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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 3090.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES Royal Australian Navy Seahawk P-3C Orion 19 MB.326H 72 PC-9 67* CT4 Airtrainer 47 Winjeel 4 C-130E/H Hercules 12/12 Boeing 707-320C 2/4c DHC-4 Caribou 17 Falcon 900 5 FIS.748 8/2 N24A Nomad Mission Master 1 C-47 Dakota 3 Navy S-70B Seahawk 16 Sea King 50/50A 5/2 Bell 206B-1 JetRanger 3 AS.350B Ecureuil 6 HS.748 2 F-27 Friendship 1 Army N22/N24 Nomad Mission Master 11/9** PC-6B Turbo-Porter 14 S-70A-9 Black Hawk 39 UH-1H Iroquois 25 Bell 206B-1 JetRanger 43 AS.350B Ecureuil 18 ** On order * Delivery in progress c Under conversion MR/ASW Training Training Training FAC Training Transport VIP/Tanker Transport VIP Nav Trng/Trans Utility R&D Trials ASW Utility/ASW Survey Support Training/Liaison EW Training Coastal Mapping Trans/Liaison Trans/Liaison Tactical Trans Tactical Trans/Command & Liaison/Gunship Reconnaissance/Liaison Training Austria Osterreichische Luftstreitkrafte Part of the Federal Army, the Austrian Air Force has a total strength of some 180 aircraft. After a protracted evaluation process, the Saab Draken was selected to replace the Saab 105 in combat roles. An order for 24 refurbished Swedish Air Force J35Ds was placed in May 1985, primarily for air-defence duties. The first aircraft was handed over in June 1987, but deployment in Austria did not occur until mid-1988, partly because of local opposition. Draken conversion has also been a protracted process with only nine pilots qualified by September 1991, causing the aircraft to be rotated to ensure even utilisation. Type Saab J3506 Draken Saab 10506 Saab 10506 PC-7 Turbo-Trainer 0-1E Bird-Dog Skyvan 3M PC-6 Turbo-Porter AB.212 AB.204B No 24 9/13 8 16 5 2 12 23 8/13 Role Air Defence AD/FGA Training Training FAC Transport Trans/Casevac Utility Utility/Stored AB.206A JetRanger 0H-58B Kiowa Alouette III 11 SAR/Training 12 AOP 24 SAR/Liaison No 8/4 8/4 3 1 3/1 •> Role Int/T raining Int/T raining Communications/VIP VIP Police Police Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force The RBDF has a small air wing consisting of a Cessna 421C and a Cessna 404. The 421C has been completely refurbished while the 404 was being prepared for similar treatment in mid-1990. Since the Bahamas consists of over 700 islands spread over some 161,000 km2, the air wing's task is primarily surveillance in support of surface vessels, although SAR and transport duties are also undertaken. Bahrain Bahrain Amiri Air Force Bahrain found itself in the front-line during the war to free Kuwait, and provided base sites for Allied air strikes against Iraqi forces. US moves to strengthen friendly Gulf nations led to a yet to be accepted offer to Bahrain of eight AH-64A Apache attack helicopters together with Hellfire missiles. Twelve General Electric FllO-powered F-16s, ordered in Janu ary 1987, were delivered between March and September 1990 to supplement a squadron of AIM-9P-3 Side winder-armed F-5E/F Tiger lis which have been in service since 1986/87. Four additional F-16s were offered in mid-1988 but an order had not been placed by August 1991. Type F-16C/D F-5E/F Tiger II B0.105 S-70A Black Hawk Bell 412/205A-1 Hughes 369D Bangladesh Bangladesh Air Force An independent element of the triservice Bangladesh Defence Forces, the BAF is mainly a defensive force. Although 16 F-7M Airguard fighters were supplied by China in late 1989, the BAF inventory remains largely outmoded and suffers chronic spares shortages. Two squadrons of Shenyang F-6s fly from Jessore and Tezagaon, while a squadron of MiG-21MF Fishbeds, originally 12-strong, generally has about nine serviceable machines. An additional 40 F-6s were transferred to Bangladesh in 1990 following their re placement in Pakistani service by newer aircraft. Pilot training begins at Jessore and is followed by advanced training at Tezagaon. The BAF suffered major losses during the disastrous flooding which hit the country in April/May 1991. Almost 50 aircraft were damaged beyond repair, includ ing many of the F-6s recently acquired from Pakistan and a number of helicopters. Type Shenyang F-6/FT-6 (MiG-19) Xian F-7M Airguard (MiG-21) MiG-21MF Fishbed MJG-15UTI Midget CM,170 Magister Nanchang CJ-6 Cessna 152/337F An-26 Curl/An-24 Coke Mi-8 Hip Bell 212 Bell 206L LongRanger Belgium Force Aerienne Belge/Belgische Luchtmacht The dual- language Belgian Air Force is organised in two com mands: Tactical Air Force Command (TAFC), and Air Force Training and Logistics Command (AFT&LC). TAFC is responsible for all flying and non-flying combat units, plus operational support units such as ground radar. AFT&LC is responsible for all training, supply functions and some depot-level maintenance. Within TAFC are six F-16 squadrons (349 and 350 of 1 Wing, 1 and 2 of 2 Wing, and 23 and 31 of 10 Wing), and one Mirage VBR reconnaissance squadron (42 of 3 Wing). 