FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1978
1978 - 1161.PDF
FLIGHT International, 8 July 1978 113 MiG-17s, which also double in the low- level intercepter role. To help main tain the MiGs, China has provided spares and about 30 engines. Also in the strike role is a MiG-27 Flogger D unit with 18 aircraft, and some 48 Su-20 variable-geometry attack aircraft re linquished by the departing Russians. The border clash last July between Egypt and Libya resulted in claim and counter-claim, the Libyans announcing the destruction of two Tu-16s, six Sukhois, two MIG-21s and four Mirage Ills; Egypt admitted losing two Su-20s but claimed the destruction of six Libyan aircraft at El Adem during a strike. Interception missions are flown by some nine squadrons in Air Defence Command equipped with 108 MiG-21MFs integrated into a Soviet-established air- defence system which includes SAMs and radars. There are also about 150 MiG-2IPFMs and about 100 F attack aircraft; a few are equipped for recon naissance. An agreement exists where by UK companies are assisting the Egyptians in overhauling the MiGs and fitting them with Ferranti inertial nav platforms and Smiths weapon-aiming HUDs. Supplementing the -21s are about 24 MiG-23 Flogger B intercepters, six two-seat MiG-23U Flogger C combat trainers, and 52 Mirage IIIEEs, 38 of which were originally ordered by Saudi Arabia for operation by Egypt. A second batch of 14 Mirages was ordered last year. A few MIG-19s remain in service, but they are thought to have been relegated to second-line status. Of the six Lockheed C-130 Hercules —four C-130Hs and two EC-130Hs delivered last year—one was lost in Cyprus during an abortive commando raid and a further 14 have been re quested to replace the 25 An-12s in use. Other transports include 40 Il-14s and a VIP flight equipped with a Boeing 707, Boeing 737 and a Falcon 20. Heli copters are operated mainly by the Army and Navy and include a batch of Westland Commando assault aircraft comprising five Mk Is and 23 Mk 2s, plus two VIP machines. From France, a further 12 SA.342 Gazelles have been received to add to the 42 already in use, some being equipped with Hot missiles for anti-tank use and others flying in the light AOP role. Russian types include 70 Mil Mi-8s, many armed for assault work. 20 Mi-4s, and about 12 Mi-6 heavy-lift helicopters. The Navy, as well as operating some Gazelles, also has a squadron of six Westland Sea King Mk 47s for ASW duties. Six Fournier RF4s are flown for AOP and Elint sorties with the air force. Training is performed on 100 L-29 Delfins, although some are used in the ground-attack role. Other types include about 50 two-seat MiG-15UTIs, Su-7Us, MiG-21Us, Yak-lls, and some Il-14s used for navigation training. Of the 90 Al Kahira basic jet trainers built, a few survivors continue in use, and there are still 200 Gomhouria elementary trainers in service. No replacement for these types has yet been selected. A number of Polish Wilgas are also in use, for liaison duties. ETHIOPIA Ethiopian Air Force Following some years of conflict with the Eritrean Liberation Army, the military govern ment in Ethiopia found itself involved in a full-scale war with neighbouring Somalia last July over the disputed Ogaden desert region. A massive Soviet airlift of arms into Ethiopia followed early defeats of the Ethiopian Army at the hands of the Somalis. Influenced by Soviet and Cuban personnel and a flood of equipment, the Ogaden war reversed its course and ended in March this year with a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Somali troops from the area. Ethiopian Air Force flying was limited in the early stages of the war, but the advent of Soviet-supplied MiG-21s, believed to total some 50 in number and flown by Cuban Air Force pilots, meant an increase in EAF involve ment. By September 1977, at least 23 Somali MiGs were claimed as destroyed by Ethiopia, and reports stated later that both MiG-21s and 23s were being used for ground-attack sorties and th;it Soviet Mil helicopters were flying in the assault role. Until the arrival of Soviet equipment, the EAF had an inventory of Western aircraft, acquired over a number of years and mainly of American origin. Four BAC Canberra B.52s were pur chased in 1969 and the two survivors, together with about 12 Northrop F-5As, flew quite a number of sorties during the war; two F-5Bs are also on strength. A further fighter-bomber unit has 11 F-86F Sabres of doubtful operational status, and a Coin unit flies six T-28Ds. For transport work there are 12 C-47s, 12 C-119K jet-augmented Packets, two C-54s, two Doves, and an 11-14 donated by Russia some years ago. Trainers in clude 11 T-33As, 20 Saab Safirs and a number of T-28s. Five Alouette Ills, one SA.330 Puma, two Mi-8s and six AB.204Bs form the helicopter element. The Ethiopian Army has a small sup port force flying six Bell UH-lHs and four DHC Otters. Three DHC Twin Otters were delivered last year. FINLAND Ilmavoimat Under the terms of the 1974 Treaty of Paris, the Finnish Air Force is limited to a strength of 60 combat aircraft and 3,000 personnel. The air arm, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary, is currently organised into three Air Defence Wings, each assigned to one of the three air-defence areas into which Finland is divided. The main Wing bases are at Bovaniemi, Tampere and Kuopio- Bissala, each with one front-line squadron together with the necessary support elements. Assigned the aerial defence of Northern Finland is the Lapland Wing, made up of 11 Sqn at Rovaniemi flying 27 Saab Drakens on all-weather fighter-bomber duties. The Draken force is made up of 12 J35Ss recently assembled by Valmet at Halli; six ex-Swedish AF J35BS aircraft originally leased to the Finns for train ing and subsequently purchased by them; and a further nine low-houred ex-Swedish AF aircraft comprising three two-seat S35C combat trainers and six J35F intercepters. Covering southern Finland at Pori is the Sata- Enjoying success in the export field is the Beech T-34C-I Turbo-Mentor. This example is for the Ecuadorean Air Force Serving with the Kerelia wing of the Finnish Air Force is the early MiG-2IF model, one of which is pictured right
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
