow
of Terror over the Sahel’, published in the UK
three or four years ago and, in one of my
initial chapters, I declared that the French-
led counterinsurgency operation had the
jihadists on the run.
That is no longer the case, because al-Qaeda
now seems to have the upper hand. Moreover,
the Mali war – which has spilled over into
several adjacent countries – has intensified to
the extent that the insurgents operating in that
arid region are able to strike, seemingly at will.
Also, while road ambushes were something
that occasionally took place in the past, these
are now commonplace. These changes have
all happened within the past three years.
Conflict escalation
Prior to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal of
US forces from Afghanistan in August 2021,
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The Islamic insurgency centred in the Mali Republic
– and involving all of its neighbouring West African
states – is currently rated the world’s most dangerous
‘peacekeeping’ mission – an oxymoron, surely,
because, to keep the peace, you first need to have it
the rebels in Africa’s vast Sahel region – which as ‘Sector Centre’, and the largely unsettled
lies south of the Sahara and extends across region also includes ‘Sector East’ (Gao), which
Africa (west to east) – would manage perhaps borders Niger.
two attacks against security forces per week. This escalation not only has serious
By the time I left Mali in September, that tally ramifications for the 14,000 United Nations
had increased to three or four attacks a day, (UN) soldiers on the ground in Mali (which is
sometimes more. the eighth largest country in Africa, and about
It is notable that – following Washington’s twice the size of Texas), but also directly
move in Central Asia – Islamic guerrilla forces affects the long-standing 5,000-strong French
in Mali have called together many military presence that has been active
of their cadres in the north in the region since January 2013.
of the country and sent Still worse, French President
them south towards the Emmanuel Macron has given
Mopti Quadrant – more notice that he intends to cut
specifically, a swathe that military presence by
of land where the half in early 2022.
borders of Mali, During the month that I
Burkina Faso and was embedded within a
Niger converge. In tactical NATO Air Force
tactical terms, this detachment in Mali, some
region is known of my contacts expressed
Main image: This forward operating airstrip in
a remote area of Mali can be used by C295M
medium-lift tactical transports, if needed
All images via Al J Venter
Inset: The emblem of the FAP’s 502 Transport
Squadron dates back to Lisbon’s colonial war
in Angola in the 1960s and 1970s, hence the
unit’s elephant mascot
January 2022 // 71
Hotspots // West Africa
disquiet about the way the war was heading.
One said he believed the untimely withdrawal
of US troops from Central Asia would not
only increase the tempo of the trouble in
Mali but could similarly affect other Islamic
insurgencies across Africa – such as those in
Somalia, Mozambique and Central Africa.
This was accentuated by UN Secretary-
General António Guterres, who told Agence
France-Presse shortly thereafter that he feared
the Taliban terror group’s recent seizure of
power in Afghanistan may “embolden” fellow
jihadists in the African Sahel to increase terror
attacks, in the hopes of similarly gaining
control over their home countries.
I was hoping to visit Sweden’s Lt Gen Dennis
Gyllensporre – the Force Commander of
the United Nations Multinational Integrated
Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) –
at his headquarters in Bamako (the nation’s
capital) to ask for clarification. However, I
could not get to see him, even when he visited
the camp where I was based. Impressions
were that he had no intention of speaking to
anybody from the media.
However, the General recently declared that
the Islamic insurgency centred in the Mali
Republic – and involving all of its neighbouring
West African states – is currently rated the
world’s most dangerous ‘peacekeeping’
mission – an oxymoron, surely, because, to
keep the peace, you first need to have it.
Additionally, MINUSMA has suffered one
of the highest death tolls of any mission in
UN peacekeeping history. Attacks grew five-
fold between 2016-21, with more than 4,000
people killed in the last year, up from about
770 in 2016, according to the UN.
Strategic observers have also noted that
many of the tactics employed by the Mali
rebels have been emulated in other jihadist-led
insurgencies, specifically with Boko Haram in
Nigeria, al-Shabaab in Somalia and in northern
Mozambique, where Cabo Delgado has
“We try to handle everything thrown at us and the days
can be long, sometimes starting at 0400hrs and only
returning to base well after dark”
Lt Col Duarte ‘Crunch’ Freitas, commander
of the FAP’s C295M detachment in Mali
72 // January 2022
Lt Col Duarte ‘Crunch’ Freitas is currently serving
as the officer commanding the Portuguese
C295M detachment based out of Bamako, Mali
The FAP’s 502 Transport Squadron handles its
own security at its base on the southern fringes
of the airport in Bamako
become the Salafi-jihadist movement’s first
foothold in southern Africa.
Furthermore, this war south of the Sahara
has sometimes taken on a more serious
complexity, including the rebels deploying
aerial drones for their own intelligence-
gathering purposes. Some of these advanced
devices have been spotted over Bamako, but
none were intercepted.
Portuguese involvement
When it comes to jihadist rebels in the Sahel,
a Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP, Portuguese
Air Force) detachment is playing an important
security role. Together with its Airbus C295M
medium-lift tactical transport, this detachment
is probably one of the busiest operational
units in the West African theatre. However, it
is not actively participating in the war itself,
which is being handled by the French military
under Operation Barkhane, the Forces Armées
Maliennes (Malian Armed Forces) and the
Swedish-led Task Force Takuba.
Operating from Bamako, the C295M flies to
Gao and all forward operating bases (FOBs)
on most flights out, including ones in ‘Sector
Centre’, which is currently the most active
insurgent region. That sector – located in the
country’s southern quadrant – includes Mopti,
Bandiagara, Hombori and others (some of the
most disputed towns in the conflict).
There is also ‘Sector North’, which includes
the towns of Kidal and Télabit (both constantly
threatened by rebel forces operating out of
southern Algeria), as well as Timbuktu – a
lengthy drive north from Mopti on an often
disputed road.
Clearly, in a country this large, caught
between opposing forces in an ongoing
guerrilla struggle, airpower features
significantly and is essential in a region
where it can take days to travel – always
in a convoy, because of
the threat of ambushes –
between one strongpoint
and the next. Nor are
things made easier in an area where
landmines and improvised explosive
devices (IEDs) predominate.
It is here that the FAP’s Esquadra de
Transporte 502 (502 Transport Squadron)
‘Elefantes’ (Elephants) came into its own,
under the command of Lt Col Duarte ‘Crunch’
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 A rare sighting of the only serviceable Mil Mi-24D Hind-D
attack helicopter in the Force Aérienne de la République
du Mali’s (Malian Republic Air Force) fleet

Freitas – his nickname stemming from time

spent in the US as a senior instructor in
advanced tactics on the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
He did a three-year tour as an exchange
instructor pilot in the US, attached to the 314th
Fighter Squadron (FS) at Holloman Air Force
Base, New Mexico, as well as the Arizona Air
National Guard’s 195th FS ‘Warhawks’. The Lt
Col is still an active jet jock and will return to
those duties once his current posting ends.
Operating from his unit, based south of
Bamako – arguably the most fortified military
camp in the country – Lt Col Freitas
is also the senior security
co-ordinator in the Camp Senou
area (also south of Bamako),
which, among other things, covers
seven multinational UN camps.
These are manned by troops from seven
countries – mostly French or Arabic speaking
– who communicate via translators.
Unlike the French air and ground units –
which mainly operate from Gao in the east –
or Task Force Takuba, the multinational-camp
troops are predominately base-bound and are
not directly involved in hostilities. However, FAP aircrew and their four-man Force Protection element are pictured
the threat factor is real enough to determine on board their C295M during take-off for a mission over Mali
that all movement in that region takes place
A Portuguese C295M pilot prepares his cockpit prior
to departing for a mission to Gao, Mali, in support of
the wider UN-led mission in West Africa

A French Army Aviation-operated Airbus

Helicopters Tigre attack helicopter rests on the
ground at an undisclosed location in between
missions over Mali. Note the UN Mil Mi-8/17
Hip tactical transport helicopter departing the
location in the background

