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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2494.PDF
WORLDS AIR FORCES Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana Defence Force Air Wing This small air arm has its headquarters at Mafeking, and is tasked primarily with commu nications and transport flying in support of Defence Force ground units, but also has other roles including game conservation and anti- poaching patrols in the country's large game reserves. A BK.117 has been acquired, while the two Helio Couriers have been written- off. Type No Role C.212 Aviocar P.68 Observer BK.117 AS.355 Ecureuil Alouette III 2 2 1 1 2 Transport Observation Liaison Liaison Liaison Botswana Botswana Defence Force Air Wing The Air Wing is organised into three units, Zl, Z2, and Z3, nominally for defence, communications, and tactical transport respectively, although in practice each unit tends to operate in all three roles. A 1985 US FMS offer of six JetRangers was not taken up, while negotiations for up to three CN-235s were reported in mid-1987. Type No Role BN.2A Defender BN.2A-III Trislander Skyvan 3M Bulldog 120 Cessna 152 AS.350 Ecureuil 6 2 2 5 1 2 Coin/Patrol Transport Transport Training Training Comms Brazil Forca Aerea Brasileira The largest and one of the best-equipped air forces in South Amer ica, the FAB buys most of its equipment from the country's own aerospace industry. Embraer has teamed with Aeritalia and Aermacchi to produce the AMX attack aircraft, and the first is due for delivery to the FAB in 1988. 79 AMX, including up to 15 two-seat trainers, are to be purchased. In 1986 the FAB announced its intention to acquire 22 refurbished F-5Es and four F-5Fs together with six Mirages, to offset attrition and to provide a reserve against future losses. The Mirage Ills are to be acquired from French stocks, but suitable F-5Es have proved more difficult to locate. As an alternative, a buy of between 50 and 115 Chinese F-7M Airguards has been considered. In May 1987 Embraer received approval to go ahead with a new supersonic trainer, the T-X, with a target IOC set for the early 1990s. Interest in the IA-63 Pampa has also been reported. The last of 118 EMB-312 Tucanos was delivered in 1986. Options are held on 50 more. These may be built with Garrett TPE331 engines in place of the lower powered PT-6As, for use in the weapons training role. Orders placed in 1987 include three C-130H Hercules, six EMB-110K Bandeirantes, three Learjet 36 survey aircraft and additional EMB- 120 Brasilia transports. 24 of the latter may eventually be procured to replace HS748s. The FAB is organised into a number of commands including air defence, tactical, coastal, transport, and training. An integrated air defence system using modern radars installed under the DACTA I/II programmes now covers most of Brazil. For tactical purposes the country is divided into seven Comandos Aereos Regionais (COMAR). These regional commands are co-ordinating agencies which direct the aircraft of the operational commands. Forca Aeronaval da Marinha do Brasil Brazil's Navy intends to replace the carrier Minas Gerais with a larger ship, to be built in Brazil and equipped with a navalised version of the AMX, for service from the 1990s. The present carrier, in addition to operating ASW helicopters, operates FAB Trackers which are under Naval control when embarked. The naval air arm itself operates no fixed-wing aircraft. 