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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2515.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES tial Iraqi interest in Mirage 2000s and Alpha Jets. Deliveries of EMB-312 Tucanoes from the Egyptian assembly line continue, with the 84th and last due to arrive before the end of 1987. Options are held on another 20 aircraft, but are not thought to have been exercised yet. Recent equipment purchases have included at least five Bell 214STs and four Xian B-6D (Tu-16) bombers from China, while uncon firmed reports have named Iraq as the fifth PC-9 customer, quoting an order for 15 aircraft. Type Role Tu-22 Blinder Tu-16 Badger/B-6D MiG-25 Foxbat MiG-23MF/BN Flogger MiG-21PF/MFFishbed MiG-21U Mongol Xian F-7 (MiG-21) Shenyang F-6 (MiG-19) MiG-17F Fresco Su-7B/20 Fitter Mirage F.1EQ Mirage F.1BQ Hunter FGA.59/FR.59B/T.69 Jet Provost T.52 L-39ZO Albatros MiG-15UTI Midget EMB-312 Tucano PC-7 Turbo-Trainer AS.202 Bravo II-76M/MD Candid An-12 Cub An-26 Curl An-24 Coke 11-14 Crate An-2 Colt Tu-124 Cookpot Falcon 20 Learjet 35A SA.321 Super Frelon SA.330 Puma SA.342L Gazelle Alouette III Wessex 52 Bell214ST AB.212AS AS.61TS BO.105P/M Mi-24 Hind Mi-10 Harke Mi-8 Hip Mi-6 Hook Mi-4 Hound Mi-1 Hare * Delivery in progress 7 8/4 10/8 90+ 75 + 6 80+ 40 30 30/80 100* 11 30+ 15 24 20+ 84" 40 40 12/7 6 2 10 13 10 2 2 6 10 20/2 40 35+ 6 17 + 8 6 75" 20+ 3 100+ 15 20+ 4 Bomber Bomber Int/Recce Int/Attack Int Training Int FGA FGA FGA Att/AD/Recce Training FGA/Rec/Train Coin Attack/Train Training Training/Coin Training Training Transport Tanker/Trans Transport Transport Transport Transport VIP VIP VIP/Survey/TT Anti-shipping Transport/VIP Anti-tank/Liai Anti-tank/Liai Transport Transport ASW/SAR VIP/Utility Anti-tank/Liai Attack Heavy Lift Transport Transport Liaison Liaison Ireland Irish Air Corps The IAC has its headquarters at Parkgate, Dublin, and operates from two main bases at Casement (Baldonnel) and Gormanston, in support of Army ground forces as well as in the fishery protection, SAR, and transport roles. No. 1 Support Wing has a Light Strike Squadron equipped with Magisters, a Maritime Squadron with Super King Airs and a Trans port and Training Squadron which uses an HS 125 and a Super King Air. No. 3 Support Wing (Rotary) comprises an Army Support Squadron with Alouette Ills, a Naval Support Squadron and an SAR Squadron, both with SA.365F Dauphins (Fitted with Bendix RDR-1500 radars), and a Helicopter School Squadron which uses. SA.342L Gazelles. There is also a Training Wing of SF.260W Warriors, and an Army Co-operation Squadron flying Reims- Cessna FR172s. The latter may be armed for FAC duties. Type No Role CM. 170 Magister SF.260WE Warrior Cessna FR172H/P Super King Air 200 HS 125-700B SA.365F Dauphin Alouette III SA.342L Gazelle 6 9 7/1 2/1 1 3/2 7 2 Coin/Training Training/Coin FAC/Liaison MR/VIP VIP SAR/MR Utility Training Israel Heyl Ha'Avir Mounting US pressure and increasing domestic concern over the rising cost of the Lavi fighter project finally led to its cancellation in August. Two prototypes had flown and at least 212 production aircraft were planned. A substantial additional buy of F-16s, perhaps of a modified version, is now consid ered a likely alternative. Deliveries of 75 F-16C/Ds to join the survivors of 75 F-16A/B already supplied finally began in 1986, and are due to be completed in 1988. Also planned is an update of the F-4 Phantom force including