3 Wing's second unit (8 Squadron), which operated Mirage VBAs, was disbanded in September 1991. During the Gulf Crisis 8 Squadron was deployed to Turkey. Delivery of a total of 116 F-16A/Bs was completed in 1985, while partial replacement of the Mirage fleet by a further 44 F-16s began in 1987 and was completed in September 1991. The establishment of each of the F-16 No 27 '6 9 2 1b 35 4/2 5/1 13 11 2 Role Int/FGA/Trng Int Int Training Training Training Trng/Comms Transport Transport Transport Comms units is to be reduced from 18 to 12 aircraft as a cost-cutting measure, and the spare aircraft will be placed in storage. In May 1991 Belgium signed formally a F-16 mid-life update (MLU) agreement which will see a major avionics upgrade including installation of GPS, MLS, improved radar-advanced IFF, and helmet- mounted sight. The first production MLU kits will be available in the mid-1990s and the aircraft will see service until 2010. In addition, Belgium has committed itself to a F-16 electronic warfare enhancement pro gramme, and plans to acquire modern air-to-surface munitions as well as BVR missiles for the aircraft. A limited upgrade programme for 20 of the surviving Mirage VBAs, principally covering avionics and essential structural modifications, is underway to maintain effec tiveness until the type is retired in 2005. TAFC units form part of NATO's 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force, along with British, Dutch and German air forces. TAFC also controls 15 Wing, with 20 and 21 Transport Squadrons and 40 Helicopter Squadron, which includes the Navy's Alouette III flight. 20 Squadron's C-130s are to undergo a major life extension programme which will allow them to operate for a further 20 years. Six of the C-130s were operated in the Middle East during the Gulf War. Budgetary constraints have meant that 21 Squadron is to be disbanded. Its fleet of Boeing 727s, Falcon 20s, HS.748s and Merlins will be disposed of by the end of 1992, and may be replaced by two second-hand Gulfstream Ills. AFT&LC also encompasses the SF-260s, Alpha Jets and the remaining Magisters, and controls four Logistic Wings plus a Support Wing. Aviation Legere de la Force Terrestre/Licht Vliegwezen van de Landmacht The Belgian Army aviation compo nent consists of four squadrons operating BN-2 Islanders and Alouette lis on AOP/liaison duties from its main base at Brasschaat, and from Butzweilerhof, Mersbruck and Werl in West Germany. All Belgium Army Aviation units based in West Germany are to be re-deployed to Bierset in 1993-1995 as part of a decision taken early in 1989 to cut back the Belgian military presence in West Germany. The long-standing Aeromobility 1 requirement is to be fulfilled by the Agusta A-109A. Following a selection decision announced in December 1988, 46 A-109As are to be purchased, comprising 28 TOW-equipped anti- armour helicopters and 18 unarmed for scout/ observation duties. The first was nearing completion on the Belgium assembly line in June 1991 and is due to be delivered before the end of the year. No Role Type Air Force F-16A/B Mirage VBA Mirage VBR Mirage VBD Alpha Jet E CM.170 Magister SF.260MB C-130H Hercules HS.748 Boeing 727QC Merlin IIIA Falcon 20C Sea King 48 Army BN-2 Islander Agusta A-109A-II(HA)/(H0) Alouette II Navy Alouette III Gendarmerie SA.330 Puma Alouette II ** On order Belize . Belize Defence Force, Air Wing The Air Wing was formed in 1983, and operates two BN-2B Defenders in infantry support reconnaissance and liaison roles. The aircraft are fitted with Skyshout aerial broadcasting systems and can carry two machine-gun pods. Based at Belize International Airport, the Air Wing is also used in support of the police for internal security tasks (mainly anti-drug and anti-smuggling operations), and can be called upon by the BDF's Maritime Wing for SAR duties. Britain maintains Harrier, Puma and Gazelle detachments in the country to deter invasion from Guatemala, which still claims sovereignty over Belize. 114/22 35 18 10 31 18 12 3 2 5 2 5 10 28"/18" 58 4 3 5 Int/Altack FGA Reece Training Training Trng/Liaison Training Transport Transport Transport/VIP VIP/Sur/Calib VIP SAR Liaison Anti-Tank/Scout A0P/T raining Liaison/SAR SAR/Police Police 36 H.IGH1 INTERNATIONAL 27 November - 3 December, 1991
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