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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2536.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES and includes the Yak-18 and Yak-52, the L-39 jet trainer currently replacing the L-29, plus a range of two-seat conversion trainers of opera tional fighter types. Naval Aviation The Soviet Navy's four fleets; the Baltic Fleet, Northern Fleet, Black Sea Fleet, and the Pacific Fleet, are supported by the land-based aviation commands. The total number of aircraft in service is about 1,500. Aircraft of the Pacific Fleet operate from bases Type No Role Long-Range Aviation Tu-26 Backfire Tu-95 Bear Mya-4 Bison Tu-22 Blinder Tu-16 Badger II 76 Midas Air Defence Force MiG-31 Foxhound MiG-29 Fulcrum MiG-25 Foxbat-A MiG-23 Flogger-B/G Su-15 Flagon-D/E/F Tu-28P Fiddler Yak-28P Firebar Tu-126 Moss II-76 Mainstay Frontal Aviation Su-24 Fencer Su-25 Frogfoot MiG-31 Foxhound MiG-29 Fulcrum MiG-27 Flogger-D MiG-25 Foxbat-A/B MiG-23 Flogger-B MiG-21 Fishbed-D/N MiG-21 Fishbed-H Su-15 Flagon-D/E/F Su-17Fitter-C/D/H Tu-28P Fiddler Tu-22 Blinder Tu-16 Badger Tu-95 Bear Yak-28 Brewer-D/E Mi-26 Halo Mi-24 Hind Mi-17 Hip-H Mi-8 Hip-C/E Mi-6 Hook Mi-4 Hound Mi-2 Hoplite 160 125 78 136 307 6-t 100 100+ 300+ 430 225 90 80 9 4 + 650+/10 100+ 50 200+ 790 130/170 1745 720 60 340 1020 25 15 115 4 347 10+ 1125 + 250+ 1500+ 450 20 + 740 Military Transport Aviation An-124 Condor An-22 Cock An-24/26 Coke/Curl An-12 Cub An-2 Colt II-76 Candid II-62 Classic Tu-154 Careless Tu-134 Crusty Yak-40 Codling Naval Aviation Tu-26 Backfire Tu-95/142 Bear-D/E/F/ H/J Tu-22 Blinder Tu-16 Badger Su-17 Fitter Yak-38 Forger Be-12 Mail II-38 May An-12 Cub II-20 Coot-A An-24/26 Coke/Curl Ka-27 Helix Ka-25 Hormone Mi-14 Haze Mi-8 Hip 9 + 55 100+ 230 500+ 340+ 3 3 8 20+ 130 75 + 35/20 240/75/80 75 60 95 50 25 15 + 50+ 75 + 150+ 105 100+ Strat. Bomber Strat. Bomber Tanker/ECM/ Elint/Bomber Strat. Bomber Strat. Bomber/ Tanker/ECM/ Elint Tanker Int Int Int Int Int Long Range Int Int AEW Awacs Strike/Recce Anti-tank Recce Int/Attack Strike/Attack Int/Recce Int Int/Attack Recce Int Strike/Attack/ Recce Int Strat. Recce Strat. Recce Strat. Recce Recce/ECM Heavy lift Attack Transport Trans/Gunship Transport Liaison Liaison Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport VIP VIP VIP Communications Strike MR/ASW/ECM Strike/Recce Strike/Tanker/ ECM & Recce Attack Attack/lnt MR/ASW MR/ASW Elint Elint/ECM Transport ASW/SAR ASW ASW/MCM Transport , • "* ' The Soviet Navy's Mi-14 Haze is used for anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures tasks at Cam Rahn Bay and Da Nang in Vietnam, and Khormaksar in South Yemen. Home- based aircraft regularly deploy to Cuba and other sympathetic countries such as Libya and Ethiopia. Naval Aviation has 75 Tu-95/142 Bears and about 80 Tu-16 Badgers on maritime reconnaissance and ASW duties, with another 75 or so Badgers in the tanker role. About 20 Tu-22 Blinders are used for short-range, high speed reconnaissance, while modified An-12s and Il-18s are used as electronic intelligence gatherers. The Naval Aviation strike force is spearheaded by the Tu-26 Backfire, with 130 aircraft operational, backed up by 240 Tu-16 Badgers. Land-based attack aircraft tasked with close support of Soviet marines total about 75 Su-17 Fitters. ASW and maritime recon naissance is handled by Be-12 Mail amphibians and about 50 11-38 Mays, plus some Tu-95 Bear-Fs. The Bear-J VLF communications platform is also in service. Helicopter assets