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 73

Hotspots // West Africa
A French Tiger attack
helicopter is rearmed
for combat against
al-Qaeda insurgent
forces in Mali
in armoured vehicles, which travel in convoys
with a strong force-protection element in tow.
I tagged along from our base to the airport,
usually in a four- or five-strong motorised
column and always with my designated
bodyguards – nobody was taking any chances!
Nor was I surprised that, immediately after
the United States-led debacle in Afghanistan,
everybody in the base had been issued with
sidearms (this included the unit doctor and her
medical team).
Strong leadership
As the commanding officer on what is
obviously a demanding foreign deployment, Lt
Col Freitas has a forthright approach to his job.
My impressions were that the almost 100 air
force personnel under him are trained to work
together and in conjunction with their leader,
almost like an oversized family.
The Lt Col mixes easily with them all –
observing each one unobtrusively, not only for
performance but also for the occasional error
or personal issues that might emerge. There
was no separation between officers and the
crew at meals.
“Every member of my team has a life, not
only here in Africa, but back home as well.
Things sometimes go wrong and while I cannot
always put it right, they know I have a ready
ear,” he said. The same applies with what he
refers to as mistakes or lapses on the job. “We
all know that these things happen, but at the
same time, this is the air force – I will allow a
mistake, but not the same one twice in a row.”
Discipline, I discovered, was strict. His view is
that he not only requires the team to do what
they are trained for, but to be fully aware of
every pertinent aspect related to operations,
because there might be lives at risk. That
means the crew is fully briefed on all domestic
and security matters.
The Lt Col also views his role as that of a
leader as well as a participant, which meant
that I would often spot him jogging around
the periphery of his base with a dozen or
74 // January 2022
more of his charges – sometimes a couple
of hours before midnight. “The body needs
attention, too,” he explained. “In this desert
environment, I encourage exercise – a lot of
it – and frankly, the cool evenings are best for
serious workouts.”
A heavy toll
There have already been more than 250 UN
lives lost in Mali, including those of 13 French
aviators, when two of their helicopters collided
during a sortie in November 2019. Al-Qaeda
claimed responsibility, but the subsequent
investigation determined human error as the
cause of the fatal incident.
Also, shortly before I arrived, six Malian
soldiers were killed and a dozen German and
one Belgian ‘peacekeepers’ were wounded in
a car bomb attack. Occurring in the north, the
attack targeted a temporary base, set up by the
peacekeepers near the village of Ichagara in the
Gao region, where Islamist insurgents linked
with al-Qaeda and Islamic State are active.
As the Lt Col told me, while Bamako is secure
for now, insurgents who venture that far west
have freedom of movement across vast areas
and use their ability to move about as they
please to good tactical advantage.
For now, Islamic State does not wield as
many cudgels as it did a couple of years
ago. Now, however, the strong kid on the
block is the JNIM (Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa
al-Muslimin) – a Mali-based al-Qaeda affiliate
and a coalition of Salafi-jihadist insurgent
groups. Essentially, it was formed by the
merger of Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation
Front, Al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch
of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
It says a lot that MINUSMA has lost so
many troops to these insurgent forces since
operations began in 2013. In fact, within the
enormous throngs of people you encounter
whenever moving about – in the heaving
masses of Bamako, it can sometimes take an
hour to cover a few kilometres – you never
know who might be a jihadist.
In theory, the Lt Col added, “that also means
they could attack whenever they wanted to –
one of the reasons why our units, once outside
the security gates, always move about in
convoy with [a] force-protection element.”
Supporting operations
Commenting on 502 Transport Squadron’s
role in the Sahel – which extends hundreds of
kilometres north, east and south of Bamako
Portugal’s deployed C295M – assigned to a
detachment from 502 Transport Squadron
‘Elephants’ – departs from an undisclosed
location for an operation over the Sahel region
– Freitas likes to refer to what he does as
providing his UN Force Commander with
“agile airpower”, a multi-role aviation weapons
system that is both responsive and versatile.
Officially, the unit’s mandate is restricted to
Mali, but the country’s neighbours are also
under threat from jihadist forces.
As he explained with regard to an embattled
Mali, Freitas’s job involves airborne command
and control coupled with intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance – whether for
convoy support, a para drop, cargo delivery or
medical/casualty evacuation missions. It needs
to include aircraft operations, as well as skilled
maintenance – all part of the regimen where, if
you don’t help yourself, you could end up with
problems, he suggested.
“We try to handle everything thrown at us and
the days can be long, sometimes starting at
0400hrs and only returning to base well after
dark,” Freitas said. In this regard, he made the
point that the unit was hugely multi-disciplinary
and about as versatile as they come. “I always
operate with a well-equipped force-protection
group on board, in the event of something
unscheduled taking place.”
The Lt Col stressed that the force is in a
category of its own and operates under the
heading of ‘air mobile protection team’,
which makes for what he called “an effective
force multiplier.”
He continued by saying that these men and
women handle assault landings if and when
they take place, adding that when going into
remote airstrips “they fan out sharply once the
ramp goes down… we have the capability to
self-protect in case there is a threat to [the]
aircraft or crew.”
Within this sphere of operation is routine
protection and control of anybody approaching
the aircraft, which includes responsibility for
body searches and overnight protection of the
C295M, wherever in Africa it might have been
set down after dark.
The twin-engine, high-wing aircraft deployed
to West Africa by Lisbon is clearly well suited
for whatever the job entails in remote regions
and where there is little back-up available. It
is the rough equivalent of the US-operated
C-146A platform, which is equipped with a
cabin capable of various passenger and
cargo configurations.
Designed and manufactured by Dornier
for the US Air Force and codenamed
‘Wolfhound’, the C-146A is widely used by
US Special Operations Command and can
www.Key.Aero
French fighter aircraft have also supported
combat efforts against insurgent forces in the
Sahel region of West Africa since the conflict
began in 2013. Pictured is a now-retired Dassault
Mirage F1CR flying above a Dassault Rafale C
multi-role fighter over Mali
carry a maximum of 27 passengers; 6,000lb
of cargo or up to four litter patients (see p50-
61). Similarly, its European counterpart takes
26 passengers plus crew, which includes its
customary force-protection element.
The sad truth
So it goes in West Africa, week after week
and month after month. However, nobody
in the West takes much notice, even though
the UN Refugee Agency declared in January
2020 that more than two million people had
been forced to flee their homes within their
own country’s borders, owing to the violence
engulfing Africa’s Sahel region.
Most jihadist attacks in the past have been
sporadic or opportunistic: an occasional IED
explosion; ambushes where terrain allows or
the slaughtering of innocent villagers (which
is on the rise). Full-on attacks on security
forces or army bases have been taking place,
but apart from the main operational base at
Gao – which is being mortared more often
than before from stand-off positions – such
onslaughts have been irregular.
www.Key.Aero
Packing firepower! This
ALAT-operated Puma
tactical transport helicopter is
seen on the ground at
Gao, fitted with a 20mm
heavy machine gun
sticking out of
its rear cabin
More pertinent, the nature of this conflict has
rapidly changed in recent months, with the
highest number of attacks. The most dramatic
increases have followed the debacle in
Afghanistan, where attacks launched by AQIM,
or its allies now occur every day.
Underscoring this trend is the fact that Mali’s
northeast – around the towns of Kidal and
Tessalit – have recently gone relatively quiet,
with most insurgents having been ordered by
their Imams to move south.
There, Islamic fighters are deployed to bolster
their onslaught in the so-called ‘Three-Borders’
region (Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso), which
is adjacent to the regional capital of Mopti.
This area, roughly the size of Wales, has been
hardest hit by the jihadists, with Mopti – in the
most embattled ‘Sector Centre’ – being one
of the largest conurbations on the Niger River,
lying 385 miles by road from Bamako.
Since the withdrawal of US and coalition
forces from Afghanistan, jihadist attacks
have now halved the distance where they are
militarily active to Mali’s capital city.
All of this puts the French in an almost
intractable situation. If France decides to
intervene in Africa, it is accused of neo-
colonialism. If it decides not to intervene, it
is accused of turning a blind eye and letting
problems expand.
Ironically, the countries that consistently
criticise the French interventions are those
who would never put troops on the ground
to help African governments combat the
jihadist groups or genocidal threats that they
face. Such countries include China, Germany
and the United States, as well as quite a few
neighbouring African nations, who refuse to
become involved in a jihadist conflict, because
they fear they might be next in the revolutionary
line of sights.
The sad truth is that nobody but France is
able and willing to secure the Sahel region of
West Africa. AFM
January 2022 // 75
UK Integrated Air Defence
Jon Lake delves into the history and structure of the UK’s Integrated
Air Defence forces and provides insight into whether they are capable of
safeguarding the country against larger adversaries
I
n an ideal world, the UK would have a
carefully layered system of air defences
that could protect the nation from any
realistically conceivable airborne threat,
whatever the type and whatever the
scale. Any threat that somehow escaped
the outermost layer would inevitably be
destroyed by the next. The country’s
overseas interests and responsibilities would
similarly be defended, and the UK would
also have mobile systems that are capable of
protecting deployed forces.
However, we are not living in an ideal world.
Human memory is short, and the selective
memory of politicians is shorter still. By
1957, the lessons of the UK’s response to the
Gotha and Zeppelin attacks of World War
One – and even those of the Battle of Britain
in 1940 – had largely been forgotten, and air
defence had largely slipped down the list of
national priorities.
There was a growing political desire to
reduce the proportion of the UK’s Gross
The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 serves as the
UK’s primary Quick Reaction Alert (QRA),
operating from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray,
Scotland, and RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.
This aircraft – assigned to the RAF’s No 3
(Fighter) Squadron – is pictured prior to joining
up with a French-operated Dassault Mirage
2000-5 to intercept a simulated non-NATO
military aircraft entering UK airspace during
an exercise on December 15, 2020. Note, the
Typhoon is equipped with four ASRAAMs
MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Megan Woodhouse
76 // January 2022
Domestic Product (GDP) spent on defence.
This set the scene for a far-reaching review
– the infamous 1957 Defence White Paper,
authored by then Prime Minister Harold
Macmillan’s new Minister for Defence,
Duncan Sandys.
The review prioritised the nuclear deterrent
– delivered by Royal Air Force Bomber
Command’s venerable ‘V-Force’ – which
would thereafter be the foundation upon
which British defence policy would be
founded. Sandys believed that hostile
ballistic missiles could not be
defended
against
and would
therefore
imminently render
the UK’s existing air
defences obsolete.
The only counter to
such an attack was
to deter the Soviet
Union from making one. Almost overnight,
Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command was
significantly reduced in size and repurposed
as a force to protect the deterrent from
Soviet reconnaissance or against surprise
attacks by conventionally armed bombers,
and not to protect the nation as a whole.
This was a bare minimum level of air
defence, and Sandys believed that even this
would soon be covered by surface-to-air
missile (SAM) systems.
In light of this, all fighter development
programmes were summarily cancelled and it
was boldly predicted that there would be no
manned fighters after the early variants of the
English Electric Lightning.
Sandys’ assessments of the threat and the
pace at which missile
technology would
develop were quickly
proven to be wrong. Despite
a lengthy debate about
www.Key.Aero
B
the required size of Fighter Command, the
fundamental direction of travel was not
reversed, and the fighter force that resulted
was too small to meet all the commitments
it faced – over the years, that force has been
reduced further.
In the early 1960s, a Lightning force sized
to protect the UK domestically was reduced
after two squadrons were diverted to RAF
Germany and a further two relocated to
Cyprus and Singapore.
By 1970, the UK was defended by just six
Lightning squadrons and one Bloodhound
SAM unit, with two more Lightning squadrons
in Germany and one in Cyprus.
The Lightning eventually gave way to
the more capable McDonnell Douglas
F-4 Phantom II, which was subsequently
replaced by the Panavia Tornado F3.
However, aircraft and squadron numbers
remained pitiful, and priority was given to
maintaining the RAF’s offensive capabilities.
Post-Cold War years
The end of the Cold War brought reductions
as cynical politicians sought to reduce
government spending by encouraging the
public to expect a ‘peace dividend’. Cynical
British
ritish
skies
www.Key.Aero
A Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H
long-range strategic heavy
bomber (serial RF-94122) of
Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye
Sily – Russian Aerospace
Forces is intercepted
by an RAF-operated
Typhoon FGR4 from RAF
Lossiemouth during a QRA
mission on September
16, 2014 MOD Crown
Copyright/Sgt Fenwick
because it was always clear that the end of cuts were made to the nation’s air defences.
the Cold War would lead to greater instability, It was decided the number of active Quick
unpredictability and to an existential threat Reaction Alert (QRA) airfields was to be
being replaced by a plethora of smaller ones reduced from four (Leuchars, Binbrook/
– a world in which conventional capabilities Leeming, Coningsby and Wattisham) to just
actually needed to be bolstered and not two (Lossiemouth and Coningsby).
simply cut. Also, the number of active fighter squadrons
With a much-reduced near-term threat of was progressively reduced. Four Phantom
direct air attack against the UK, significant units – two of them in Germany – were
Defending
January 2022 // 77
UK Integrated Air Defence
The UK is also responsible for covering the Air Defence requirements
of its overseas territories, such as the Falkland Islands. This Typhoon
FGR4 – assigned to No 1435 Flight at RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland
Islands – conducts a routine training flight over the territory on
June 18, 2018. A small flight of Typhoons is maintained from Mount
Pleasant to protect the Falkland Islands from potential adversaries
MOD Crown Copyright/Sgt Rob Travis
This QRA-assigned Typhoon FGR4 – operated by No 11 (Army Co-operation)
Squadron – departs RAF Lossiemouth for a mission on December 4, 2018. Note,
this aircraft is equipped with four ASRAAMs (two under each wing) and four
MBDA-developed Meteor BVRAAMs, which are fitted to the aircraft’s fuselage
hardpoints MOD Crown Copyright/SAC Charlotte Hopkins
Hot launch! A Rapier surface-to-air missile (SAM)
is launched at a target during a live-fire exercise,
conducted by the Royal Artillery at Benbecula in
Scotland on June 17, 2001
MOD Crown Copyright/PO[Phot] S J Lewis
78 // January 2022
The Starstreak HVM is
designed to counter threats
MOD Crown Copyright
/ Graeme Main
disbanded in 1992 without replacement, while
the number of Tornado F3 squadrons dropped
from seven to five between 1994 and 2002.
The RAF’s last Bloodhound SAMs were also
withdrawn from service in July 1991, leaving
the UK in the extraordinary position of being
without a ground-based, medium-range
SAM system. Instead, the UK’s air defences
were based on the RAF’s manned fighters,
supported by Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1
airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)
aircraft, and augmented by short-range
Rapier SAMs.
This represented a significant reduction
in the number of defensive layers when
compared with Cold War norms, if not
an outright reduction in capability. It is
noteworthy that British bases in Germany,
Cyprus and Singapore had enjoyed protection
from a mix of manned fighter aircraft, medium
and short-range SAMs and anti-aircraft guns
for point defence during the Cold War.
In fairness, attention should be drawn to
an exceptionally well-developed control and
reporting centre, which significantly improved
the overall capability of the system, making it
‘greater than the sum of its parts’.
It remains a matter of luck that the UK has
found itself facing adversaries who have been
unable to pose any significant aerial threat.
That same good fortune has also ensured
that the UK has not needed to exercise an air
defence capability in anger.
However, that unfortunately meant that what
was once seen as a non-negotiable capability,
became the ‘obvious’ target for cutbacks
to fund the capabilities required for current
asymmetric operations. One ought to be able
www.Key.Aero
 British GBADs
The UK’s manned fighters are augmented by
Short-Range Air Defences (SHORADs) provided by
SAM or ground-based air defence (GBAD) units.
In light of a reduced aerial threat and the improved
air defence capabilities afforded by the then-new
Typhoon, the Rapier was taken away from the RAF
Regiment in 2006 to preserve Royal Artillery units
in the face of significant cuts to the British Army.
However, these units were subsequently placed
under the command of the RAF’s No 1 Group and
a Joint Ground-Based Air Defence Headquarters
was formed.
The Rapier is now being replaced as one of the UK’s
primary air defence weapons by the new Sky Sabre.
Originally known as the Future Local Area Air Defence
System (FLAADS), the Sky Sabre or Land Ceptor
is the land-based version of the Common Anti-Air
Modular Missile (CAMM).
Weighing twice as much as the Rapier, the Sky
Sabre has more than three times its range and uses
‘The UK still requires a balanced an active radio-frequency seeker with excellent
clutter rejection capabilities to allow success against
range of capability, including even the most challenging threats – including
traditional air defences. A wide cruise missiles and guided munitions in all
range of potential threats could weather conditions.
Sky Sabre uses Saab’s Giraffe Agile Multi-Beam
yet come from the air…’ (AMB) medium-range 3D radar surveillance system
to detect and track its targets, with the new
radar boasting 360° coverage out to 120km. The
platform’s battle management command, control,
communications, computers and intelligence (BMC4I)
element is provided by Rafael’s Modular, Integrated
C4I Air & Missile Defense System (MIC4AD).
The Sky Sabre entered acceptance trials and
training with the Royal Artillery in July 2021, and a
deployment of the system to the Falkland Islands was
then planned for the “late summer/early autumn”.
While the Sky Sabre will offer a useful increase in
capability, many doubt that sufficient systems will be
procured to meet existing UK requirements; let alone
to allow increasing force protection levels at
airfields in the UK and overseas, or to protect other
high-value targets.
At very short-range, the UK has the Starstreak HVM
– a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS),
manufactured by Thales Air Defence (formerly Shorts
Missile Systems) in Belfast. The missile accelerates
to more than Mach 4 after launch, making it the
fastest short-range SAM in the world. The weapon
launches three laser beam riding submunitions in the
terminal phase, increasing the likelihood of a hit.

