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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 2298.PDF
AJSi rUSi'JZD U? MJ* WUSiLD Type Shenyang F-6/FT-6 (MiG-19) Xian F-7M Airguard (MiG-21) MiG-21MF Rshbed MiG-15UTI Midget CM.170 Magister Nanchang CJ-6 Nanchang A-5C Fantan Cessna 152/337F An-26 Curl/An-24 Coke Mi-8 Hip Bell 212 Bell 206L LongRanger No Role 11 int/FGA/trng 14 int 9 int 2 trng 15 trng 46 trng 12 attack 4/2 trng/comms 3 trans 7 trans (being phased out) 11 trans 2 comms • :HW:llfcfNki:HJII:»r41 A bilateral agreement with Russia has been signed on defence co-operation, with around 90% of fighter-bombers and 10% ot heavy bombers based on lielarussian territory being transferred to the republican air force. About half of the air force units in Belarus have been transferred to Russia's jurisdiction.The Belarussian air force will be retain the more-modem types and, to comply with the (TT treaty, has begun to scrap older aircraft such as the MiG-27. The treaty limits Belarus to 260 fixed-wing aircraft and 80 heli copters. The country has not adopted its own national insignia, and the Russian red star continues to adorn the combat aircraft and helicopters of Belarus. Belarus has inherited at least 32 Ilyushin 11-76 Candids from 339 Transport Regiment, based at Vitebsk. According to reports in the Belarussian press, this regiment is scheduled for disbandment, as the number of Candids is considered to exceed die needs of the country. FORCE AERIENNE BELGE/ BELGISCHE LUCHTMACHT (AIR FORCE) The dual-language Belgian air force is organised into two major commands. The Tactical Air Force Command (TAFC) includes all operational units, flying and non-flying, as well as the operational support units. The Air Force Training and Support Command (AFT&SC) includes die schools and the logistic-support units. Delivery of an initial 116 F-16A/Bs was completed in 1985, while partial replacement of the Mirage fleet by a fur ther 44 F-16s was completed by the end of 1991. In June 1993, the Government decided upgrade 48 aircraft under the F-16 mid-life update programme. In January 1997, the decision was taken to upgrade a further 42 aircraft in two phases - 24 in fiscal year 1997 and 18 in FY1998. The com bat units of the TAFC consist of two wings with a total of sLx F-16 squadrons. Belgium is also looking to sell some F-16s, having sold its 20 Mirages to Chile. The TAFC also controls 15 Wing, with 20 and 21 Transport Squadrons and 40 Helicopter Squadron, which includes the navy's Alouette III flight. The air force's C-130s are undergoing a life-extension programme. The AFr&SC operates the SF260s, Alpha Jets and the remaining Fouga Magisters, and controls the Logistics and Support Wings. Type F-16A/B Alpha Jet E CM170 Magister SF260M C-130H Hercules HS748 Boeing 727QC Merlin III Falcon 20 Falcon 900 Sea King No Role 72/18 int/attack 31 trng 10 trng/liaison 34 trng 11 trans trans trans/VIP VIP/sur/calib VIP VIP/WIP SAR FORCE NAVALE/ZEEMACHT (NAVY) Alouette III 3 liaison/SAR AVIATION LEGERE DE LA FORCE TERRESTRE/ LICHT VLIEQWEZEN VAN DE LANDMACHT (ARMY AVIATION) The Belgian army aviation component consists of three bat talions (two anti-tank and one liaison), a maintenance site and a school. The school is at Brasschaat, while all other units operate from the Bierset AB near Liege. The Army Aviation School is equipped with Agusta A 109s, Alouette lis and BN-2 Islanders. Type BN-2 Islander Agusta A109HA/H0 Alouette II BELIZE No Role 10 liaison/trng 28/18 anti-tank/scout 32 AOP/trng BELIZE DEFENCE FORCE, AIR WING The Air Wing, formed in 1983 and based at Belize International Airport, operates two BN-2B Defenders in reconnaissance, seareh-and-rescue, casevac, aerial-rcsupply and troop-lift roles. The Air Wing also supports the police in internal-security tasLs (mainly anti-drug and anti-smug gling operations) and can be called upon by the Maritime Wing for SAR duties. FORCE ARMEES POPULAR DU BENIN (AIR ARM) This small air-arm is tailored to transport and liaison duties, and operates more as a military air service with no combat capability. Since 1984, some transport aircraft have been operated jointly with the national airline. Transports Aeriens de Benin. The service is thought to suffer from serviceabili ty problems. Type An-2 Colt An-26 Curl C-47 