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Aviation History
1990
1990 - 3638.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES Gulfstream III/1V Falcon 20 CH-47C Chinook AS-61 Commando 1/2/2B/2E S-70A Blackhawk Mi-6 Hook Mi-8 Hip Mi-4 Hound SA.342K/L Gazelle HillerUH-12E Navy Sea King 47 SA.342L Gazelle Mi-4 Hound ** On order 2/1 2 15 2 5/17/2/4 2 6 50. 12+ 4/80+ IS 5 12 6i Ml' VIP Transport VIP Trans/VIP/ECM Transport Transport Transport Transport Anti-tank Training ASW/Anti-ship Anti-shipping Liaison El Salvador Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena The situation in El Salvador remains confused, with various left-wing guerrilla groups coalescing and splitting frequently, but all fighting the right-wing government, which is backed by overt US assistance. US aid began to increase significantly from 1980 onwards, and since then deliveries to the FAS have included nine A-37Bs, seven AC-47 "Spooky" gunships, each armed with three Vulcan cannon, six 0-2A armed FAC aircraft, at least two C-123K Providers, six Schwetzer-Hughes 300C and 73 UH-1 Iroquois helicopters. Basler Flight Services delivered two modified C-47s, known as Turbo-67s, in September 1990. Attrition has been high in recent years, with many aircraft shot down or destroyed in guerrilla attacks on airfields. Type Ouragan A-37B Dragonfly CM.170Magister 0-2A Super Skymaster AC-47 Spooky (Dakota) T-34A Mentor T-41C/D IAI-201 Arava DC-6 C-123K Provider C-47 Dakota/Turbo-67 Cessna 180/182/185 Rallye 235GS Guerrier UH-1 H/M Iroquois Hughes 500/500M Alouette III SA.315B Lama Hughes 300C No 8 8 6 4 7 3 7 3 I 2 6/2 6/1/1 13 43+ 3/4 4 3 6 Role FGA COIN COIN/Training COIN/FAC COIN Training Training Transport Transport Transport Transport Liaison COIN Trans/COIN Liaison/COIN Liaison SAR Training Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea National Guard This small air arm is tasked solely with transport duties. A Yak-40 Codling VIP aircraft has been in service since 1978, while the delivery of the CAS A C.212 Aviocars, as part of a 1983 Spanish aid package, awaits confir mation. Ethiopia Ethiopian Air Force Under the terms of the Falasha emigration agreement Israel is supplying a package of defence equipment to the Mengistu regime which, at the Ethiopian's request, includes a squadron of Kfir fighters. Despite strong US objec tions to the transfer, Israel is reported to have delivered 15 former Israeli Air Force Kfirs to Ethiopia in mid-1990. The Ethiopian Air Force remains committed to the fight against Eritrean guerrilla forces and has lost some 12 aircraft to rebel action in the past year. The active inventory is composed almost entirely of Soviet types, and all other surviving equipment of Western origin has been retired. A detachment of Soviet Naval Aviation 11-38 mari- F-16, JAS39 Gripen and Mirage 2000 bid to replace Finland's MiG-21s time patrol aircraft is maintained the Soviet naval port at Dahlak is Type No Air Force MiG-23BN Flogger MiG-21MFFishbed MiG-21U Mongol MiG-17F Fresco Kfir C2/TC2 L-39ZO Albatros SF.260TP An-12 An-26 Curl 11-14 Yak^tO Codling Siai S.205/S.208 Mi-24 Hind Mi-8 Hip Mi-6 Hook AS.330 Puma Alouette III/Chetak Mi-14 Haze Army DHC-6 Twin Otter Cessna 401 DHC-3 Otter UH-1H Iroquois * Delivery not confirmed at Asmara, while a helicopter base. 421 SO* 5 211* 15- 12 12' 11 + 1 1 1 1/1 11 304 10+ 1 11/10 2 2 1 3 6 Int/Attack Int/FGA Training FGA Int/FGA Training Training Transport Transport Transport VIP Liaison Attack Assault Transport vr? Liaison ASW Transport Transport Transport Transport Fiji Fiji Military Forces A single AS.355 Ecureuil helicopter was donated by the French government in 1989 to allow the establishment of an embryonic Fijian air arm. The helicopter was flown by French contract pilots pending the arrival of the first Aus tralian-trained Fijian aircrew. A second helicopter, a SA.365 Dauphin, is on order for May 1991 delivery. Finland Ilmavoimat The Finnish Air Force will replace its Saab Draken and MiG-21 combat aircraft in the 1990s. The policy of procuring equal quantities from East and West will continue. Reported con tenders include the F-16, JAS39 Gripen, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 Fulcrum. Under the terms of the 1947 Treaty of Paris, the FAF is limited to a strength of 60 combat aircraft and 3,000 military personnel. The air arm is organi sed into three air-defence wings, each assigned to one of the three air-defence areas into which Fin land is divided. The Lapland Air-Defence Wing consists of 11 Fighter Squadron at Rovaniemi, flying Drakens on all-weather defence of northern Finland. Covering western Finland, 21 Fighter Squad ron of the Satakunta Wing has also operated Drak ens since 1985, and is now based at Tampere/Pirkkala/ Airport. The third wing is the Karelian Air-Defence Wing, based at Kuopio/Rissala and comprising 31 Fighter Squadron with MiG-21bis for the defence of south-eastern Finland. A reconnaissance squad ron at Tikkakaski operates Hawks and MiG-21 bis. Pilot training at Kauhava begins on the Valmet Vinka, followed by the Hawk. Fifty Hawks were purchased, including 46 built under licence by Valmet. The final Hawk was delivered in 1985. A single transport squadron at Utti operates both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Three F.27 Friend ships form the backbone of the unit, while seven Mi-8s form the utility element. Three special mis sion Learjets are used for target-towing, ground- mapping and ECM training. Ten L90 Redigos for liaison duties will be delivered in 1991/2. Type No Role J35XS Draken J35B/F Draken SK35C Draken MiG-21bis Fishbed N ' MiG-21 US/UM Mongol Hawk 51 L70 Vinka F.27 Friendship 100/200/400M Learjet 35A PA-31-350 Chieftain L90 Redigo Cherokee Arrow /Arrow IV Mi-8 Hip Hughes 500D ** On Order 12 4/24 5 25 2/2 45 28 1/1/1 3 6 10** 4/4 7 2 Int/FGA Int Training Int Training Training Training Transport TT/Survey/ECM Training Communications Liaison Liaison • : Utility Training France L'Armee de l'Air As part of its reaction to Iraq's annexation of Kuwait, France committed some 40 aircraft to the multi-national force defending Saudi Arabia, comprising Mirage 2000, Mirage F. 1 and Jaguar combat aircraft plus Transall and Hercules transports, and C-135 tankers. Deliveries of Mirage 2000s to the French Air Force continue, against a requirement for. 383 air craft. Firm orders have been placed for 273 includ ing those funded in the FY 1989 budget, and the 100th was delivered in February 1989. Three Mi rage 2000N units are operational, and the third formed at Istres during 1990. Conversion of 18 Mirage IVA bombers to Mirage IVP standard, with advanced avionics and ASMP, has been completed. The aircraft will remain in service until 1996. Up to 55 Mirage F.Is are to be converted to F.1CT enhanced ground-attack standard in a programme initiated with FY 1989 funds. In February 1987 France placed a $550 million order for three E-3 AWACS aircraft to fulfil its longstanding AEW 40 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 5-11 December, 1990
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