to take it for granted that no sensible person
would assume that this situation will continue
indefinitely. That being said, politicians and
senior officials have tended to prioritise
preparing for and fighting asymmetric
conflicts – like the Western intervention in
Afghanistan; the UK’s participation in the
US-led coalition to remove Saddam Hussein
from power in Iraq; the intervention in Libya;
and the long-running campaign against
Daesh in the Middle East. Meanwhile, there
has simply been no pressure or impetus to
provide much-needed modernisation and
enhancement for the UK air defence network.
This marks a notable failure of imagination,
but also a remarkably partial and incomplete
assessment of actual contemporary real-
world threats. The ‘9/11’ terrorist attacks
against the US on September 11, 2001,
demonstrated how damaging unconventional
aerial threats can be, and highlighted the
need for a responsive and capable air
defence system.
Emerging threats also include the possible
use of aircraft to deliver weapons of mass
destruction, but existing weapons can also
prove difficult to detect, engage and defeat.
Even in Iraq in 2003, Saddam’s Chinese-
supplied ‘Seersucker’ surface-to-surface
missiles proved impossible to detect and
engage, while Iraqi-operated ultralight aircraft
were able to overfly US troop formations
without being detected beforehand – luckily
they were conducting reconnaissance and
not carrying chemical or biological weapons.
Since then, both state and non-state actors
have been able to deploy cruise missiles,
ultralight aircraft and remotely piloted air
systems (RPAS) – sometimes employing
multiple, weaponised RPAS in swarm attacks
against a target. However, the UK has not
(yet) had to use its air defence capabilities in
anger, and they have therefore been allowed
to atrophy.
Russia’s Long-Range Aviation Forces
resumed regular flights in 2007, adding
pressure to the UK’s domestic QRA forces.
While modern-day QRA launches are not
at the same level experienced at the height
of the Cold War, the tempo of operations
remains significant.
The Typhoon cometh
The introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon
from 2006 provided a significant boost to UK
air defence fighter capabilities.
However, overall fighter numbers continued
to tumble, and at one stage it looked as
though the RAF’s fast-jet strength would
be limited to just five frontline Typhoon

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 79

UK Integrated Air Defence
squadrons and a single, enlarged Lockheed
Martin F-35B Lightning II unit. Interestingly, it
had once been calculated that five squadrons
would be the bare minimum required to
ensure the UK had adequate QRA cover, plus
the air defence of the Falkland Islands.
Mercifully, common sense prevailed and
there was a modest expansion. Two further
Eurofighter units were formed; though one
was under-strength and partly committed to
providing an aggressor role, while the other
acted as the joint British-Qatari Typhoon
training squadron.
These eight frontline squadrons replaced an
RAF fast-jet force that had included seven
Tornado F3 units; three SEPECAT Jaguar
GR3/3A squadrons; three British Aerospace
Harrier GR9/9A units; and seven Tornado
GR4/4A squadrons.
Remarkably, the continued shrinkage of the
RAF has caused no great scandal and little
public disquiet. It seems that the apparent
absence of any immediate or obvious aerial
threat to the UK has made the government’s
approach to air defence seem like an
acceptable – or even sensible and logical
– rebalancing effort.
Of course, it is nothing of the sort.
A bad situation for UK Air Defence has
been exacerbated by successive British
governments and senior officers, who have
prioritised making a significant ‘hard power’
contribution to coalition operations through
the provision of strategically important
capabilities. Meanwhile, UK Air Defence has
been de-prioritised or sometimes neglected,
unsuccessfully competing for funding and
attention against more glamorous and
exciting capability sets, such as cyber
warfare, space and unmanned technologies.
The decline in the perceived importance
of UK Air Defence can be seen by looking
at the fate of the RAF’s most historic fighter
squadrons – winning the greatest glory in
World War One, providing the inter-war RAF
with its most colourful biplanes, fighting
the hardest during the Battle of Britain and
ending up as Lightning interceptor units
during the Cold War – which have mostly
disappeared, or now languish as number
plates for obscure second-line units.
The RAF’s current frontline structure has
no place for Nos 19, 43, 56, 74, 92 or 111
This Rapier SAM system was one of six to be deployed to
London during the Summer Olympic Games in 2012. This
GBAD platform will be replaced in operational service by the
Sky Sabre, which is the land-based derivative of Common
Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM)
MOD Crown Copyright/Richard Watt
80 // January 2022
Squadrons – an extraordinary situation and
a sad reflection of an air force which neither
understands nor appreciates its own history.
The system today
Providing early warning of an aerial attack
against the UK Air Defence Region (UK
ADR) is the responsibility of the UK’s Air
Surveillance and Control System (ASACS),
headquartered at RAF Boulmer, near Alnwick
in Northumberland.
This oversees the UK’s fighter and missile
defences, along with the associated ground-
control systems and air defence radars. It
also provides co-ordination with Royal Navy
vessels operating in adjacent waters. The
UK’s airspace – in particular the UK ADR
– is immediately adjacent to the airspace
of a number of NATO allies and comes
under the overall control of the Combined
Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Uedem,
Germany, which is responsible for all NATO
airspace north of the Alps.
The UK’s ASACS therefore provides an
element of the larger NATO Integrated Air
Defense System (NATINADS), which is linked
to other elements of the NATO Air Defence
Ground Environment (NADGE) and to the
Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systems
(BMEWS) station at RAF Fylingdales in North
Yorkshire. The latter is networked with the
US-operated BMEWS at Thule, Greenland,
and Clear, Alaska.
Fylingdales extends high-level radar
coverage some 3,000 miles across Eastern
Europe, providing advanced warning of
intermediate-range ballistic missiles launched
against the UK and Western Europe, and of
intercontinental ballistic missiles launched
against the North American continent.
This ensures that a surprise attack cannot
succeed. Fylingdales also tracks satellites
and space debris.
The ASACS Force Command at Boulmer
includes the UK’s primary Control and
Reporting Centre (CRC), which took over the
air defence functions previously administered
by the CRCs at RAF Buchan, Aberdeenshire,
and RAF Neatishead, Norfolk. The Boulmer
CRC has responsibility for the 24-hour
surveillance of the UK’s airspace and liaises
with NATO allies to maintain an effective air
defence cover for NATO’s Air Policing Area 1.
Having recently been allocated the No 19
Squadron number plate, the Boulmer CRC
uses ground-based military and civilian
radars to monitor, detect and identify all
aircraft in and around UK airspace on a 24/7
basis, 365 days a year, and produces the
so-called ‘Recognised Air Picture (RAP)’.
RAF Boulmer is also home to No 20
Squadron – the ASACS Operational
Conversion Unit. This is claimed to be a
worldwide centre of excellence in battlespace
management training and education for the
UK Armed Forces, along with NATO and
other foreign military personnel.
No 1 Air Control Centre (1 ACC) is a
deployable mobile command and control unit
that is currently based at RAF Scampton,
Lincolnshire. It acts in conjunction with,
and reports to, the Boulmer CRC, but also
detaches staff to overseas locations when
the RAF is engaged in operations, as well as
to the Falkland Islands and Cyprus.
The UK CRCs are supported by a number
of Remote Radar Heads (RAF air defence
radars) and Reporting Posts across the
country. There are Lockheed Martin
AN/TPS-77 radars at Saxa Vord on Unst
in the Shetlands, Benbecula in the Outer
Hebrides and at RAF Buchan. Brizlee
Wood in Shipley (near Boulmer) has a
Lockheed Martin AN/FPS-117 radar, as does
Trimingham in Norfolk. Portreath in Cornwall
has a BAE Systems AR-327 radar.
The final Remote Radar Head at Staxton
Wold – near Scarborough in North Yorkshire
– did have an AN/TPS-77 radar, but it was
moved to Saxa Vord in 2017. Future plans for
Staxton Wold are unknown, but the site is
believed to be currently hosting the new
air-mobile Indra Lanza Long Tactical Range
25 radar, which was ordered in 2019 and was
due to become operational in 2021.
These radars all feed information into the
overall UK ASACS system and the wider
NATO NADGE/Aegis architecture. Another
function of ASACS is the control of the fighter
aircraft that police the UK’s airspace during
peace and wartime. Fighter Controllers in the
CRC provide the tactical control required for
the interception of intruders in training and
during real-world QRA scrambles.
The manned element of the UK’s air
defences is provided by the Typhoon FGR4,
www.Key.Aero
 The big rush! An RAF pilot races to his
which is maintained on QRA at RAF
Typhoon FGR4 after receiving a scramble
Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, and RAF order from the UK CRC at Boulmer,
Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and held at an Northumberland. Similarly, the aircraft’s
ongoing continuous state of high readiness, assigned ground crew move quickly to get
the fighter in the air within minutes of the
allowing them to take-off within minutes to
scramble order being issued
investigate any threats to the integrity of MOD Crown Copyright/Geoffrey Lee
sovereign airspace.
Typhoons on QRA are armed with their
internal 27mm Mauser MK-27 revolver
cannon, along with infrared-homing Advanced
Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs)
and radar-guided, beyond-visual-range (BVR)
AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air
Missiles (AMRAAMs) or MBDA-developed
Meteor BVR Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs).
When necessary, the Typhoons are supported
by a dedicated tanker, which is also held on
QRA duty at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.
The ’trade’ for QRA consists of Russian
military aircraft deliberately probing UK
defences, and civilian aircraft that cannot be
identified by any other means – because they
are not talking to civil or military Air Traffic
Control (ATC), have not filed a flight plan and
are not transmitting a recognisable secondary
surveillance radar code – or occasionally
because the aircraft has been or is suspected
to have been hijacked.
Russian military aircraft are typically tracked ‘These eight frontline squadrons
across Norway – colloquially classified as replaced an RAF fast-jet force that had
‘zombies’ – and will often be handed to RAF
fighters by the escorting Royal Norwegian Air
included seven Tornado F3 units, three
Force-operated Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM SEPECAT Jaguar GR3/3A squadrons,
(MLU) Fighting Falcons (which will retire this three British Aerospace Harrier
year) or F-35A Lightning IIs.
These Russian aircraft can pose a real flight
GR9/9A units and seven Tornado
safety risk by flying within internationally GR4/4A squadrons’
recognised air routes; not talking to ATC
(therefore not obeying directions aimed at
deconflicting traffic); and not squawking
(transmitting a transponder code) that would
allow other airspace users and ground units
to see and identify them.
Typically, the Russian aircraft are
first reported to the Norwegian Joint
Headquarters near Bodø, or to the CAOC
at Uedem, who will then liaise with RAF Air
Command’s National Air Defence Operations
Centre (NADOC) at RAF High Wycombe, A flight of four Eurofighter Typhoon
Buckinghamshire, which collates information FGR4s from RAF Coningsby were
from radar sites across the UK and from deployed to RAF Northolt, London,
civilian air traffic and intelligence agencies. to provide the QRA element for the
Summer Olympic Games in 2012
Other unidentified aircraft are then identified MOD Crown Copyright