an avionics refit and new radar by Elbit. Re- engining of the F-4s with PW1120 powerplants is not now being considered, although the aircraft's avionics will be updated. Type No F-15A/B/C Eagle F-16A/B F-16C/D Kfir-C2/TC2/C7/TC7 F-4E/RF-4E Phantom A-4H/N Skyhawk CM. 170 Magister (Amit) PA-18 Super Cub E-2C Hawkeye Boeing 707-320 IAI-201 Arava KC-130H Hercules C-130E/H Hercules C-47 Dakota RU-21A/RC-12D King Air BN-2A Islander Queenair 80 Do-27/Do-28B Westwind 1123/1123N Cessna U206C Cessna 172 AH- 1G/Q/S Cobra Hughes 500MD/TOW CH-53D/S-65C SA.321 Super Frelon Bell 212 Bell 205 Bell 206 JetRanger HH-65A Dauphin SA.342L Gazelle * Delivery in progress 37/2/11 Int/Training 64/8 51724 200+ Int/FGA/Train •Int/FG A/Train Int/FGA/Train 114/15FGA/Recce 40+/70+ Attack 80 20 4 11/1/ 4 2 12/9 18 3/6 4 16 6/14 3/1 25 + 2 Training Training AEW Tanker/Elint/VIP Elint/Trans Tanker Transport Transport Elint Utility Liaison/Train Liaison VIP/MR Liaison Liaison 12/18/15 Anti-tank 36 30/2 8 25 32 38 2 1 . Anti-tank Transport Transport Transport/SAR Transport Liaison SAR Liaison Israel currently has 19 combat squadrons deployed at ten key air bases. The combat squadrons deploy more than 600 front-line jet aircraft. In the interceptor role are two F-15 Eagle units, three of F-16s, and three with Kfirs. The attack squadrons comprise five Phantom units, three with A-4 Skyhawks, and one using Kfirs. By 1990 it is planned to deploy 24 combat squadrons at the ten bases. Kfir production, which had been at the rate of 18 aircraft a year, ended at around 220 aircraft in 1986, although a retrofit programme continues, converting Kfir-C2s into -C7s. 12 Kfirs have been leased to the US Navy, and 13 to the USMC for agressor training in the USA. Israeli Aircraft Industries has converted some 11 Boeing 707s to the tanker role, using single- point centreline refuelling booms salvaged from retired KC-97s. Two HH-65A Dauphins were received via the USA in 1985, against an even tual requirement for 20, while up to 40 AH-1 Cobras may be fitted with advanced night- targeting systems. Italy Aeronautica Militare Italiana The Italian Air Force forms part of Nato's 5th Allied Tacti cal Air Force, and currently has more than 900 aircraft. Deliveries of the Tornado were completed at the end of 1986, and the aircraft will be equipped with reconnaissance pods and Kormoran ASMs for their secondary roles. The F-104S Starfighter remains in service, and is being further upgraded under the F-104ASA programme to maintain effectiveness until at least 1995. The AMI's reconnaissance dedi cated RF-104Gs will remain until the end of the decade. The multirole AMX will begin to replace the RF-104Gs and G-91s in 1988. The AMI will buy 187, including between 30 and 44 two-seat aircraft. The service is still looking at various options to provide a small tanker force which would operate in support of the Tornadoes. Conversion of G-222s or C-130s is under study, as is the purchase of secondhand Boeing 707s. Some Tornadoes will be equipped as buddy tankers in any case. The MB.339 has replaced the MB.326 in the pilot training role, and the older aircraft are being passed on to bases for refresher training and liaison. An organic part of the AMI is the Atlantic ASW The Italian Air Force has a tanker requirement, but until it materialises must use buddy packs FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 28 November 1987 fin
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