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Aviation History
1983
1983 - 1432.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES P.166-DL 3 light transports, although the latter could be the previously-received Government- operated aircraft. The Soviet-supplied equipment is believed to be suffering from a lack of spares. Types deliv ered to the Corps include ten MiG-21MF inter ceptors, about 30 ex-Chinese F-6s (MiG-19s), some 40 MiG-17 fighter-bombers, and about ten 11-28 light bombers. Transports include three C-47s, three An-2s, and three An-24/26s, while the helicopter force has four Mi-4s, two Mi-8s, and one or two AB.204Bs in addition to the AB.212s. Eight Piaggio P.148s and two Cessna 150s mav still be used for training, plus 20 Yak-lls and a couple of MiG-15UTI advanced trainers. Two Dornier Do28 Skyservants are flown by the Police Air Wing for liaison and supply duties. South Africa South African Air Force Possessed of few official friends in the Western world, South Africa nevertheless continues to maintain extremely powerful and well-balanced armed forces, and it is most likely that this state possesses its own nuclear weapon and the means of delivering it. Armed incursions into Angolan territory and anti-guerrilla operations along the border with Mozambique tie up a considerable amount of SAAF equipment and have resulted in losses in helicopters and ground-attack aircraft. A consequence of this is the increased defence spending, which usually results in more orders for the large South African arms industry. Licence production of the Atlas MB.326K Impala single-seat strike aircraft continues and it is known that South Africa has produced the Kukri, an agile air-to- air missile. An urgent requirement still exists for a Shackleton replacement, but UN sanctions still preclude the acquisition of aircraft in the Nimrod/Orion/Atlantic class. No 31 Sqn has been formed at Hoedspruit with Pumas and Alouettes, while eight more C-47s have been acquired to maintain the force strength of some 40 aircraft. Type No Role Mirage F. 1CZ Mirage F.I AZ Mirage IIICZ/BZ Mirage IIIRZ/R2Z Mirage IIIDZ/D2Z Mirage INEZ Canberra B(l)12/T Buccaneer S.50 Impala l/ll Shackleton MR.3 Piaggio P.166S C.160 Transall C-130B Hercules C-47 DC-4 Viscount 781 HS.125 Merlin IVA Cessna 185 AM.3C Bosbok/K Harvard Super Frelon SA.330H/f Puma Alouette III 4 jdu 16 32 16/3 4/4 3/10 16 6/3 6 130/70 7 20 9 7 40+ 7 1 4 3 30+ 40/20+ 50 14 60+ c100 Soviet Union Int Attack Int Recce Train Train Strike Strike Train/attack MP MP Trans Trans Trans Trans VIP VIP VIP Train Liaison/train Train Trans Trans AOP/liaison Soviet Military Aviation Forces A whole new range of modern Soviet military equipment is being prepared for service and, in some cases, has already entered service with front-line regi ments. This not only applies to the various air forces, but also to the Army and the Navy. However, it is with the Soviet Air Forces that the major advances in technology are more noticeable. For the Long-Range Aviation force, a new variable-geometry design, possibly from Tupolev and codenamed Blackjack, is under Soviet Air Force Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire B development, while two new fighters, Fulcrum (MiG-29) and Flanker (Su-27), are on trials for the Air Defence and Frontal forces. Foxbat in its single-seat form is now gaining a low level interception capability with the addition of the Flogger G radar, while in an enlarged Foxbat airframe a second seat has been added, together with a new look-down/shoot-down radar prompting a new reporting name Foxhound. Yet to make its appearance in Western Russia is the Su-25 Frogfoot, which has under gone operational evaluation in Afghanistan, and the same area has also seen the debut of the giant Mi-26 Halo, flying transport missions for the ground forces. Also on the transport side is the huge C-5A-type freighter being