The UK received its first RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire

Indra-developed air-mobile
Lanza Long Tactical Range
25 radar in December 2020.
This platform will primarily
be used for the long-range
surveillance of co-operative
and non co-operative
aircraft MOD Crown Copyright
is one of three sites that make
up NATO’s wider Ballistic Missile
Early Warning System (BMEWS),
with the other two sites being
manned by US personnel in Alaska
and Greenland. Established in
1963, the base was originally
dominated by three mechanical
tracking radars, which were
replaced by the more capable
Solid State Phased Array Radar
(SSPAR) in the early 1990s
MOD Crown Copyright/Cpl Alex Scott

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 81

UK Integrated Air Defence
Fox-three! A No 3 (F) Squadron Typhoon from RAF Coningsby launches
an ASRAAM missile during a training exercise on August 1, 2008. During
QRA missions, the RAF’s Typhoon Force can be equipped with ASRAAMs,
AMRAAMs and Meteor BVRAAMs, in addition to its internal 27mm Mauser
BK-27 revolver cannon
MOD Crown Copyright/Geoffrey Lee

by RAF controllers embedded within the
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) – the
UK’s main civil air traffic services provider –
at Swanwick, Hampshire, who then inform
the Boulmer CRC using a special phone
line. When the red ‘Bespoke Air Threat’
phone rings, Boulmer knows that there is an
aircraft that is behaving suspiciously or has
otherwise lost communications.
NADOC will then decide whether the threat
is sufficient enough to scramble Typhoons
and pass the order to the Boulmer CRC,
which will forward on the scramble message
to QRA units. Rather than immediately
scrambling Typhoons at the first hint of
something abnormal, a controller may
sometimes bring the pilots to cockpit
readiness, putting them on a higher level
of alert. From this posture, a controller can
monitor the situation, scrambling fighters in
moments, if required.
RAF air traffic controllers at Swanwick work
with their civilian counterparts to ensure the
Typhoons can follow the most direct route to
their target.
Unconventional threats
When London hosted the Summer Olympic
Games in 2012, the main threats against the
Games were unconventional and asymmetric.
While part of QRA South was briefly deployed
from RAF Coningsby to operate from
RAF Northolt, London, the four Typhoons
involved probably represented overkill for any
emergent or potential threat.
Arguably more appropriate were the snipers
carried by Merlin and Lynx helicopters,
operating from HMS Ocean (L12) on the River
Thames. These helicopters were intended to
deal with slower-flying threats, using visual
boards to try to identify and understand the
intent of the aircraft they were intercepting,
with an air-to-air sniper capability to be used,
when necessary. The RAF's Puma helicopters
operating from a Territorial Army site in Ilford,
East London, offered a similar capability.
Rapier SAMs were also deployed during the
2012 Olympic Games to provide air defence
security. These systems were placed at four
sites across London, including Blackheath
Common, the William Girling Reservoir in
Enfield, Oxleas Meadow near Shooter’s Hill
and Barn Hill in Epping Forest.
High-velocity missile lightweight multi-
launch (HVM LML) detachments were also
deployed at two further sites, each equipped
with Starstreak A4 missiles and placed on top
of several blocks of flats in London.
In recent years, attention has increasingly
turned to counter-drone systems. The RAF
deployed a Falcon Shield system to Gatwick
as a stop-gap after London’s second airport
was closed by illegal drone operations in
December 2018. More recently, the service
has deployed the ORCUS counter-unmanned
aerial system (C-UAS).
Assessing the capability
The perceived requirement for air defence
has seldom been informed by a realistic
assessment of the actual situation. Instead,
decision-makers have veered between at least
two very different scenarios.
Some have presented a very minimal threat,
which can be managed cheaply and with
a relatively small force, pointing to the lack
of air threats in most of the post-Cold War
operations that the UK has been involved with.
Others have pointed at existential threats and
at technologies so formidable that traditional
means of defence were useless, rendering
manned fighters and QRA effectively pointless.
Some choose to ignore traditional threats
altogether, labelling those who highlight them
as being afflicted by ‘Cold War thinking’ and
maintaining that legacy systems – like manned
fighters and main battle tanks – have had their
day and will soon follow the longbow, cavalry
sabre and the flintlock musket into the pages of
the history books.
They prefer to concentrate on the new
domains of cyber warfare, space operations
and artificial intelligence.
However, the UK still requires a balanced
range of capability, including traditional air
defences. A wide range of potential threats
could yet come from the air, ranging from state-
operated combat aircraft and cruise missiles to
cheap, weaponised drones employed by non-
state actors or proxies.
This suggests that the UK may find itself
playing ‘catch-up’ in a bid to address the range
of potential air-delivered threats, particularly to
deployed forces.
At times, the UK has placed some reliance
upon its allies, particularly the US, and
especially deployed forces, to mitigate some
types of threat (against ballistic missiles,
for example) but many believe that such an
approach cannot continue indefinitely, if the UK
still wishes to be considered a leading power.
The current risks of removing or reducing
the UK’s air defence capabilities are huge and
should be unthinkable. AFM

The UK employs The UK also employs

Lockheed Martin’s Lockheed Martin’s AN/TPS-77
AN/FPS-117 ground- radar. Like the AN/FPS-117
based, multi-mission system, it is used for medium
radars for medium to long-range surveillance
to long-range air taskings. These systems cover
surveillance operations UK Air Defence from Saxa
from Brizlee Wood Vord on Unst in the Shetlands,
in Shipley, West Benbecula in the Outer
Yorkshire, and Hebrides and at RAF Buchan,
Trimingham in Norfolk Aberdeenshire
Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin

82 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

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Aircraft
Report Tupolev Tu-160

Bla
The elegant Blackjack features the
so-called ‘integral aerodynamic
configuration’, which incorporates
low-mounted variable-geometry
wings, while the fuselage acts as a
lifting body to provide a significant
proportion of the aircraft’s lift force
Andrey Zinchuk

The newly built and significantly enhanced Tu-160M2s,

which are set to begin rolling out in Kazan from 2022
onwards, will continue in service beyond 2070

T
he Tupolev Tu-160’s
supersonic cruise
capability, combined with
its long endurance and ability
to deliver hard-hitting, long-
range cruise missiles, gives it a
prominent place in Moscow’s
strategic triad.
The type – which made its
maiden flight 40 years ago –
is mainly tasked with the all-
important nuclear-deterrent
mission. At the same time, it also
sports an important conventional
strike role, demonstrated for the
first time during the Syrian conflict
in November 2015.
The 270-ton, swing-wing bomber
is affectionally known as the
‘Black Swan’ by its crews and
Russian aviation enthusiasts,
while the Western world prefers to
refer to the Tu-160 by its NATO
reporting name: Blackjack.
Need for speed
Originally designed as a
penetrating cruise missile launch
platform with an optional bomb-
delivery role (which was never
tested), and deemed fit to do its
job at both low- and high-level, the
white-painted supersonic monster
boasts speed and acceleration
performance comparable to that of
the fighters likely to intercept it.
At the beginning of the type’s
operational life, its maximum
speed at high-altitude was
limited to 1,203kts. This was
later trimmed down to 1,079kts,
in order to reduce the excessive
loads on the airframe and the
four-engine powerplant.

84 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

ackjack
Betting on
The Russian Ministry of Defence has been
investing heavily in the Tu-160, both in its
existing fleet and in the commissioning
of new swing-wing bombers.
Alexander Mladenov investigates
With its sleek aerodynamic
layout – which combines a narrow
fuselage with complex variable-
geometry wings, blended into the
fuselage by means of pronounced
leading-edge root extensions – the
principal original design drivers for
the Tu-160 called for speeds as
high as possible, both at low level
and in the stratosphere. At the same
time, the variable-geometry design,
combined with turbofan engines,
grants extra range and endurance
www.Key.Aero
when operating the aircraft
at subsonic speeds.
In the scenario projected
to develop in the event of a
total nuclear war between the
superpowers, the Blackjack would
use its high-speed ability to get to
the pre-designated missile launch
boxes as fast as possible and
unleash its arsenal of up to 12 air-
launched cruise missiles (ALCMs).
Aircraft inventory
The first production-standard
Tu-160 came off the final
assembly line of the giant aircraft
plant in Kazan (known as KAPO,
and previously S P Gorbunov),
Russia, in 1984 and its full-rate
production run continued until
1994. Then, three out of four
unfinished airframes, gathering
dust in Kazan, were completed
at a slow pace over the years, to
boost the numerical strength of
the Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye
Sily (VKS, Russian Aerospace
Forces) Blackjack fleet.
A total of 35 Tu-160s were built in
Kazan until 2018 and 17 of these
continue in service today, while
another example is used for testing
and experimental purposes. The
Blackjacks fielded by the VKS
were built between 1986 and
2018, with no fewer than nine
examples taken after 1990.
The latest noises from Moscow
suggest that the type’s service
life is planned to be incrementally
extended by up to 50 years.
This means the newly built
and significantly enhanced
Tu-160M2s, which are set to
begin rolling out in Kazan from
2022 onwards, will continue in
service beyond 2070.
Of the 18 Tu-160s in active
service with the VKS today, 17
January 2022 // 85
Aircraft
Report Tupolev Tu-160
Above: A Tu-160 prepares to make
contact with the hose-and-drogue
unit of an Ilyushin Il-78M Midas
tanker aircraft Russian MOD
Right: The Tu-160 with its principle
ALCM types – the Kh-101/102 (front
row) and the Kh-55SM Russian MOD
are assigned to an operational
unit – the 121st Guards Tyazheloy
Bombardirovochnoy Aviatsii Polk
(TBAP, Heavy Bomber Aviation
Regiment) at Engels, which
controls two frontline squadrons.
These aircraft are kept in
operational condition or are
undergoing upgrades, overhauls
and heavy maintenance, with
13 included in Russia’s nuclear-
capable bomber fleet, accountable
under the New START Treaty. When
aircraft in overhaul, upgrade, and
heavy maintenance are considered,
there are an estimated six to eight
Tu-160s available for flying training
and combat missions at any time.
Today, the small but hard-
working Blackjack fleet provides a
significant proportion of the VKS
Long-Range Aviation branch’s
regular strategic bomber presence
in key regions for Russian national
security interests, such as the
northern Atlantic, the Arctic region,
up to the North Pole, and areas of
the northeast Pacific.
Small-scale upgrade
Since 2014, Moscow has
expended substantial funds and
effort in keeping the valuable
swing-wing strategic bomber
operationally viable, cycling
a proportion of the combat-
tasked fleet though a small-scale
upgrade (known as Phase 1).
However, a deep upgrade (Phase
The Blackjack’s warload is accommodated inside two tandem bays.
Both of these 37ft-long and 6ft 5in-wide bays are equipped with an
2) is set to be implemented on
MKU-6-5U six-round rotary launcher unit to house and launch the entire existing fleet at some
Kh-55/-555 ALCMs. Pictured is a Kh-55SM missile, which is point during the 2020s, together
intended for use in test and evaluation purposes Russian MOD with the commissioning of new-
86 // January 2022
build aircraft featuring the same
enhanced avionics standard.
The upgrade initiative – which
began in the early 2000s –
enabled the Blackjack to use new-
generation ALCM types, combined
with some minor improvements to
its navigation/attack suite – mostly
in an effort to replace obsolete
avionics components and other out-
of-production onboard equipment.
The Phase 1 package, known
as an interim upgrade, provides
better long-term availability rates
and an improved navigation
capability. Individual aircraft
are being upgraded as they are
cycled through airframe and
general systems overhauls – and,
where necessary, life extensions
– with the works performed at
Tupolev’s KAZ plant in Kazan.
The prototype aircraft for Phase 1
– serial RF-94113 ‘19 Red’, named
‘Valentin Bliznyk’ (the oldest
flying example of the type) – was
upgraded in 2006.
The list of new equipment used
on the Phase 1-upgraded Tu-160s
includes new computers, a
satellite navigation receiver, and
an improved self-protection suite
in addition to the removal of the
optical bomb sight. This upgrade
standard also includes new engine
controls, along with digitally
controlled weapons management
system, while the arsenal includes
the conventional-warhead Kh-555
ALCM, in addition to the Kh-101
and Kh-102 ultra-long-range
ALCMs carried on newly added
six-round rotary launchers.
www.Key.Aero

