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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 3245.PDF
MiG-23MF/UM Flogger 36/5 int/trng MiG-21PFM/M/MF/bis/UM/US Fishbed 20/18/70/32/36 MiG-21R/RF Fishbed SU-22M4/UM3 Fitter An-26 Curl An-28 Cash Tu-134 Crusty Tu-154M Careless Yak-40 Codling Mi-8 Hip Bell412HP Mi-2 Hoplite An-2 Colt TS-11 Iskra W-3 Sokol M-93 Iryda PZL-130Turbo-Orlik int/FGA/trng 12 recon/int/attack 99/15 rec/attack/trng 10 trans 2 trans 2 VIP/comms 2 VIP 13 VIP/comms 5 trans 1 trans 35 trans/trng 32 trans 183 trng/attack 7 trng 17" trng/attack 29" trng ••delivery in progress, total requirement 48 POLSKA LOTNICTWO MARYNARKI WOJENNEJ (NAVAL AIR ARM) The land-based Polish naval air arm has a fixed wing air defence and ground attack capability as well as transport and SAR duties tailored for the confined waters of the Baltic. Number 1 Air Squadron, 42 Technical Squadron and 3 Support Battalion are based at Gdynia-Babie Doly. The air Squadron is split into four flights. A and B flights operate the MiG-21bis, the two seat MiG-21UM and someTS-1 Is. C flight operates W-3RM Anakonda helicopters for SAR and W-3 Sokol and An-28 for transport and utility duties. Darlowo is home to 2 Air Squadron and 4 Support Battalion. The air squadron is equipped with M1-14PL Haze anti submarine helicopters as well as the Mi-MPS and Mi-2RM SAR rotorcraft. The navy's third air station is at Siemirowice where 3 Air Squadron and 5 Support Battalion are based. The airSquadron iscquipped with trainer and reconnaissance ver sions of the TS-11 Iskra as well as An-28RM which are equipped for SAR patrol, and An-2 transports. Iechnieal' Squadrons perform maintenance and overhaul while the sup port battalions arc responsible for logistics, communications and flight safety. The Mi-14PL received an upgrade in 1995/7 which concentrated on improving the type's submarine detection capabilities. Simultaneously with die Mi-14PL die SAR Mi- 14PS received GPS navigation equipment and new radios. Further changes are planned, including refinement of the magnetic systems of the ASW type and the IFF' on both types. If the Polish forces accept large numbers of the PZLI- 22 Irydas, the navy will use diem as a trainer. Type No Role MiG-21bis/UM Fishbed TS-ll/R Iskra An-28/RM Clod An-2 Colt Mi-14 PL/PS Haze Mi-2RM Hoplite 22/5 12/6 3/2 5 10/3 6 W-3 Sokol/W-3RM Anakonda4/2 int/attack/tmg trng/recon trans/SAR trans ASW/SAR trans trans/SAR POLSKA LOTNICTWO WOJSK LADOWYCH (ARMY AIR FORCE) Poland's army aviation was created after the Warsaw Pact dis integrated. Some units have been established under air force control and direction before transfer to the army. F.ighteen of die Mi-24 Hinds were acquired from (iennany after reunifi cation. Hinds are operated by two units: 49th combat heli copter regiment at Pruszcz Gdanski and 56th combat heli copter regiment at Inowroclaw. Both units also operate Mi-2 in the armed scout role. In 1998 the air force transferred its single W-3 Sokol unit, 47 helicopter school at Nowe Miasto, to the army, which has renamed it 3 regiment and transferred it to Radom. It is one of the three subordinate units to the Polish army's biggest aviation unit, 25 .Air Cavalry Division, which w ill expand to operate around 150 helicopters, 100 of them armed W-3s. A single Mi-8/17 assault transport Squadron, 1 regiment, and another W-3 Sokol scout heli copter unit, 2 regiment, are subordinate to the 2 5 Air Cavalry Division. Both these unitsalso have been transferred from the air force. Arming the W-3s widi die Israeli NT-D anti-tank missile has been plagued widi difficulties while avionics and sensors systems remain unselected. Type No Role Mi-24D/V Hind Mi-8/17 Hip N*2/URPAJRNHopiite W-3W Sokol 32/15 attack 35/3 trans 32/34/18 trans/attak/cmbsup 16 anti-tank LilL vm FORCA AEREA PORTUGUESA (AIR FORCE) Portugal received 20 new build F-I6A/Bs in 1994/6. These aircraft have features of the Block 15 Operational Capability Upgrade variant and the USAF's F-16ADF which makes the aircraft compatible with the A1.V1-7 Sparrow beyond visual range air-to-air missile as well as die short range, IR-guided A1M-9L Sidewinder. FAP now wants to