tested by the Antonov Bureau. This uses a new turbofan in the CF6 class, but possibly not quite as effi cient. The 11-76 Candid is being developed into two new roles, one being an Awacs design called Mainstay, with a large rotadome above the fuse lage, and the other an air-refuelling tanker designed to replace the current Bisons and Badgers. A new reconnaissance aircraft is also being testflown, similar to the SR-71, carrying the provisional designation RAM-M. With new air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, laser ranging, and higher-powered engines, this formidable range of weaponry will give the Soviet air forces some measure of modernity, but the quality gap which has existed between the Sov AF and the West still remains. The Soviet Air Force is made up of five separate formations, each with its own role, command structure, and equipment. Long Range Aviation, Air Force of the Anti-Aircraft Defence of the Homeland, Frontal Aviation, Air Transport Aviation, and Naval Aviation. Struc ture is based on divisions, each of three or more regiments which in turn consist of three squadrons with 12 aircraft each. Long Range Aviation The LRA is divided into two western- and one eastern-based Air Armies, operating about 800 aircraft. Most modern type in service is the Tu-22M Backfire with some 200 now in service, roughly equally divided between the LRA and Naval Aviation. Tupolev is turning out three Backfires a month at present production rates. At least 30 Back fires are based in the east, with the remainder assigned to the north and south flanks of the Western front. Backfire is armed with the AS-4 Kitchen stand-off missile. Other types in LRA service include the Tu-95 Bear, Mva-4 Bison, Tu-22 Blinder, and Tu-16 Badger. The Bears are used for a variety of tasks, including stand off missile launch and direction with the AS-3 Kangaroo. The Bisons are used mainly as stra tegic bombers and tankers. The Blinders carry either free-fall weapons or, in the B model, the AS-4 Kitchen missile. The Tu-16s are used for electronic warfare and as tankers, but a large number, over 300, are retained as bomber/ missile carriers. To replace the Bison/Badger tanker fleet, a flight refuelling version of the 11-76 Candid is being developed and this is expected to enter service later this decade. Frontal Aviation This tactical air force forms the bulk of Soviet military aviation, with about 5,000 front-line types and another 3,000 aircraft in support. The initial figure is tempo rarily inflated because of the large numbers of new types entering service. Tactical strike, interdiction, and close support of ground troops are the main roles of the FA, which contains 16 armies with 112 regiments and seven indepen dent squadrons. Four air armies are based in Eastern Europe to cover the Soviet Union's west flank. Types entering service with the FA Type Long Range Aviation Tu? Blackjack Tu-22M Backfire Tu-95 Bear Mya-4 Bison Tu-22 Blinder Tu-1 6 Badger Air Defence Force MiG-25 Foxbat A MiG-23 Flogger B, G Su-15 Flagon D, E, F Tu-28P Fiddler Yak-28 Firebar Su-9/1 1 Fishpot Tu-1 26 Moss II-76 Candid Awacs Frontal Aviation Su-25 Frogfoot Su-24 Fencer MiG-27 Flogger D MiG-23 Floqger B MiG-25 Foxbat B MiG-21 Fishbed D/N MiG-21 Fishbed H Su-17 Fitter C/D/H Su-7 Fitter Yak-28 Brewer D Yak-28 Brewer E Mi-1 Hare Mi-2 Hoplite Mi-4 Hound Mi-6 Hook Mi-8 Hip C/E Mi-24 Hind Mi-26 Halo ? 100 110 45/30 140+ 425 250+ 800 750 90 200+ 400 10 10 25 400 500+ 1,200+ 150 1,200 130 600 150 150 40 300+ 300+ 50 350+ 1,500+ 800+ Few ASM/bomber ASM/bomber ASM/bomber Bomber/tanker ASM/bomber Tanker/ECM/ ASM/bomber Int Int Int Lg rg Int Lg rg Int Int AEW Awacs t Close support/ anti-tank Strike Strike/attack Int Recce Int Recce Strike/attack Attack Recce ECM Scout fiaison Utility Trans Trans/qunship Gunship Trans FLIGHT International, 6 August (983
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