In 2013, Tupolev and KAZ signed
a contract with the Russian
Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the
overhaul and Phase 1 upgrade of
the first batch of three Tu-160s at
a total price exceeding RUB3.4bn
(equating to $113m).
The first Blackjack from this
batch – serial RF-94111 ‘18
Red' – flew for the first time
on November 19, 2014. It was
handed over to the VKS on
December 19 that year. On its
rollout, it was named ‘Andrey
Tupolev’ to commemorate the
famous and well-decorated
founder and long-time leader
of the Tupolev Design Bureau.
Two more enhanced Blackjacks
followed suit two years later:
RF-94114 ‘11 Red’ (named ‘Vasiliy
www.Key.Aero
Sen’ko’) in January 2016, and
RF-94100 ‘10 Red’ (named
‘Nikolay Kuznetsov’) in November
that same year.
In January 2019, serial RF-94112
‘04 Red’ (named ‘Ivan Yarygin’)
entered flight testing, following
overhaul and a small-scale
upgrade. Together with
another enhanced Tu-160
– serial RF-94102 ‘02 Red’
(named 'Vasiliy Reshetnikov’)
– it was handed over to the
VKS in April 2020.
As many as ten
Blackjacks were originally
slated to undergo the
Phase 1 upgrade,
however, in the event,
only half that number
were completed, and
Ukrainian Blackjacks
The first Tu-160 prototype (aircraft ‘70-
01’) was assembled at Tupolev’s plant in
Moscow and completed its maiden flight
on December 18, 1981, with the famous
Tupolev OKB chief test pilot Boris
Vermey as aircrew commander.
The Blackjack was rushed into
squadron service with the Soviet Air
Force’s LRA branch, even before the
completion of its extensive joint state
testing and evaluation effort. The main
aim of the Tu-160’s fast-track induction
was to act as a countermeasure to
entry into service of the Rockwell B-1B
Lancer with the United States Air Force
in the mid to late 1980s.
The Tu-160 fleet was eventually
planned to grow to 100 aircraft (the
same figure as the B-1Bs ordered for
the USAF) but the production process
saw serious disruption not long after the
breakdown of the Soviet Union.
The Tu-160’s sole frontline unit – the
184th TBAP – was taken into the control
of the newly independent state of
Ukraine during August 1991. However,
in Ukrainian service, the Tu-160 was
considered to be too expensive to
operate and flight-training operations
were therefore sharply reduced. The
last ever sortie was reported in 1998.
By 1995, the Ukrainian government
decided that its entire Tu-160 fleet
of 19 aircraft, together with 25 more
Tu-95MS prop-driven strategic bombers
and the entire Kh-55 ALCM inventory,
should be scrapped. This became
possible three years later, under
the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat
Reduction agreement between Ukraine
and the US, which saw the scrapping of
no fewer than 44 Soviet-era strategic
bombers and 1,068 Kh-55 ALCMs.
In fact, only 16 Tu-160s were originally
set to be axed, with the remaining
three earmarked for demilitarisation
and use as platforms in a privately run
sub-orbital launch space system. This
business, however, failed to materialise,
and two of these Blackjacks joined
the fleet earmarked for destruction,
while the third was demilitarised to be
donated to an aviation museum in the
Ukrainian city of Poltava.
The US-funded scrapping project at
Pryluky eventually covered ten Tu-160s
only – it took place between November
1998 and February 2001. The remaining
eight little-used, ex-Ukrainian bombers
were handed over to Russia between
November 1999 and February 2000.
The Russian air arm launched Tu-160
operations in early 1992, as Russia had
none of the type in its strategic bomber
fleet after the breakdown of the Soviet
Union. At the same time, no fewer
than 13 airframes were still in various
stages of completion in Kazan. Three
were almost finished and the Voyenno-
Vozdushnye Sily (VVS, Russian Air
Force) took on strength the new-build
bombers between February and May
1992, assigned to the 1096th TBAP at
Engels, on the River Volga, some 378nm
southeast of Moscow.
Two more new-build Blackjacks
followed suit in 1993, and another was
taken in 1994. After an extended pause,
two more new-build machines joined
the fleet – one in 2000 and the other
in 2008, while the last example was
taken in 2018.
Flight operations at Engels were
launched on July 29, 1992, and the
first ALCM live-firing took place on
October 22 that year. The 1096th TBAP
– Russia’s Tu-160 operator – then had
its designation changed and became the
121st Guards Sevastopol Red Banner
TBAP in December 1994.
The first Tu-160 to undergo the low-
cost Phase 1 upgrade – serial RF-94111
‘18 Red’ (named ‘Andrey Tupolev’) –
was taken on strength by the VKS in
December 2014 Russian MOD
January 2022 // 87
Aircraft
Report
it is believed that no more aircraft
will be upgraded to this standard.
Missile arsenal
The Tu-160 has no external
weapons carriage capability,
as it would seriously affect the
aircraft’s high-speed performance
at high level. The Blackjack is able
to perform high-speed dashes
over prolonged distances – up to
1,080nm – and this is its principal
method for penetrating enemy
air defences.
The Raduga Kh-55 (AS-15
Kent) is a 43-year-old design,
but its airframe has proved well
suited to further upgrades. It
was the first ALCM included in
the bomber arsenal in the early
1980s, and the missile is still in
operational use – in the form of
the lightly enhanced Kh-55SM
derivative, equipped with a nuclear
warhead for use against strategic
targets with known co-ordinates.
The Kh-555, in turn, is a vastly
enhanced derivative, designed for
conventional strikes.
The Kh-55SM (AS-15 Kent-B) is,
in fact, an extended-range version
of the baseline Kh-55, made
capable for use from the same
six-round rotary launcher units
designed for the original Kh-55.
Fitted with a 200kt nuclear
warhead, it uses the Kh-55’s
original body but introduced
conformal fuel tanks to extend
the range to 1,618nm. The missile
Tupolev Tu-160
is fitted with terrain-contour
matching (TERCOM) guidance,
enhanced with INS/satellite
en-route correction.
The Kh-555 is another derivative
of the 1980s-vintage nuclear-
tipped Kh-55. It was flight-tested
for the first time in 1999 and put
into service six years later. Fitted
with a conventional warhead,
it uses the existing Kh-55
body, modified with added-on
destabilisers on the nose section.
Range is up to 1,078nm and the
warhead weight is 800lb. It can
be fitted with either a penetrating
or cluster warhead – the latter
features fragmentation/high
Testing and evaluation of the Tu-160’s Phase 2
explosive and armour-piercing upgrade package is expected to run for two years,
sub-munitions. with completion scheduled for 2022, at the earliest
Compared to the ‘vanilla’ United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)
Kh-55, the conventional-
warhead derivative boasts a be between 250-400kt, along significantly improved RCS. Powered
reduced radar cross section with even more range. These by a turbofan on a retractable
(RCS), combined with a much long-range missiles were flight- mount, the missiles weigh about
more modern guidance system tested for the first time in the 5,400lb and fly at speeds of up to
featuring TERCOM with INS/ early 2000s and reportedly 523kt, while the altitude range is
satellite en-route correction (using entered regular service with between 100-19,680ft.
a combined GLONASS/GPS the Blackjack fleet around The Kh-101/102-capable
receiver) and TV screen matching 2013. They provide a great Tu-160 can carry up to 12
in the terminal phase of flight. stand-off capability, which can missiles internally on two rotary
Russian sources claim that this further enhance an aircraft’s launcher units. It is believed
is able to provide a circular error survivability, as it can launch its that there is currently a mixture
probable (CEP) of 10-16ft. weapons load from positions
The Raduga Kh-101 (AS-23A potentially well beyond the reach
Kodiak) – with a range of up to of enemy air defences.
2,160nm – is a conventional ALCM Kh-101 missiles use the same
and the Kh-102 (AS-23B) is its guidance package as that fitted to
nuclear-tipped derivative, which the Kh-555, and were designed as
boasts a yield that is believed to Kh-55 scaled-up derivatives with a

Above: A significant proportion of the Tu-160’s long-range patrol missions are

being conducted in Polar latitudes, over the waters of the three oceans. This
kind of operation is also considered to be very useful for strengthening the
aircrew’s physical and psychological resolve Russian MOD
Right: Today, the Tu-160 still has a restricted weapons load-out accommodated
in its two weapons bays, with no provision for carrying munitions externally. Its
arsenal is represented by two nuclear-tipped, air-launched cruise missile types
and their derivatives, which are fitted with conventional warheads Andrey Zinchuk

