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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 2297.PDF
AJSi rUSiXEil Us f £ VJUJiLD three a\ iation and three air-defence regiments, with a total Strength of some 170 aircraft ami several fixed and mobile radar stations. Additional air-defence radars (low-level sur veillance) have been ordered. Some 24 cannon- and VIM-9 Sidewinder-armed Drakcn interceptors equip a surveillance wing responsible for the defence of Austrian airspace. An ambitious fleet-replacement plan includes the pro curement of a fighter to replace the Drakcn fleet by 2000, along with combat helicopters, transport aircraft and trans port helicopters. Contenders to replace the Draken include the F-16, F-18, Gripen and Mirage 2000-5. The Royal Australian Air Force is one of the first customers for the C-130J Hercules COMMANDO DE AVIACION DEL EJERCITO (ARMY AIR ARM) The army air arm is divided into 16 units. It has a require ment for a medium cargo helicopter, but a selection has yet to IK made. It has received 17 of a total of 23 UH-1II heli copters and is in the process of receiving a final six. Type OV-1 Mohawk Cessna T-41 Cessna T-207 Cessna U-17 C-212 Aviocar Aeritalia G-222 DHC-6 Twin Otter Sabreliner 75A Citation II Merlin III Merlin IV Queenair B-80 AS332B Super Puma SA330LPuma AS532 Cougar Bell 212 Bell 205A1 UH-1H Iroquois Agusta A.109A SA315B Lama Hiller UH-12ET No Role 23 surveillance trng liaison utility trans trans trans VIP geograph photo VIP medevac geograph photo polar trans trans 20 trans 1 VIP 4 utility 23 utility 5 armed recon 5 SAR 8 trng f^i^iiMHkiraTnTwrai There were no Soviet air force units in Armenia. The repub lic has used around 12 Mi-24s and some Mi-8 armed heli copters in its conflict with Azerbaijan. AUSTRALIA ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE (RAAF) The RAAF signed a contract with British Aerospace in mid-1997 for 33 BAe Hawk 100s as its lead-in fighter trainer. Deliver)' of the first aircraft is due in 2000. The first 12 will be assembled in the UK, and the remaining aircraft RAAF Williamtown, from kits supplied by BAe. The RAAF has also shortlisted three bidders to meet its Caribou-replacement light-transport requirement: the CASA CN-235-30QM orC-295M, IP l\ CN-235-330 Phoenix, and Lockheed Martin/Alcnia C-27J Spartan. Some major upgrade projects are in progress, including dtose for the F-18 Hornet and F-111 Aardvark. Major new investment projects planned from 1997 include an order for 12 C-130JS, airborne early-warning and control aircraft, defensive-aids system for ADF transport aircraft, new air-to- air weapons and a stand-off imager)' capability. Type No Role F-111C/RF111C/F-111G 17/4/15 strike/recon F-18A/B Hornet P-3C Orion MB.326M PC-9 Turbo-Trainer C-130E/H Hercules Boeing 707-320C DHC-4 Caribou Falcon 900 HS.748 C-47 71 FGA/air defence 19 MR/ASW 28 trng 61/4 tmg/forward air control 12/12 trans 5 VIP/tanker 14 trans 5 VIP 8/2 nav trng/VIP 4 R&D ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY (RAN) The Navy selected the Kaman SI I-2G Super SeaSprite in preference to the Westland Super I .ynx in mid-1997 to meet its future shiphorne-helicopter requirement. Options art- being examined for suitable helicopters for new AN7.AC frigates and new off-shore patrol vessels. Helicopter Sqn (ITS) 816 operates 12 S-70B Seahawks, of which five are dedicated to frigate flights. A further four attrition aircraft are in storage. The seven Westland Sea King helicopters of IIS 817 will undergo an upgrade programme to extend