include the Mi-14 for Haze ASW and mine countermeasures, plus shore-based Ka-25 Hormones and Ka-27 Helix ASW and SAR variants. A selection of types, both fixed- and rotary-winged, is in service in the utility and liaison roles. Soviet Navy The fourth and last Kiev-class Vtol carrier, Kharkov, has been completed. Each of the carriers operates 12 or 13 Yak-38 Forgers, including a couple of two-seaters, and 14 to 17 ASW and utility helicopters including Ka-25 Hormones and Ka-27 Helix. The Novorossiysk's helicopter complement is mainly Helix, including the large-cabin Helix-C which is used for SAR and as a utility aircraft. An improved Vtol aircraft may replace the Forgers according to US Navy sources, but this might, however, be an uprated version the Forger. Destroyer based ASW flights are receiving the Helix-A in place of Hormones, with priority given to the new classes of ship. Spain Ejercito del Aire Spain's decision to collabo rate with Britain, Italy, and West Germany in developing the Eurofighter European Fighter Aircraft (EFA), instead of with France on the Rafale project, means that its long-term fighter requirements will be met by a mid-1990s deliv- I ery of EFAs. Spain has decided to develop an indigenous attack aircraft, known at present as Ax, which it hopes to have in service by 1990 to begin replacing F-5s. The Ax may be a completely new design, or, perhaps more likely, will be based upon the CASA 101 Aviojet airframe but with two engines and suitable mission avionics. Both single- and two-seat versions are planned. Meanwhile, the EdA has received its first EF-18 Hornets, 72 of which are on order to replace Mirage Ills and Phantoms. A total of 37 EF-18s is due to be in service by the end of 1987, with the final aircraft sched uled for delivery in 1990. The Hornet initially equips 15 Wing at Zaragosa, while 12 Wing will re-equip with the type at Torrejon early in 1988. As part of an offset agreement with Chile, the EdA has purchased 41 T-35C Pillan trainers, known locally as Tamiz, to supercede the ageing T-34A Mentors. CASA is assembling the air craft, and deliveries have started. Two C-130H- 30 Hercules were ordered in late 1986. The EdA is organised into four main commands; Air Combat", Air Tactical, Air Transport, and Air Command of the Canaries. Aircraft are also operated by Logistics and Air General Headquarters. The standard operating unit is a Wing of two Squadrons. Arma Aerea de la Armada Central to the Spanish Navy's current re-equipment is the new carrier Principe de Asturias, which will replace the Dedalo. The new ship has hangar- age for 20 aircraft under a 575ft flightdeck with a 12° ski-jump, and it will be equipped with EAV-8Bs, which will supplement the current AV-8S Matadors flown by Esc.008. The first EAV-8B flew in August 1987, and the initial three aircraft were delivered in October, to the newly established Esc.009. SH-60B Seahawk ASW helicopters are also on order, and will be operational in 1988, replacing some of the SH-3 Sea Kings. Three Sea Kings have been fitted with Searchwater radars for fleet AEW coverage. Fuerza Aeromoviles del Ejercito de Tierra Last-minute bids by Aerospatiale in April 1986 were successful in securing an order for 18 AS.332 Super Pumas for replacement of the Army's UH-1 fleet, despite the reported 1984 order for 24 AB.412s, which was apparently cancelled. The Super Pumas will be delivered I FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 28 November 1987
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