88 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero


of non-upgraded Tu-160s with
Kh-101/102 capability in active
service in addition to the five
Phase 1-upgraded Blackjacks.
Going forward, the enhanced
fleet is set to receive the new
Kh-50 ALCM, which is currently in
development. This is a subsonic
low-observable cruise missile,
outfitted with an improved
guidance package and a new self-
protection suite. The enhanced
Tu-160 could also include in its
arsenal a newly developed ultra-
long-range ALCM type using the
same guidance, believed to be
a follow-on development of the
Kh-101/102 family.
www.Key.Aero
In the future, hypersonic missiles
– cruising at speeds of Mach
6+ – will further enhance the
Blackjack’s stand-off capability to
reliably prosecute well-hardened
strategic targets.
The baseline and Phase
1-upgraded Tu-160s lack nuclear
or specially designed conventional
bombs able to deal with well-
hardened or deeply buried high-
value targets. The ALCMs
in the Blackjack’s arsenal,
the Kh-55SM/555 and
Kh-101/102, cannot
now be regarded as
optimal weapons for
this demanding job. It is
believed that the Phase 2 upgrade
will not include the integration – at
least in the foreseeable future –
of new missiles or bombs able to
deal with such targets.
The deep upgrade
The Russian MoD has taken initial
steps to extend the Blackjack’s life
expectancy – by accelerating the
pace of the general overhauls at
Kazan and by launching the small-
scale upgrade, which has been in
testing since 2006.
According to the deputy
chairman of the Government of
the Russian Federation, Yury
Borisov – who was a deputy
defence minister, responsible
for procurement until May
2018 – all Blackjacks currently
included in the VKS inventory are
earmarked to be cycled through
a comprehensive upgrade to the
significantly enhanced Tu-160M
standard. This Phase 2 upgrade
includes the integration of all-
new navigation/attack and self-
protection suites, as well as
a glass cockpit for the pilots,
navigators and operators.
The Tu-160’s deep upgrade is
known within Tupolev as Izdeliye
70M (Product 70M), which, after
being given design approval in
2014, turned into a protracted
programme taking no fewer than
six years to get to the flight-test
stage – the prototype maiden
flight was reported in 2020.
Engine crisis
resolved
Known as the most powerful combat
aircraft engine in the world, the Tu-160’s
NK-32 afterburning turbofan is rated at
over 55.115lb st at full reheat, while its
dry rating is 30,865lb st and its bypass
ratio is 1.36.
Restoring engine production at the PAO
Kuznetsov plant in Samara was seen as
a must-have investment in an effort to
grant the fleet operability in the future
and support the production of new Tu-
160s. The restarted production line also
permitted the supply of much-needed
spare parts to be used in the overhaul and
upgrade of the existing engine inventory.
The first order covering four engines
was paced in 2016 and the first pair
of newly built and improved NK-32s,
produced at the PAO Kuznetsov plant
in Samara, was reported ready for
shipping to the Russian MoD in May
2018. A follow-on contract was also
placed in 2018, this time including
22 NK-32-02s, while the third, dating
from August 2021, covered eight more
engines, due for delivery by 2024.
The flight testing of a Blackjack
powered by newly built NK-32-02
engines was originally planned for
completion in late 2018 but the first flight
was not reported before November 2020.
The new engines were then installed
on the Tu-160M’s deeply upgraded
prototype, named ‘Igor Sikorsky’, which
took to the air for the first time powered
by NK-32-02s in January 2021.
Compared with the original NK-32
design dating back to the late 1970s, the
refined Series 2 derivative, launched in
production after a 25-year pause, features
a reduced specific fuel consumption,
extending the Blackjack’s range by around
540nm. Engine time between overhauls is
1,000 hours and its total service life is set
at 3,000 hours.
Above: The improved NK-32-02
afterburning turbofan features
a reduced specific fuel
consumption, which enables
extension of the Tu-160’s range
by 540nm. The novelties used in
the NK-32-02’s improved design
include new compressor and
turbine blades, along with
enhanced cooling capabilities
United Engine Corporation
January 2022 // 89
Aircraft
Report
The deep upgrade enhances the
person-machine interface, further
improves the navigation accuracy,
and also beefs up the aircraft’s
self-protection capabilities.
Phase 2 is set to ensure that
the existing Blackjack fleet – the
vast majority of which was built in
the 1980s and 1990s – can stay
relevant for operational use for
another 15-20 years, until it can be
eventually replaced by newly built
Tu-160s with advanced avionics
and weapons or complemented
by the PAK-DA new-generation
strategic bomber, which is
currently in an early development
stage with Tupolev.
The scope of the deep upgrade
includes the new Novella NV1.70
radar in addition to a glass
cockpit; newly added astro-
inertial system; Doppler navigation
system; automated flight control
system/autopilot and a new
communications suite, as well as a
new self-protection suite.
However, in its present form, the
Phase 2 upgrade is deemed ill-
suited to endow the Blackjack with
the vastly enhanced conventional
strike capabilities now sported by
the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) bomber
triad. These include the ability to
detect and identify land and sea
targets, using onboard sensors, and
their subsequent engagement via
a rich selection of new-generation
guided conventional munitions, as
well as receiving real-time targeting
from a wide variety of external
sources to employ weapons against
time-sensitive targets.
Russia’s flagship bomber – in
its Phase 2-upgraded form – will
continue to be restricted to the
use of long-range subsonic cruise
missiles and the only significant
improvement to its targeting
capability is believed to be added-
on connectivity (courtesy of the
new communications suite),
90 // January 2022
Tupolev Tu-160
Russia’s entire Blackjack fleet
is set to undergo a two-stage
upgrade Russian MOD
enabling in-flight re-targeting,
Tu-160 Specifications in addition to a secure strategic
Wingspan at 20° 182ft 9in (55.7m) communications capability.
Wingspan at 65° 116ft 9.5in (35.6m) The first VKS Blackjack to be
Length 117ft 6in (54.1m) overhauled and upgraded to the
Height 44ft (13.1m) substantially enhanced Tu-160M
Wing area at 20° 3,155.4sq ft (293.15m2) standard under Phase 2 was
rolled out in the third quarter of
Wing area at 65° 2,497.2sq ft (232m2)
2019. This particular machine –
Maximum take-off weight 606,270lb (275,000kg)
serial RF-94103 ‘14 Red’ (named
Normal take-off weight 589,956lb (267,600kg)
‘Igor Sikorsky’) – was originally
Empty operating weight 257,941lb (117,000kg)
produced in 1988 and handed
Maximum landing weight 341,716lb (155,000kg) over for a deep overhaul and
Maximum weapons load 88,183lb (40,000kg) upgrade at KAZ back in 2014.
Normal weapons load 19,836lb (9,000kg) Crewed by a Tupolev test team
Maximum fuel load 326,192lb (148,000kg) led by Capt Anri Naskidyants,
Maximum speed at sea level 556kts (1,030kph) its maiden flight in the new
Maximum speed at high altitude 1,187kts (2,200kph) guise was reported on February
Maximum operating speed Mach 2.05 2, 2020. Flight testing and
Maximum cruise speed Mach 1.5 evaluation of the upgrade
Subsonic cruise speed Mach 0.77 package is expected to run
Practical service ceiling 51,180ft (15,600m) for at least two years. The first
Rate of climb 13,800fpm (4,200m/min)
production-standard upgraded
Blackjacks are expected to be
Maximum combat radius with 5% reserve 3,317nm (6,150km)
taken on strength by the VKS
High-altitude combat radius at Mach 1.5 1,080nm (2,000km)
starting in 2023.
Maximum combat radius at low altitude
3,937nm (7,300km) In March 2021, ‘Igor Sikorsky’
with one air-to-air refuelling
– now fitted with new-build
Maximum theoretical range 7,532nm (13,950km)
NK-32-02 engines – launched
Take-off run 2,953-7,218ft (900-2,200m)
the second phase of the
Landing roll with brake chutes 3,937-5,250ft (1,200-1,600m)
comprehensive flight-testing
G-limit +2 effort, following the completion
Above: The first Tu-160M2 was seen in final assembly in September 2021.
To make the new Blackjack production possible, KAZ had to re-establish
the welding process for large-size components from scratch, using newly
purchased equipment and tooling Russian MOD
Right: The Tu-160 had the distinction of being the first bomber in the Soviet
Union to be equipped with a quadruple fly-by-wire control system, provided
with a limited-functionality mechanical back-up Andrey Zinchuk
www.Key.Aero
Following the completion of the deep upgrade, late-production Tu-160s could be well-placed to serve in the nuclear
deterrence role even beyond 2050. This is the second Blackjack to be upgraded to the Tu-160M standard Russian MOD
of the brief factory flight-testing
phase at KAZ, launched in
February 2020. The third and
the most comprehensive phase
will be the joint state testing
to be undertaken by the VKS
929th Flight Test Centre, with
support provided by Tupolev. It is
expected to be given a go-ahead
in late 2021 or early 2022.
The second deep-upgrade
Blackjack was spotted at Kazan
in September 2021, undergoing
flight tests and also powered by
newly built NK-32-02 engines.
Registered as RF-94444, the
aircraft is still wearing yellow
primer and there is no confirmed
information about its bort code
and assigned name.
Building Blackjacks
In addition to the upgrade of the
existing VKS fleet, as many as
50 new Blackjacks – designated
Tu-160M2 – were tentatively
planned for production until
2035, at a total programme price
of around RUB900bn (equating
to about $14.85bn in 2015),
including associated research
and development expenses, plus
www.Key.Aero
heavy investment in renewal of
the production bases at the Kazan
and Samara plants in Russia.
“What we talked about five or
six years ago has been done.
This is our common victory,” said
Russian defence minister, Sergey
Shoigu, while addressing workers
during his visit to Kazan on
August 27, 2021, to oversee the
production progress of the first of
the newly built Tu-160s.
Shoigu is widely known as the
‘father’ of the Blackjack production
re-launch initiative. In 2015, he
proposed the channelling of ample
resources into restarting the long-
idle production line for the Tu-160.
This is an extremely ambitious
undertaking that has faced
multiple challenges over the years,
with the production re-launch not
reported before 2019.
The biggest of these challenges
was to master the extremely
demanding titanium welding
technology for the construction of
the aircraft’s centre load-bearing
beam – 40ft 4in long and 6ft 3in
wide – consisting of two parts.
The overall combat capability
of the Tu-160M2, equipped with
Phase 2 avionics suite, is claimed
to be twice that of the baseline
Blackjack that took to the air on
its maiden flight 40 years ago. The
new-build, swing-wing bomber will
boast a significantly reduced RCS,
thanks to the use of new radar-
absorbent coatings, but all these
secretive design novelties will
require an exhaustive testing and
evaluation effort.
Commenting on the Tu-160’s
ongoing production re-launch and
the deep upgrade of the existing
fleet, Yury Borisov claimed:
“Ensuring the independence of our
state is the most important task
and money should not be spared
for this. Let me emphasise, we are
not going into an arms race – we
are instead focusing our activities
on the principle of reasonable
adequacy, which the Supreme
Commander-in-Chief calls for.”
He added: “We are moving along
the path of upgrading a good
many of our weapon systems, in
an effort [to] provide a completely
new performance.”
The first firm contract, dating from
January 2018, covers the purchase
of ten Tu-160M2s at a unit price
of RUB15bn (about $266m at the
time of signature), presumably
excluding the engine price. This
contract, signed in the presence of
Russian President Vladimir Putin,
guarantees work at Kazan until the
end of 2027.
Assembly of the fuselage
sections of the first newly
produced Tu-160M2 was
launched in 2019, and it was
delivered to the final assembly
line in December 2020. The
aircraft, seen there in August and
September 2021, looks to be far
from completion and its maiden
flight cannot be expected before
the end of 2022, at the earliest.
Serial production of the
Tu-160M2, powered by newly
built NK-32-02 engines, was
launched at Kazan in 2021, but
it is expected to be a protracted
undertaking, with completion of
the first ten-strong batch likely to
be beyond the original deadline of
2027, while the first deliveries to
the Russian military are expected
to take place no earlier than 2024.
Only time will tell
if they are worth
the wait.
January 2022 // 91
Future
Focus
B-21 Raid
T
he year 2022 will be
of huge importance to
Northrop Grumman and
the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) long-
Range Strike Bomber (LRS-
B) programme. It will signal the
formal arrival of the B-21 Raider
and bring the new-generation
strategic stealth bomber out of the
shadows and into public focus for
the first time.
The new bomber, which will
be capable of delivering both
conventional weapons and
thermonuclear warheads, is
scheduled to be publicly rolled out
early next year before completing
its first flight in mid-2022.
By the end of the year, the
development schedule indicates
that the initial Raider prototypes
will be immersed in the early
stages of the type’s ground/
flight test campaigns, ahead of its
eventual entry into service with the
USAF at some point in the mid-
2020s, when the first production
examples are due to be delivered
to the air arm.
From there, the B-21 will
effectively begin reshaping Air
Force Global Strike Command
(AFGSC), forming the backbone
of a future bomber force that will
only comprise the Raider and the
USAF’s already well established
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress fleet.
“Designed to operate in tomorrow’s
high-end threat environment,
the B-21 will play a critical role
in ensuring America’s enduring
92 // January 2022
B-21 Raider
airpower capability,” according to
the USAF.
Due to the sensitive nature of the
Raider, the project remains highly
Establishing Raider
The origin of the LRS-B programme can Martin and Northrop Grumman (both of
classified and very little information
be traced back to the early 2000s, when which were involved in the earlier NGB
regarding its construction,
the US Department of Defense and USAF programme) – responded. Notably, the
characteristics and capabilities has
launched studies into the concept of a latter partnered with Pratt & Whitney,
been made available to the public.
new, long-range strike platform under the Janicki Industries, Collins Aerospace,
However, in recent years, small
Next-Generation Bomber (NGB) project. GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems and Spirit
updates have provided some
However, by 2009, the programme was AeroSystems to deliver the B-21.
insight into the progress being
effectively dead and the companies Following an evaluation by the USAF,
made by Northrop Grumman
working on related proposals were told to Northrop Grumman was awarded
and the Department of the Air
halt development. the engineering and manufacturing
Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office,
The USAF subsequently began working development contract for the B-21. This
which is leading the development
on a family of affordable, long-range strike was briefly disputed by the Boeing-
programme under the direction of
aircraft that would draw on the capabilities Lockheed Martin team, which protested
the Under Secretary of Defense for
of the fifth-generation stealth fighters the decision to the US Government
Acquisition and Sustainment and
(F-22s/F-35s) that would be in operational Accountability Office (GAO) in November
the Secretary of the Air Force.
service by the mid-2020s to help the new 2015. However, this protest was denied
Below: A digital rendering of the B-21 bomber complete its mission set. This led by the GAO and Northrop Grumman
Raider inside a hangar at Ellsworth to the rebirth of the initiative under the continued working on the platform.
AFB, South Dakota. This installation
will be the first operational location LRS-B branding. In 2018, the LRS-B programme
for the new stealth bomber. The On July 9, 2014, the USAF released its successfully completed its critical design
USAF is expected to eventually request for proposals (RFP) for the LRS-B review, a project-wide evaluation of
acquire at least 145 examples of the project. Two teams – Boeing-Lockheed design maturity, stability and risk.
platform Northrop Grumman
www.Key.Aero
ider The USAF's new long-range
strategic stealth bomber, the
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider,
is set to reshape the service’s
global strike force. Khalem
Chapman reveals what is
known about it so far