12 new ASW helicopters are required to replace the frigate-based Wasps, with the Lynx and Dauphin 2 in contention. The final choice may be tied to a substantial Army requirement for several hundred helicopters to establish a new air arm. Meanwhile, deliveries of Ecureuils and Super Pumas have been completed against earlier orders. Type Role Air Force Mirage IIIEBR/DBR (F-103) F-5E/B AMX/AMXfO EMB-326 Xavante (AT-26) EMB-312 Tucano (T-27) T-25 Universal T-23 Uirapuru S-2A/E Tracker (P-16) EMB-111A(P-95) Boeing 707-320C KC-130H Hercules C-130E/H Hercules RC-130E Hercules DHC-5A Buffalo (C-115) HS748(C-91) EMB-110 Bandeirante (C-95) Boeing 737-200 (VC-96) Viscount 700 HS125 (VC-93/VU-93) Learjet 36A EMB-120 Brasilia EMB-121 Xingu EMB-810C Seneca L-42/U-42 Regente AS.332M Super Puma SA.330L Puma (CH-33) UH-1D/H Iroquois 206B JetRanger (VH-4/OH-4) Hughes OH-6A HB.350B Ecureuil AS.355F Ecureuil Bell47G/OH-13 Navy Agusta/Sikorsky SH-3D AS.332F Super Puma Lynx 21 206B JetRanger ll/lll HB-350B/AS.355F-2 Ecureuil Wasp HAS. 1 12/3 25/4 64"/ 15" 111 118 120+ 80+ 8/6 11 4 2 3/6* 3 21 12 114" 2 1 10/2 3* 5* 5 33 38/75 8 6 57 3/2 4 15'/15* 11 30 6/4 6 8 18/16 9/10 3 Int/Training Int/Training Attack/Train FGA/Coin/Train Training/Coin Training/Coin Training ASW MR Tanker Tanker Transport SAR/Survey Transport Transport Trans/Calib/SAR VIP VIP VIP/Calib Survey VIP VIP VIP/Comms AOP/Liaison Transport Transport/SAR Transport/SAR VIP/Training Training SAR/Training Liaison/VIP Traming/SAR ASW/SAR ASW/SAR ASW Training Utility Utility * Delivery in progress #* On order Brunei Royal Brunei Armed Forces—Air Wing The Service is organised into three flying units. Based at Berakas Camp is No.l Squadron with Bell 212s for transport, medevac and SAR. BO.105s based at Brunei International Airport with No.2 Squadron are armed with door- mounted machine guns and unguided-rocket pods. The third squadron, No.3, is the Basic Flying Training School, also at Brunei IAP and is equipped with JetRangers and armed SF.260W Warriors, the latter having a second ary Coin role. A fourth operational unit is the Para and Airborne Tactical Delivery Unit, which uses No.l and No.2 Squadron helicopters for parachuting or abseiling troops into Brunei's dense jungles. Negotiations for up to 12 Westland WS.70 Blackhawks are reported to be in progress. The VIP Flight, used primarily by the Sultan, operates various helicopters. Type No Role SF.260W Warrior Bell 212 BO.105CB/CBS B.206B JetRanger S.70C Blackhawk Bell214ST 2 10/1 5/1 2 1/1 1 Train/Coin Trans/VIP Coin/VIP Training Trans/VIP VIP Bulgaria Bulgarian Air Force A Warsaw Pact member, Bulgaria has a tactical air force subor dinated to the Army, arranged on Soviet lines and using Soviet equipment and tactics. Three regiments of four squadrons each are equipped with MiG-21s and MiG-23s. Five ground-attack squadrons operate MiG-17s, while two more MiG-17 units are tasked with tactical recon naissance. The MiG-17 force is long overdue for replacement, and the introduction of modern types is expected. Training is carried out at Bozhurishte, near Sofia, before operational conversion at squadron level. The small Bulgarian navy operates around 20 helicopters. Type Air Force MiG-23BMFIogger MiG-21PFMFishbed MiG-17F Fresco 11-28 Beagle MiG-15UTI Midget L-29 Delfin Yak-11 Moose/Yak-18 Max Zlin 42 An-24 Coke An-30 Cline 11-14 Crate Tu-134 Crusty Yak-40 Codling An-14Clod/An-2Colt Mi-24 Hind Mi-8 Hip Mi-4 Hound Mi-2 Hoplite Ka-26 Hoodlum Navy Mi-14Haze Mi-4 Hound Mi-2 Hoplite No 40+ 80+ 80+/ 25 + 6 + 20+ 80+ 50+ 20+ 12 + 6 + 12 + 1 1 15 + 12 + 30+ 10+ 10+ 12 + 10 + 6 + 6 + Role Int/Attack Int/FGA FGA/Recce ECM (WEU?) Training Training Training Training Transport Transport Transport VIP VIP Comms/Liaison Attack Assault Liaison Liaison Liaison ASW ASW Liaison Burkina Faso Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso Formerly Upper Volta, this country's long-running border dispute with Mali flared into full-scale war on Christmas Day 1985. The conflict lasted for six 44 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 28 November 1987
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