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Aviation History
1990
1990 - 3672.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES deployments on large-deck Navy carriers and two continuously deployed marine expeditionary units (MEUs) which are soecial operations-capable (SOC). The aviation combat element (ACE) of a MEU(SOC) is normally a composite squadron consisting of 12 CH-46Es, four CH-53s, four to six AH-lTs, three UH-lNs and six AV-8Bs. These MEU(SOC) units are deployed aboard Navy am phibious vessels in the Mediterranean and Pacific Rim 365 days a year. Marine Fighter/Attack Squadrons (VFMA) are converting from the F-4 to the F-18 Hornet. Active VFMAs completed their conversion during FY 1989 and the Reserve units will convert in the early 1990s. In the light-attack role, AV-8Bs have replaced AV-8A/Cs and the replacement of A-4M Skyhawks by AV-8Bs continues. The first night- attack AV-8B was delivered in September 1989 and later aircraft will be equipped with APG-65 radars as the Harrier II Plus. All-weather attack squadrons fly A-6E Intruders, and the sole elec tronic-warfare unit, VMAQ-2, has EA-6B Prowlers. RF-4Bs equip the Corps' only tactical reconnais sance squadron, VMFP-3. KC-130 Hercules are divided among the three transport/tanker squadrons, VMGR-152, 252 and 352. Each MAW has one KC-130 squadron assigned. Rounding out the fixed-wing forces are the OV-IOA/D Broncos of VMO-1 and VMO-2, which are allocated the observation role. The Marine helicopter force consists of heavy (HMH), medium (HMM), and light-attack (HML/ A) squadrons. The heavy-lift force comprises five CH-53A/D squadrons and four CH-53E squadrons. The USMC heavy-lift goal is six CH-53E-equipped squadrons. The medium-lift CH-46E Sea Knight, comprises the majority of the USMC vertical-lift force with 15 squadrons of HMM aircraft. The CH-46E will be replaced in the mid-1990s. USMC utility and attack helicopters have been formed into six composite (HML/A) squadrons composed of UH-1N and AH-IT/Ws. The AH-1W will replace the older "T" models by FY1991. Marine Corps Reserve aviation is modernising. Fighter and attack aircraft of the 4th MAW will transition from two F-4, one F-18 and five A-4 squadrons to five F-18 and two AV-8B squadrons. Additionally, the EA-6A and KC-130F fleet will be upgraded to the EA-6B and KC-130T models. The 4th MAW's two AH-1J squadrons will begin the transition to the AH-1W and one CH-53A squadron will transition to the CH/RH-53D. Type No Role F-18A/C/D Hornet F-4S Phantom RF-4B Phantom A-4E/F Skyhawk A-4M/OA-4M Skyhawk TA-4F/J Skyhawk A-6E Intruder EA-6A Intruder EA-6B Prowler AV-8B Harrier TAV-8A/B Harrier OV-IOA/D Bronco TC-4C Gulfstream 1 KC-130F/R/T Hercules C-9B Skytrain II Convair C-131G/VC-13IG CT-39A/D/G Sabreliner UC-12B/F King Air VH-3A/D Sea King VH-60A Black Hawk VH-53D CH-53A/D CH-53E 3/16/R 30+ 25 r 20+ 130-t 20+ 75+ 6 12 300R 5/28R 64+ 2 59 2 l/l 7 17 3/11 9 2 50+/85+ 98 Attack/AD/Recce Attack/AD Tact Recce Attack Attack/FAC Tact Training Attack ECM ECM Attack OCU Obs/FAC Nav Training Tanker/Trans Transport/VIP Transport/VIP Comms/VIP Comms/VIP VIP/Pres Fit VIP/Pres Fit VIP Heavy Lift Heavy Lift CH-46E Sea Knight UH/VH-1N (Bell 212) UH-1E Iroquois AH-1T/T/W Sea Cobra 300+ Transport 85+/7 Transport/VIP 40+ Transport 165+ Assault/Escort R Maximum requirement — not all funded United States Army US Army aviation assets deployed in the Middle East number several hundred aircraft including UH-60 Blackhawks and OH-58Ds, plus AH-1 Cobra and AH-64A Apache attack helicopters. The West's largest helicopter operator, with more than 8,000 machines, the US Army also operates some 550 fixed-wing aircraft. Under the latest Army Aviation modernisation plan, total UH-60 Black Hawk procurement is still expected to reach more than 2,000 machines. AH-64A Apache pro curement is programmed to reach 807 aircraft. For liaison and scout duties the Army has a large fleet of OH-58A/C Kiowas, of which only 207 are now expected to be modified to OH-58D AHIP scout helicopters. Also in the scout role are OH-6A Cayuse observation helicopters. Attack helicopter support is provided by AH-1 Cobras, of which most have been converted to AH-IS or AH-IF standard with TOW missiles. Medium-lift support is provided by CH-47C/D Chinooks and CH-54s. A Chinook modernisation programme upgrades CH-47A/Bs to CH-47D standard. The US Army's primary flight training force retired