their service life to 2010. HS 817 has one aircraft permanently embarked in 1IMAS Success. IIC 723 operates the remaining aircraft, with one AS350 embarked on a frigate and a Bell 206 embarked on I IMAS Moivsly. Type SH-2G Super SeaSprite S-70B-2 Seahawk Westland Sea King 50/50A AS350B Squirrel Bell 206B-1 Kiowa HS.748 •on order No Role 11* ASW/ASuW 12/4 ASW/OTHT/utility 7 utility/ASW 6 OTHT/utility/trng 3 survey/suppt/utility 2 EW trng/trans AUSTRALIAN ARMY AVIATION Structured into two operational units and two training schools, army aviation operates in surveillance, reconnais sance, air-mobility, operational-support and training roles. The operational units arc I Aviation Regiment, with Kiowa and UII-1II helicopters and 5 Aviation Regiment, with S- 70A Black I lawks and UI I-111 gunships. The GAF Nomads of 1 Aviation Regiment have been disposed of. Type S-70A-9 Black Hawk UH-1H Iroquois Bell 206B-1 Kiowa AS350B Squirrel No Role 38 tactical trans 25 gunship/op suppt 24 recon 18 trng DUE OSTERREICHISCHE LUFTSTREITKRAFTE (AIR FORCE) Part of die federal army, the Austrian air force consists of Type J350E Draken Saab 1050E PC-7 Turbo-Trainer OE-1E Bird Dog Cessna L-19 Skyvan 3M PC-6 TurboPorter AB212 AB204B AB206AJetRanger 0H-58B Kiowa Alouette III No Role 24 AD 29 AD/FGA/trng 16 trng 5 FAC 12 liaison 2 trans 12 trans/casevac 23 utility/armed liaison 8/13 utility/stored 11 trng/liaison 11 AOP/armed liaison 24 SAR/liaison l;V;d:l:MIMJINl-i:HJII:IIM1 Azerbaijan seized 11 Su-24 attack and five MiG-25RB reconnaissance/bomber aircraft, most of them not in a fly- able condition, when CIS forces left the country. Several MiG-25PD interceptors were stranded at Nasosnaya base after the evacuation of the air-defence unit. During clashes with Armenia over disputed territory, Armenian forces have shot down several Azeri aircraft and seized two mercenary pilots. Three MiG-2ls are reported to be operational, as well as four Mi-24 Hind gunships. ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE (RBDF) The major missions of the Airwing are reconnaissance and maritime patrol of the 161,000km'(62,000 miles') of sea around the Bahamas. Aircraft provide surveillance of large areas and allow for d>c strategic deployment of surface craft. Type Cessna 421C Cessna 404 No Role 1 recon/trans 1 recon/trans \mm\ BAHRAIN AMIRI AIR FORCE Established in the mid-1980s, Bahrain's military has grown rapidly. The country supported the US military during die 1991 Gulf War and is now eligible buy US equipment at reduced cost. Despite this, Bahrain has experienced difficul ties in obtaining surplus armaments from the USA, but the air force is now being offered 20 updated, cx-USAF, F- 16A/Bs or ten new-build F-16C/Ds, to join GE Fl 10-pow- ered F-16s delivered in 1990 to supplement a squadron of F- SE/F Tiger lis which have been in service since 1986/7. Type F-16C/D Falcon F-5E/F Tiger II AH-1E Cobra B0105 B0105 S-70A Black Hawk BANGLADESH No Role 8/4 int/trng 8/4 int/trng 14 anti-armour 3 comms/VIP 2 ASW 1 VIP BANGLADESH AIR FORCE An independent element of the tri-service Bangladesh defence forces, the air force has tended in recent years to procure its front-line combat aircraft from China. Shenyang I-'-6s arc used in combat and training roles. A squadron of MiG-21MF Fishbcds, originally 12-strong, generally has about nine serviceable machines. Russia is trying to interest Bangladesh in new MiG-29s. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 10 - 16 September 1997 » *
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