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Aviation History
1983
1983 - 1440.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES UNITED STATES United States Air Force Responsible for two legs of the USA's nuclear triad, the Air Force is involved in updating both its ICBMs and its strategic bomber force. A firm decision on the MEM-118 Peacekeeper (MX) basing mode is expected later this year, while plans to deploy 100 missiles, 40 in 1986, continue. Also, as part of the strategic missile modernisation plan, the 48-strong Titan IIICBM force will be retired by 1987. 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 Mirved with three Mkl2 independently targeted re-entry ve hicles. Plans also continue to deploy 3,000 AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles on B- 52H and G models and the Rockwell 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 new ECM equip ment. The Air Force will eventually operate 100 B-lBs, to be deployed in the late-1980s. Eigh teen 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 missile, although running late, is still due for deployment to Europe bv the end of this year. A total of 464 BGM-109Gs are expected to be ordered. Northrop is developing, in conjunction with Vought and Boeing, an Advanced Technology Bomber. This "Stealth" design will enter ser vice in 1992, replacing B-lBs in the penetration role and 100 will be built. 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. McDonnell Douglas F-15s are now starting to replace F-106s on air defence of the USA, and a competitive fly-off of the F-15 and F-16 for the USAF's ground-attack requirement will take place shortly, the successful design due to re place F-4s later this decade. For the future, the USAF has outlined re quirements 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 war- load, have a 700 n.m. radius of action, cruise at Mach 2 and 50,000ft, and attain Mach 1-6 at low level. To meet an urgent need for added heavy air lift capacity, the USAF is to purchase 50 C-5Bs. Generally similar to the C-5A, the new aircraft will have a number of improvements including strengthened wings, TF39-IC turbofans and updated avionics. Delivery of the first 15 air craft will begin in 1986. On the refuelling side, 20 KC-lOs on order are now in service from a total of 60 aircraft on order. Funding has been approved for the KC- 135 re-engining programme and some 300 of the 610 KC-135s will receive CFM56s and mod ifications to the refuelling equipment and avi onics. Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) is improving with 29 of the 34 Boeing E-3A Sentrys on order in service, some with overwater capability. Work is under way on converting the first of three E-4As Airborne National Command Post, to E-4B standard with inflight refuelling and an improved, secure C;iI suite. The first of 25 Lockheed TR-1 battle field surveillance aircraft is in service, and 18 Precision Locator Strike System-equipped TR- ls are being based in England to provide cov erage over the central European front. Fairchild is to build 650 T-46s for the USAF's New Generation Trainer. The T-46 is sched uled to fly in April 1985, and to be in Air Train- '^0M "**am&..ti0ijm US Air Force Boeing KC-135RE ing Command service by 1987, replacing the T-37 fleet. Strategic Air Command maintains the USAF deterrent, all nine ICBM wings, and the manned bomber force. The latter comes under its control within the 8th Air Force with head quarters at Barksdale AFB, La, and 15th AF with headquarters at March AFB, Calif. The bomber element has 16 wings of B-52s, com prising 269 B-52G/Hs (170 Gs equipped with Srams and fitted with an electro-optical view ing system) and 75 B-52Ds which are being withdrawn from service by the end of this year. Their maritime support task is being taken over by B-52Gs not due for the cruise missile role. Each of the bomber wings has attached to it an associated KC-135 Stratotanker element drawn from 35 squadrons with 615 aircraft. These also support other commands on air-refuelling du ties and include KC-135s assigned to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units. Four squadrons in two wings, the 380th and 509th, operate 56 Sram-equipped FB-lllAs, while SAC's reconnaissance force comprises the 9th SRW with U-2s, SR-71s, and supporting KC- 135Q tankers at Beale AFB. Two further wings with about 65 RC-135s fly a variety of tasks including electronic