FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1982
1982 - 2507.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES Licence production of the Hughes 500MD was planned, but is yet to start. The Service operates some 100 AB.205s, some armed with machine guns, backed by AB.206s and AB.204S. Fixed-wing types include 40 Bellanca Citabrias for basic training, Beech T-42 Barons for advanced training, and Do28Ds, Do27s, and Cessna 421s for liaison work. Turkish Navy Naval aviation is opera ted by the Air Force and consists of one squadron of S-2 Trackers based at Topel and six AB.212 ASW for ship board operation. UNITED STATES United States Air Force Responsible for two legs of the USA's nuclear triad, the Air Force is embroiled in updating both its ICBMs and its strategic bomber force. A firm deci sion on MX basing mode is expected early next year, while plans to deploy 100 missiles, 40 in 1986, continue. Also, as part of the strategic missile modernisation plan, the 52-strong Titan II ICBM force will be retired. The Minuteman ICBM force is also being modernised with 50 of the 450 Minuteman lis to be updated to Minuteman III standard, bringing the number in service to 600 missiles. Half of these have been, or are to be, Mirved with three Mkl2 indepen dently targeted re-entry vehicles. Plans also continue to deploy 3,000 AGM- 86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles on B-52H and G models and the Rock well B-l. Of these types, 104 B-52Gs and 96 B-52Hs will be converted to ALCM carriers. Both models will be fitted with a new Offensive Avionics System, and some aircraft will have F-16 Fighting Falcon arrives at Hahn AB, West Germany new ECM equipment. The Air Force will eventually operate 100 B-lBs, to be deployed in the mid-1980s. Eighteen will be funded by 1984, with the first 15 B-lBs operational by June 1986. The last will be delivered in June 1988. The ground-launched cruise mis sile is running late, with problems in the terrain-comparison computer software. Northrop is developing, in conjunc tion with Lockheed and possibly Boe ing, and will produce, 100 Advanced Technology Bombers. This "Stealth" design will enter service in the late 1980s, with the first units declared operational, it is thought, by late 1990. Beech C-12s are in extensive US Army and US Air Force service Lockheed is also working on a Stealth project, and this is thought to be a tactical recce aircraft about the same size as the F-18 Hornet. This aircraft could be entering service now; the prototypes were flown in late 1976 or early 1977. McDonnell Douglas F-15s are now starting to replace F-106s on air defence of the USA, and the planned purchase has been increased from 729 to 1,107, with 42 to be pur chased in 1983. The competitive fly-off of the F-15 and F-16 for the USAF's ground-attack requirement will take place. The service has been told firmly that it cannot purchase both types to replace F-4s. For the future, the USAF has outlined requirements for a 1990s Advanced Tactical Fighter to replace the F-15 and F-16. The ATF will have a l,000ft-2,000ft Stol capability, weigh between 48,0001b - 50,0001b, with a 10,0001b warload, have a 700 n.m. radius of action, cruise at Mach 2 and 50,000ft, and attain Mach 1-6 at low level. A search for added stra tegic airlift capability continues. At present, the Lockheed C-5B is a strong contender for a 50-aircraft order. But Boeing and McDonnell Douglas are still fighting back with the 747, KC-10, and C-17. In all proba bility the C-5B will go ahead with the C-17 joining it later as a C-141/ C-130 replacement. On the refuelling side, nine of 16 KC-lOs on order are now in service from a planned total of 60 aircraft. Funding has been approved for the KC-135 re^engining programme and the first conversion is now on test. Some 300 of the 610 KC-135s will be re-engined and receive modifications to the refuelling equipment and avionics. Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) is improving with 26 of the 34 Boeing E-3A Sen- trys on order in service, some with overwater capability. Work has started on converting the first of three E-4As, Airborne National Command Post, to E-4B standard with inflight refuelling and an improved, secure C3I suite. The FLIGHT International, 6 November 1982 1343
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