Dakota Dornier 128-2 Commander 500B AS350B Ecureuil SE3130 Alouette II Kamov Ka-26 No Role 3 trans trans trans trans VIP liaison 1 liaison 1 heavylift/trans FUERZA AEREA BOLIVIANA (AIR FORCE) The air force is equipped with a variety of ageing aircraft, and lacks funds for re-equipment, but Canada's Kelowna Flightcraft was awarded a contract in mid-1997 to upgrade the country's AT-33s. Ten ex-US Army UI I-111 helicopters were acquired in late 1987 and six ex-USAF C-I30A Hercules in mid-1988. lb support Bolivia's anti-drug opera tions, the USA supplied six more UH-1s and two C-l 30s in 1990. Brazil donated 15 T-23 Uirapuru piston trainers to Bolivia. The air force purchased a US Lancair 320 kit-built aircraft for evaluation as a primary trainer. A Basler Turbo- 67 turboprop Dakota was delivered in late 1991. Type AT-33A PC-7 Turbo-Trainer AT-6G Texan SF260C T-23 Uirapuru/Tangara Cessna 152 Cessna 172K/T-41D Lancair 320 No 25+ 22 4 3 12+ 12 3/6 1 C-130A/H/L-1OO-30 Hercules5/2/l F27 Friendship 400M CV-440 Metropolitan Basler Turbo-67 IAI-201 Arava C-212 Aviocar PC-6B Turbo-Porter L-188C Electra Sabreliner 60/65A Learjet 25/35A 5 3(4) 1 1 1 16 1 1/1 1/1 Role COIN/trng COIN/trng COIN (WFU) trng trng trng trng trng trans trans trans trans trans trans trans VIP VIP survey/VIP King Air F90/200/200C 1/1/2 comms Commander 690 2 comms Cessna 402B/404/421B 2/1/1 comms/survey Cessna 185/206/ 19/8/ liaison 210/310 2/1 Bell 212 2 VIP/comms UH-1H Iroquois 19 trans Hughes 500M 0 COIN/liaison SA3158/HB.315 Lama/Gaviao 7/8 SAR/liaison ARMY/NAVY The Bolivian army and navy maintain small air arms, the lat ter to patrol borders formed by rivers and lakes, as the coun try has no coastline. Type C-212 Aviocar King Air 200 Cessna U206G Cessna 402C 0V-10 Bronco BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina The armed forces of the republic are being restructured, with Croat and Muslim forces being brought together. The (joatian Defence Council (TIV'O) operates two Mil Mi-8s. An additional 15 UH-ls are expected to be delivered in 1998, with a further 15 to follow. BOTSWANA DEFENCE FORCE AIR ARM The Air Arm came into existence in 1977 as part of the Army, and much of its activity is in support of ground forces. It has a light attack and border-protection capability-, as well as light-transport aircraft and helicopters. It acquired the first of nine Strike-masters, believed to lie former Kuwait air force aircraft, in 1988. Construction of a purpose-designed air base was begun in late 1994, with die air arm believed to have begun its move to the new site. No 2 1 1 1 1+ Role Army utility Army VIP Navy patrol Navy VIP Army utility Type BAC 167 Strikemaster 83 PC-7 Turbo-Trainer BN-2A Defender CN-235 Skyvan 3M BAe 125-800 Cessna 152 Bell 412 AS350 Ecureuil No Role 6 COIN 7 trng/COIN 10 COIN/patrol 2 trans trans VIP trng trans/VIP trng/comms FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA (AIR FORCE) Brazil has begun to study possible replacements for its Mirage fighters under its FX programme, with the aircraft to enter service by 2005. A US ban of the sale of fighters to Latin America has been lifted, allowing US manufacturers to compete. A request for proposals to upgrade some 50 F- 5s to serve as interim air-defence aircraft is expected to be released this year, with a contract to be awarded in 1998. The air force also has requirements for new advanced-train er and light-transport aircraft. As part of the $1.3 billion SIVAM Amazon-surveillance system being implemented by Raytheon, five t'mbraer F,MB-145s will be fitted with the F.ricsson F.rieye airborne early-warning radar. In addition, 100 upgraded T-29/AT-29 ALX versions of the T-27 Tucano trainer will be acquired as light-attack and advanced-trainer aircraft. Protracted deliveries of the AMX, begun in November 1989, arc to end after 79 aircraft - fewer than originally planned. Brazil is developing its own SCI'-Ol multi-mode radar for the AMX and, possibly, for upgraded F-5s. Ten Mirage llll'.BRs and two 1IIBDR two-seaters were upgrad ed locally, using Dassault-supplied kits, bringing the aircraft up to the same standard as four modernised ex-French IIIEs andtwolIIBs. 38 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 10 - 16 September 1997
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