A artist’s concept of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider flying over Edwards AFB in California. It was confirmed at the
Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on September 20, 2021, that five
test aircraft are now being manufactured by Northrop Grumman at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California USAF

Producing Features B-21 will be “a component of a larger

prototypes
Production and final assembly of the
B-21 will take place at Air Force Plant
42 in Palmdale, California, where the
USAF’s fleet of 20 Northrop Grumman
B-2A Spirit stealth bombers were built.
It was initially reported that
construction of the first prototype had
begun in the summer of 2019. Then,
during a hearing of the House Armed
Services Subcommittee on Seapower
and Projection Forces on June 8,
2021, it was confirmed by Darlene
Costello, the USAF’s Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics,
that production of the first two B-21 test
aircraft had been completed.
While providing an update on the
programme’s progress at the Air
Force Association’s Air, Space and
Cyber Conference in National Harbor,
Maryland, on September 20, 2021, the
newly appointed Secretary of the Air
Force, Frank Kendall, confirmed that five
prototypes had entered production.
Although the first prototype will make
its first flight in 2022, the second will
be used solely as a ground test vehicle.
On January 15, 2021, Randall Walden,
director and program executive officer
for the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities
Office, said: “The second [B-21] is
really more about structures and overall
structural capability... to make sure the
design, manufacturing and production
line makes sense.”
While many detailed aspects of the
Raider’s development, design and overall
capability will remain classified for
decades to come, the USAF has publicly
acknowledged how the platform will be
used in operational service.
As well as succeeding the Rockwell
B-1B Lancer and B-2A Spirit
operationally and serving as the
service’s primary nuclear-capable
strategic stealth bomber for the
foreseeable future, the USAF says the
Fielding the B-21
According to current plans, the
introduction of the B-21 will spell the
end of the road for the USAF’s B-1B and
B-2A fleets, which will be replaced by
the new-generation bomber. The effect
of this decision has already been felt by
the Lancer fleet, which has since been
reduced by 17 aircraft.
The USAF intends to operate a future
fleet of 225 bombers, which will be made
up purely of B-21s and veteran B-52Hs
(expected to remain in service until 2050).
The USAF’s current bomber fleet totals
141 aircraft, comprising 45 B-1Bs, 20
B-2As and 76 B-52Hs.
With the Lancer and Spirit being retired,
this means that the USAF would need to
procure at least 149 Raiders to make up
its planned future force of 225 bombers.
At present, no official announcement has
been made regarding the total number
of B-21s that will be purchased by
the service, but the air arm states that
family of systems for conventional long-
range strikes.” It adds that the Raider
will employ a “broad mix” of stand-off
and direct attack munitions. It will also
possess intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance, electronic attack and
communications capabilities, among
other specialised features.
It has been designed to be optionally-
manned, allowing it to carry out manned
or unmanned operations – presenting
a new overall capability for AFGSC.
Additionally, the B-21 will benefit
“at least 100” will be acquired. Some
industry commentators believe that this
requirement could increase to as many
as 200 aircraft.
In terms of basing, the USAF completed
the Strategic Basing Process for the
B-21 in 2019. It revealed that Ellsworth
Air Force Base (AFB) in South Dakota,
Whiteman AFB in Missouri and Dyess
AFB in Texas were the preferred main
operating bases for the future Raider fleet.
In 2021, the USAF announced that
Ellsworth would be the first main
operating base to receive the B-21 and
would host the type’s formal training unit.
Prior to this, the Raider will be operated
from Edwards AFB in California during its
initial test and evaluation phase.
On October 4, 2019, the 420th Flight
Test Squadron was reactivated at
Edwards and will be planning, testing,
analysing and reporting on all flight and
ground testing of the B-21 Raider.
from an open systems architecture,
which the USAF claims will “reduce
integration risk and enable competition
for future modernisation efforts to allow
for the aircraft to evolve as the threat
environment changes.”
While the B-21 will look extremely
similar to the B-2A in terms of basic
design, experts believe that it will be
roughly two-thirds the size and weight of
the existing stealth bomber. It will also
have a more refined trailing edge, which
will be smoother and simpler than the
sawtooth design employed by the Spirit.
Honouring
legends
The B-21 has been named the Raider
to honour the actions of Lt Col Jimmy
Doolittle and 80 volunteer airmen,
who were instrumental in shifting
momentum in the Pacific theatre
during World War Two, setting the
stage for an important victory against
the Japanese forces at the Battle of
Midway in June 1942.
Dubbed the ‘Doolittle Raiders’, these
men launched 16 North American
B-25 Mitchell medium bombers off
the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-
8) for a raid over Tokyo, despite the
aircraft not having been designed to
conduct carrier operations.
This successful raid was a retaliatory
strike on the Japanese following the
surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in
Hawaii on December 7, 1941. AFM

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 93

Attrition
Report
Silver lining for crashed USAF
F-35A: recycled as training aid
T
HE US AIR Force (USAF)
has decided that, rather
than just condemning and
scrapping a crashed airframe
as had originally been planned,
it should be repurposed and
converted for use in training
maintenance personnel.
The aircraft – USAF/33rd Fighter
Wing/58th Fighter Squadron
F-35A Lighting II 12-5053 ‘EG’
– crashed at Eglin Air Force Base
(AFB), Florida, on May 19, 2020
(see ‘Attrition’, July 2020, p89 and
January 2021, p94).
The 75th Air Base Wing Public
Affairs department at Hill AFB,
Utah, revealed details of the
programme for converting the
airframe, ready for its new
task. Airmen at Hill AFB are
now involved in transforming it
into sectional training aids for
use during instruction of F-35
Lightning II maintainers.
Following the landing accident
at Eglin, the aircraft caught
fire after impact and had been
considered unrepairable, but
airmen in the 372nd Training
Squadron (TRS), Det 3, at Hill
sought the aircraft as a chance
to bolster maintenance training
opportunities for military and
Above: The fuselage of the salvaged US Air Force F-35A Lightning II 12-5053 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on August 23, 2021, after being decontaminated,
painted and made safe for further handling. It is now being transformed into sectional training aids by airmen at Hill AFB for use during instruction of F-35
maintainers USAF/Todd Cromar
94 // January 2022
Subscribe to www.Key.Aero
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news
team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com
civilian F-35 personnel assigned
to the base’s 388th Fighter Wing,
419th Fighter Wing and Ogden Air
Logistics Complex.
Master Sgt Andrew Wilkow,
372nd TRS, said: “We explored
the possibility that some parts
such as avionics, fuel cell and
gun system might still be in
relatively pristine condition inside
the damaged crust and usable
for training.”
Since the 372nd TRS previously
worked with the F-35 Joint
Program Office (JPO) on another
F-35 mishap aircraft project last
spring to successfully re-install
the wings of an F-35 and turn it
into an aircraft battle damage
trainer, this time the JPO called
to return the favour and offer
assistance to the 372nd.
Working with Dan Santos, F-35
JPO heavy maintenance manager,
a small team of aircraft specialists
travelled to Eglin AFB for a site
survey of the burnt airframe,
where it was determined that
major components needed for the
training aids were still intact and
usable. Santos said: “Obviously,
accidents are unfortunate, but
when it comes to aircraft involved
in a mishap, I have always found
that there is a silver lining and
something to be gained. In terms
of the wreckage being recycled
and used for other purposes,
these kinds of innovative efforts
save the DoD and taxpayers
millions of dollars.”
In co-ordination with a US Navy
unit also interested in some of the
aircraft’s components for test and
evaluation, an arrangement was
made between the sister service
units to relocate the aircraft to
Hill, saving time and money for
both parties.
Tech Sgt Dennis Corcoran,
372nd TRS, explained the new
training aids will alleviate a good
amount of issues that had been
encountered earlier: “Until now,
maintenance training has been
accomplished using operational
aircraft. Obviously, this is a
significant challenge because
often units are unable to support
training evolutions, simply due to
operational commitments or the
real-world need for jets requiring
maintenance to be immediately
returned to flying status, in
order to maintain the squadron’s
readiness requirements.”
Tech Sgt Kevin Browning, 388th
Maintenance Squadron NCOIC of
corrosion control, said when the
salvaged aircraft was delivered in
July his team immediately started
work cleaning and making the
entire airframe non-hazardous
for the safety of those who
will use the components: “Our
shop is involved with removing
contaminants, cleaning up
any fluid or chemical residue,
trimming off exposed burnt
composites and removing sharp
edges or metal damage. Then we
prep and paint the components,
so they are safe to handle.”
The next phase of the project
will include cutting the entire
fuselage lengthwise and then into
individual component sections.
These will then be framed and
mounted on stands to give
maintainers as much access as
possible to the training aids.
Corcoran said: “The whole
process has been a team effort
from the beginning and only
possible through the time, effort
and co-operation put forth by
many individual professionals
throughout the air force, as well
as many highly skilled airmen,
from multiple units across Hill
Air Force Base.” The project is
expected to be complete soon.
www.Key.Aero
 Accident Reports

Above: A Russian Armed Forces Orlan-10 UAV after crash-landing in Aleppo province, Syria, on October 13
Date Nationality/Unit Type Serial
Jun 18 Royal Air Force A400M ZM410
Atlas C1
This aircraft was involved in a ground accident at its base at RAF Brize
Norton, Oxfordshire, resulting in CAT 3 damage. No further details are
known regarding either the incident or the damage, but the aircraft
has since been placed in temporary storage pending repairs.
Sep 23 Namibian Air Force K-8 Karakoram
/23 Squadron
Shortly after take-off for an exercise from a new air force base outside
Karibib, the two pilots were unintentionally ejected from the aircraft.
Both survived but one was injured, suffering some broken bones as
a result of their parachutes not fully deploying due to the low altitude.
The K-8 continued to fly out of control for some time before it crashed.
Early Oct Royal Saudi Air Force RQ-20 Puma
UAV
This UAV was lost in unknown circumstances while assisting in
operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was the first known
loss of the type during operations in Yemen, where a total of 12
coalition UAVs are reported to have been lost since the beginning
of the year.
Oct 2 Abu Dhabi Police Air Wing AW139
As noted above, the type involved in this accident has been confirmed
as an AW139 – see ‘Attrition’, December, p96. Additional details are
now also known – the helicopter was on final approach to land at the
scene of a road traffic accident when it struck overhead wires and
crashed. The accident occurred at night, but neither pilot was wearing
night-vision goggles and there was no crewman keeping a lookout.
Oct 13 Russian Armed Forces Orlan-10 UAV
This reconnaissance UAV was overflying Syria while monitoring the
situation along the line of contact between Kurdish armed formations
and pro-Turkish militias when it crashed near Turkmen-Bareh, east
of Marea, in the northern area of Aleppo province. It came down
relatively intact, on its belly but with the starboard wing separated.
The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA) claimed to have shot
it down, although the lack of serious damage makes this claim
somewhat doubtful.
Oct 21 Russian Armed Forces Orlan-10 UAV
This UAV crash-landed near the village of Akhterin, Aleppo province, Above: A Russian Armed Forces Orlan-10 UAV, which crash-landed near the
Syria. Pro-Turkish militants claimed to have shot it down, although it village of Akhterin, Aleppo province, Syria, on October 21