reconnaissance. Responsibility for the operation of the air de fence radars, control centres, and interceptors rests with Tactical Air Command, while SAC now operates the Air Force's missile warning and space surveillance sensors. TAC aircraft maintain the important air defence commit ment over the continental USA, with the north covered by the Canadians. The interceptor force comprises F-15 Eagle squadrons, four ac tive and five Air National Guard F-106 squad rons totalling some 215 aircraft, and four F-4 Phantom ANG units, with one active F-4 squadron based in Iceland (57th FIS). Plans call for the replacement of the F-106s by F-15 Eagles. TAC itself is the USAF's quick-reaction force incorporating fighter, reconnaissance, transport, and special operations units. There are two Air Forces, the 9th with headquarters at Shaw AFB, SC, and the 12th, headquartered at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. TAC is currently receiving three new combat aircraft in quantity, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt lis. A total of490F-16s has been delivered of 1,388 planned (including 206 two-seat F-16Bs) and these are flying with the 56th TFW at MacDill AFB, Ga, the 474th TFW at Nellis AFB, Nevada, the 363rd TFW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and the 388th TFW at Hill AFB, Utah. F-15C/D Eagle deliveries have been made to the 48th FIS, Langley AFB, the 21st TFW, Elmendorf AFB, and the 318th FIS, McChord AFB. The units at Langley and McChord will also under take the USAF's anti-satellite mission. A total of 1,472 Eagles is planned for USAF service plus 20 R&D models, while orders to date total 756. Anti-armour units with A-lOs are the 354th TFW at Myrtle Beach, SC, as well as the 355th Training Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz, and the 23rd TFW at England AFB, La, while Air National Guard units attached to TAC fly ing the type are the 128th and the 174th TFW and three groups, the 103rd, 104th, and 175th. A-10 procurement stands at more than 715 production aircraft of a planned total of 733 machines. The 552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing at Tinker AFB operates the 29 E-3A (Awacs) aircraft currently in the Air Force in ventory. A total of 34 E-3As are required. Other types in use include two active AF squadrons with F-4Gs, four wings and ten groups with more than 350 A-7Ds (ANG-operated), six squadrons with F-lllA/Ds, six RF-4C squad rons with 100 aircraft, and 12 squadrons with F-4D/E Phantoms. TAC now has EF-111A Electric Fox defence suppression aircraft with the 388th Electronic Combat Sqn at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, of a total of 42 F-111A con versions. A squadron will be based at Upper Heyford, USAFE, in 1984. Delivery is also con tinuing of 30 two-seat A-7Ks for the ANG A-7 units, with planned procurement reaching 42 aircraft. Seven special-operations squadrons fly 42 OV-lOAs, 68 0-2A/Bs, 27 C/AC-130s, and five EC-135s. Most of TAC's 82 T-38s and F- 5Es are used for "Red Flag" combat training at Nellis AFB Nev. Total TAC helicopter inven tory is: 19 UH-ls, 15 CH-3s, and three CH-53s. Air National Guard units have been receiving F-4s and A-7s from the active TAC inventory and there are now five wings and eight groups of F-4C/Ds as well as two wings and six groups of RF-4Cs. There is also one group with 30 0-2As and three groups with OA-37s. The ANG is also beginning to receive F-16s, the 169th TFG at McEntire AB, South Carolina, converting ear lier this year. A single Tactical Electronic War fare Group operates EC-130s. TAC units in volved in the establishment of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force include the 27th TFW at Cannon AFB, with F-lllDs, the 49th TFW at Holloman AFB with F-15s, the 347th TFW at Moody AFB with F-4Es, the 354th TFW at Myrtle Beach AFB with A-lOAs, and the 552nd AW&CW at Tinker AFB with Boe ing E-3As. US Air Force Europe is an integral part of Nato with 35 squadrons based with the 3rd AF in the UK, 16th in Spain, and 17th in Germany. • Modernisation of aircraft continued during the year, with the introduction of F-16s with the 401st TFW at Torrejon, the basing of TR-ls at RAF Alconbury, and the planned addition of EF-111 aircraft in 1984. For combat training, the 527th TFT Aggressor Sqn at RAF Alconbury operates 17 F-5Es. At RAF Laken- FLIGHT International, 6 August 1983
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