its fleet of TH-55s during 1988, students now beginning training on the UH-1 Iroquois. Some 200 new light training helicopters are to be acquired in the early-1990s. Fixed-wing flight training is per formed on Cessna T-41Bs and Beech T-42s. Other types in service include OV-1D and RV-1D Mohawks, C-12/U-21/RU-21 liaison and electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and U-8 Seminole liaison aircraft. C-23B Sherpa deliveries have begun and the type will eventually replace the C-7 Caribou. Shorts 330s support the Pacific Missile Ranges, while UV-18A Twin Otters are used by the Alaska National Guard. The Light Helicopter (LH) project has been slowed and cut back. Only 1,292 helicopters are now to be built instead of the 2,096 planned. Type AH-64A Apache AH-IE/F/G/P/S Cobra OH-58A/C Kiowa OH-58D(AHIP) OH-6A Cayuse AH-6/MH-6 UH-60A/L Blackhawk EH-60C Blackhawk MH-60K Blackhawk UH-1B/H/V Iroquois CH-47C/D Chinook CH-54A/B Tarhe OV/RV-1D Mohawk T-41B T-42A Baron C-7A/B Caribou F.27 Friendship 400M C.212 Aviocar Shorts 330/-23B Sherpa UV-18A Twin Otter C-12A/C/D/F King Air RC-12D/K King Air U-21A/F/G/J RU-21B/C/D/H U-8D/F Seminole UV-20A Turbo-Porter U-3A/B (Cessna 310) C-20E Gulfstream III C-26B Metro III Jetstream 1/Learjet 35 No 807R 900+ 1,200+ 207 330+ 12/43 2.253R 66 22R 2,950+ 120+/436 70+ 110/30+ 100+ 57 10+ 2 1 6/10 6 130+ 19/18 99 25< I0oi 2 10 2 2 3/1 Roles Anti-armour Anti-armour Scout/FAC Scout Observation Special Ops Assault Tact Jamming Special Ops Trans/Utility Heavy Lift Heavy Lift Obs/FAC/ELINT Training Training Transport Para Demos IMINT Utility Utility Comms ELINT Comms ELINT Comms Comms Comms VIP Comms Comms Delivery in progress R Maximum requirement - not all funded Uruguay Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya (FAU) The FAU re ceived six retired USAF T-33As in December 1989 taking the T-33 fleet to a total of eleven aircraft. The FAU has two flying commands, Tactical and Training. The former has two Brigada Aereas. BA-1 at Carrasco has four groups: GA-3 with CAS A C.212 Aviocars, plus C-47 Dakotas and Queenairs; GA-4 with FH-227s and F.27s; GA-5 with Iroquois and Bell 212s; and GA-6 with EMB-110 Bandeirantes. BA-2 at Durazno has two groups: GA-1 with Pucaras and T-6 Texans, and GA-2 with A-37Bs and AT-33As. Training Com mand operates T-41s, U-17s, T-34As, Queenairs and T-33As. Type IA-58 Pucara A-37B Dragonfly AT-33A/T-33A AT-6G Texan T-34A/B Mentor Cessna T-41D C-47 Dakota EMB-110C/B1 Bandeirante FH-227D/F.27 Friendship 100 C-212 Aviocar Queenair 80 Cessna 182/310 Cessna U-17 PA-18 Super Cub Bell 212 UH-1B/H Iroquois N„ (> 8 5/6 6+ 1/25 6 1 4/1 1/2 5 6 3/1 10 2 2 5/5 Role Attack Attack Attack Recce Training Training Transport Trans/Survey Transport Transport/SAR Transport/Training Liaison AOP/SAR Liaison SAR SAR/Utility No. 3/3 1 2 : 4 1 1 2 1 I Role ASW/SAR MR/SAR Training Training Training Training/Comms Training Utility SAR • .: - • Liaison- : Aviacion Naval Uruguaya (ANU) All Navy aircraft are operated from Base Aeronaval Capitan Curbelo, at Laguna la Sauce, including S-2 Track ers in the ASW and SAR roles, a single maritime- patrol-configured Super King 200, and a Bell 222 for SAR duties. Pilots are trained on T-28 Trojans, T-34A/B Mentors, T-34C Turbo-Mentors and a Bell 47G helicopter. Type S-2A/G Tracker Super King Air 200T T-34C Turbo-Mentor T-34A/B Mentor T-28S Fennec (Trojan) Beech AT-11B PA-18 Super Cub Sikorsky SH-34J Bell 222 Bell 47G Venda Venda Defence Force This, state, entirely sur rounded by South Africa, set up a small defence force in 1983. An aviation element is equipped with a CASA C.212 Aviocar, an Alouette III and three BK. 117As. Venezuela Fuerza Aerea Venezolanas (FAV) Dassault signed a contract in March 1988 to surjply seven Mirage 50s and to modernise the FAV's surviving Mirage III/5 fleet to Mirage 50 Standard. Deliveries of the new aircraft began in mid-1990. In June 1990 the FAV selected Singapore Aerospace to modernise its CF-5 fleet. The FAV is the only air, arm in South America to operate the F-16,,having received 24 between 1983 and 1985. The FAV is organised into three commands, Combat, Training and Transport, these being subdi vided into groups according to role. Aviacion de la Marina Venezolana (AMV)The naval air arm is tasked with shipborne and so FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 5-11 December, 1990
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