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 95

Attrition
Report Subscribe to www.Key.Aero
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news
team at editor@airforcesmonthly.com
Above: Venezuelan Guardia Nacional Bolivariana Bell 206B JetRanger II GNBV-
7430 after its crash on November 3
appeared relatively undamaged and had landed under a parachute
and with an airbag, suggesting a forced landing, rather than being
shot down.
Pre-Oct 24 Iranian Border Guards Ababil-3 3-2-R
(AB-3) UAV 123
This UAV was reported on this date as having been shot down ‘a
few days ago’ in Iraq by Iranian Republican Guard Corps-backed
Popular Mobilisation Units. The type is being used by Iranian Border
Protection units to monitor movement of the PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life
Party) and the affiliated Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Oct 29 US Marine Corps F-35B
During the take-off roll at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan,
this aircraft had a bird strike. The pilot executed a high-speed abort
but the aircraft damage was estimated to be in the Class A range,
indicating damage of US$2.5m or more. The pilot was not injured.
Nov 3 Venezuelan Guardia Bell 206B GNBV-
Nacional Bolivariana JetRanger II 7430
Following a fuel pump failure, this helicopter attempted an
auto-rotational landing, but crashed and rolled inverted at Santa Cruz,
Colón municipality, Zulia, at 1200hrs local time. All four crew survived
but the JetRanger was written off. The pilot was Capitán Gregori
Belisario Rodríguez and co-pilot Primer Teniente Yorgenis Cáceres,
while passengers were Generales Alberto Fermín Eulises, Director
de Orden Interno de la Región de Defensa Integral (Redi) Occidente
(Western Integral Defence Region-Redi) and Erasmo Eduardo Ramos
Iriza, head of Comando de Zona No 11 of the GNB. The two generals
were reviewing Border Protection bases at the time of the accident.
Subsequently, the crew was transferred to the Sur del Lago clinic.
Nov 10 US Air Force/4th Fighter F-15E Strike
Wing/336th Fighter Sqn Eagle
During a sortie from Larissa Air Base, Greece, while participating in
Exercise Castle Forge, this aircraft lost its cockpit canopy in flight over
an unpopulated area near the village of Livadi, Greece. The fighter was
able to successfully return to Larissa for a safe emergency landing
without further incident and without injury to the crew.
Nov 11 Ethiopian Air Force Mi-35 Hind-E
During an attack on Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) militants
in the Mille district of the Afar region, the helicopter was shot down,
probably by a shoulder-launched Man-portable air defence system
(MANPADS) fired by the TPLF. The fate of the crew was not reported.
Although there was no independent confirmation of the shoot-down, a
video of the incident appeared to confirm the loss of the helicopter.
Nov 12 US Air Force/2nd Bomb B-52H 60-0059
Wing ‘LA’
While being towed for static display at Barksdale Air Force Base,
Louisiana, at 0116hrs local time, the starboard wing impacted a fence
near the maintenance building. A base Maintenance Operations
Center notification stated: “All pieces were recovered from the fence
and aircraft and there is significant damage to the right wingtip and
leading-edge wing outboard of the right external tank.” No injuries.
96 // January 2022
Nov 15 US Navy Unconfirmed
aircraft type
An aircraft was damaged at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island,
Washington. during a sonobuoy loading operation. No further details
were announced but it was categorised by the Naval Safety Center as
a Class A incident, indicating damage of more than US$2.5m. In view
of the location, it is most likely involved either a P-3C Orion or P-8A
Poseidon. No injuries were reported.
Nov 16 Royal Malaysian Air Hawk Mk 108 M40-08
Force/15 Skuadron
This aircraft was written off when it crashed on the runway during
night flying training at RMAF Butterworth Air Base, Penang, at 2207hrs
local time, killing one pilot and injuring the other. The Royal Malaysian
Air Force identified the fatality as Capt Mohamad Affendi bin Bustamy.
The injured serviceman, Maj Mohd Fareez Omar, was taken to
Seberang Jaya Hospital in Penang for treatment.
Nov 17 Royal Air Force/No F-35B
617 Squadron ‘The
Dambusters’
While undertaking routine flying operations from HMS Queen Elizabeth
(R08) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the aircraft crashed into
international waters at around 1000hrs GMT, while attempting to
take-off from the aircraft carrier. The pilot ejected using the fighter’s
Martin-Baker US16E ejector seat and was safely returned to the
carrier. This was the first loss of a UK F-35B.
Nov 18 Hellenic Air Force/115th F-16C Block 52
Combat Wing/343 Mira
This aircraft, one of a flight of three, crashed at around 1549hrs local
time while landing at Andravida Air Base after a Weapons and Tactics
School training mission.
The pilot ejected safely and was not injured but was taken to a
military hospital in Athens for a precautionary check-up. The aircraft’s
undercarriage was destroyed and the underside badly damaged.
The pilot had made two failed attempts to land in adverse weather
conditions (rain and a low cloud base) and on the third attempt the
aircraft touched down at 150kts, then control was lost. As the aircraft
began to skid off the runway, the pilot ejected, following which the
F-16 caught fire, possibly after hitting something, according to details
given to parliament by the minister of defence.
The cause is initially thought to have been due to either aquaplaning
on the wet runway or a failure of the braking system.
Nov 18 Indian Air Force Mi-17-1V ZM3023
While on a maintenance test flight from Hayuliang to Rochham, the
helicopter crashed during a heavy emergency landing following a
technical problem near Rochham in eastern Arunchal Pradesh. The
two pilots and three other crew members on board escaped without
serious injury, but the Mi-17 was written off.
Nov 19 US Air Force/47th Flying 2 x T-38C 68-8121
Training Wing/87th Flying Talon ‘87FTS’
Training Squadron plus one
One pilot was killed and two others injured during this accident
involving two T-38Cs at approximately 1000hrs local time at Laughlin
Above: Royal Malaysian Air Force/15 Skuadron Hawk Mk 108M40-08 after its
crash on November 16 at Butterworth Air Base fotoBERNAMA
www.Key.Aero
Above: US Air Force/47th Flying Training Wing/87th Flying Training Squadron T-38C Talon 68-8121 ‘87FTS’ flagship aircraft seen during a FAIP exercise at Nellis
Air Force Base, Nevada, on September 24. The aircraft was written off after a collision on the runway at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, on November 19
USAF/William R Lewiswhich

Air Force Base, Texas. One of the injured pilots was transported to
Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas, then treated
and released. The other pilot was reported by base officials to be in
a critical condition and was evacuated by air to Brooke Army Medical
Center in San Antonio, Texas. The circumstances of the accident have
not been disclosed by the US Air Force, but it is believed that they
collided on the runway.
The pilot killed in the mishap was later identified by US Air Force
officials as 2nd Lt Anthony D Wentz, a student pilot.
One of the aircraft involved was 68-8121, the 87th FTS flagship, which
was specially painted in colours to honour the heritage of the 87th
Fighter Interceptor Squadron when it flew the F-106 Delta Dart from
1968 to 1985 and was based at K I Sawyer Air Force Base, Marquette
County, Michigan.
Nov 20 Colombian National Police UH-1H-II PNC-
Huey II 0715
After taking off from Barrancabermeja for a flight to Guaymaral,
this helicopter was written-off when control was lost in thick fog. It
crashed and rolled over on a farm near La Yeguera village, Alta, in
the Las Nubes sector, a rural area of Subachoque municipality, in the
centre of the department of Cundinamarca, at around 1325hrs local
time. Two of the six on board died in the crash and another died
later in hospital.
The two fatalities were identified as Intendente Adonai Vásquez
Serrano and Patrullero Luis Fernando Suaza Tovar, both from the
PNC’s Counter-Narcotics Directorate. The four seriously injured
survivors were Capitán Rigoberto Lopez Mora, Capitán Jorge
Leonardo Morales Saenz, Subintendente William Fernando Cuervo
Jiménez, and Patrullero Ángel Iván Rojas Pérez.
Subintendente William Fernando Cuervo Jiménez was subsequently
confirmed as having died in hospital later that same night.
Nov 22 US Navy F/A-18E Super
Hornet
Following an in-flight fire in the starboard engine, the aircraft landed
safely on board an unspecified US Navy ship. No injuries were
reported, but it was categorised as a Class A mishap by the US Naval
Safety Center, indicating damage of more than US$2.5m. The location
of the incident was withheld for operational security reasons.
Nov 23 Japan Ground Boeing Insitu
Self-Defense Force ScanEagle UAV
After launching at 2005hrs local time from Old Tanegashima Airport
on Tanehgashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, for anti-ship training
and intelligence gathering, this UAV was reported missing at 2035hrs
when communication was lost about 15 miles (25km) southeast of the
airport. A search was under way in an effort to locate the UAV. The
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force introduced the ScanEagle in 2019
and at the time of the loss had two ScanEagle systems, including
eight air vehicles, in service.
Nov 24 US Navy Unidentified
aircraft type
The dipping sonar separated from the cable during an anti-submarine
warfare exercise. The aircraft was safely recovered and no injuries
were reported. This incident was recorded as a Class A mishap by the
US Naval Safety Center, indicating damage of more than US$2.5m,
presumably due to the high value of the lost dipping sonar equipment.
The location of the incident was withheld for operational security
reasons. Although the type involved was not specified, it seems most
likely that it was an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, which is equipped
with the AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS) as its
primary undersea warfare sensor.
Nov 25 Paraguayan Air Force/ UH-1H H-0433
Grupo Aéreo de Iroquois
Helicópteros
This helicopter crashed at around 0800hrs local time during a training
flight from Campo Grande/Ñu Guazú Air Base, Asunción.
Three of the four on board were killed and the Huey was destroyed.
Officials later confirmed the three fatalities as Mayor Gustavo
Velazco Acosta, Tte PAM Andrea Cubilla Aguayo and SO Tec
Gustavo Rolón. AFM
Additional material from: Scramble/Dutch Aviation Society and
Asagiri Yohko.
Above: Colombian National Police UH-1H-II Huey II PNC-0715 after its crash on
November 20 Cundinamarca Fire Department

www.Key.Aero January 2022 // 97

Next
Issue Next Issue
The February
issue is on

Defending
sale from
January 20
2022*

Ukrainian skies

Ukraine’s extensive air defence system has been significantly strengthened since Russia’s annexation of
the Crimean peninsula in 2014. We analyse the expansion of the nation’s ground-based component and
investigate its rapidly ageing fighter fleet, which is in crisis with no clear route to recovery.

PLUS
• Bringing the Thunder!
Jointly developed by Pakistan and China,
the mighty JF-17 Thunder has now come
of age in Pakistani service, where it has
been operational for almost 15 years. We
outline how the programme has evolved,
what upgrades lie ahead for the fighter
and what remains of the type’s export
potential.

• Thailand in focus
AFM provides detailed insight into the
Royal Thai Air Force; its structure and the
assets operated by the Asian nation to
protect its domestic territory and deter
adversaries.

• Spellbound Merlins
AFM checks in with the Royal Navy’s
Merlin Helicopter Force – which recently
assumed the Airborne Surveillance and
Control role from the now-retired Sea
King ASaC7 fleet – and examines how it
is adapting to meet the challenges of a
new operational environment.
Top: Sukhoi Su-27s supplement the Ukrainian Air Force’s wider Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum-
B/C fleet in covering domestic air defence requirements. The Su-27UBM1 Flanker-C pictured (71 Blue)
• Plus the best military is assigned to the air arm’s 831st Guards Tactical Aviation Brigade ‘Galatska’ and appeared in the
aircraft news coverage static display at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire in July 2018 Khalem
Chapman Above: A Fleet Air Arm-operated Merlin HM2 approaches the Royal Navy’s new flagship aircraft
of any aviation magazine carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), while deployed at sea MOD Crown Copyright
anywhere! * On sale date may vary by region. Content subject to change

98 // January 2022 www.Key.Aero

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