purchase 25-40 secondhand USAF F-16A/Bs to bolster its fleet. It was suggested in late 1997 that the Portuguese would receive the ai rcra ft for no charge, leaving die air force with the funds to modify the aircraft under the European Midlife Upgrade. The Portuguese air force's other major procure ment programme is for up to 12 SAR helicopters, with the competition between the Cougar, F.I 1101 and the SH-60 Seahawk. Recent additions to the fleet include ex-Luftwaffe Alpha Jets which replaced a multitude of types including Fiat G91sandT-38s. The air force chain of command consists of five Grupo Operacional which each control a single airbase and its sta tioned units. The F-16s and A-7s arc part of Grupo Operacional 51 at Monte Real: Number 12 at Sintra has four constituent Squadrons which operate C212s, Cessna FTB3 37s and the basic training wing which operates a num ber of gliders and light aircraft, including six Chipmunks which have been taken out of storage, refurbished and re- engined widi 135kW Lycoming engines. Advanced training and light attack duties are performed by Grupo Operacional 111 at Beja, which has four squadrons equipped with Fpsilons, Alphajets and Alouette Ills. Grupo Operacional 41 operates a single squadron with C212 transports and Pumas, while the larger 61 unit at Montijo has four squadrons, one which operates the Hercules, one widi die Falcon business jets, a Puma unit and the P-3 Orion Squadron. Type No Role F-16A/B Fighting Falcon A-7P/TA-7P Alpha Jet A TB30 Epsilon Cessna FTB337G (212WlXOt*ca: C-130H/H-30 Hercules P-3P Orion 17/3 28/3 50 20 12 23/2 3/3 5 ADF int/attack int/attack trng comms/army »5*ajyS*vKMffi trans/SAR MP/ASW/SAR Falcon 20/50 SA316B Alouette III SA330C Puma DHC-1 Chipmunk 1/3 20 10 6 VIP/trans/calib utility/trans SAR/trans trng/flt scr MARINHA (NAVY AVIATION) Portugal's navy regained an aviation element in 1993 when its Esquadrilha de Hclicoptcrosde Marinha - or naval helicopter flight - was formed to operate the five Super Lynx Mk95s. They arc shore based at the air force's Montijo airbase and deploy at sea aboard the navy's Vasco da Gama guided missile frigates. Two other classes of frigates and a fleet replenish ment vessel also have platforms. The navy requires eight heli copters so expects to place a further order in the future. WM1 QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE Qatar took delivery of 12 Mirage 2000-5s in 1997/8. Thereafter it sold its remaining Mirage Fls to Spain, which had previously taken delivery of seven aircraft from Qatar. This raised funds to partially pay tor the Mirage 2000-5s which unlike earlier membersof the-5 family are qualified for ground attack as well as air defence roles. The type is operat ed by 7 Squadron at AI Ghariyeh. This unit forms I Fighter Wing at this base along with 11 Squadron which operates Alpha Jets. All other units arc based at Doha International Airport, including the large VIP fleet and 2 Rotary Wing which consists of Gazelle operator 6 Squadron, 8 Squadron widi ship-strike Commando Mk 3s and 9 Squadron with Commando Mk 2s for patrol and transport. Type No Role Mirage 2000-5EDA/DDA Alpha Jet SeOvGGeH*! Commando Mk3/2A A340-200 707-320 727-200 747SP Falcon 900 Hawk 100 *on order 9/3 6 12 8/4 1 1 1 1 1 18" int/attack/trng attack aU&tycBsaJ/cffrms ASuW/trans VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP trng AIR FORCE AND AIR DEFENCE STAFF Romania's air force operates local licence built helicopters, indigenous types and improvement projects. The latter include the Lancer upgrade programme for its 110 fleet MiG- 2 Is: 25 will be air defence optimised, 75 for ground attack and the remaining 10 trainers. By mid-1998 around 50 modified aircraft had been delivered by the Aerostar/Elbit team. The upgrade includes new a weapon system, navigation system and cockpit, including hands-on-throttlc-and-stick controls and a IIUD. It also includes an F.I TA radar, the El ./M-2001 - B in the ground attack and trainer aircraft and the EL/M- 2032 in the air defenders. The aircraft is compatible with the Israeli Python 3 short range AAM as well the Russian R- 73/AA-l 1 Archer AAM. Lancersare to remain in service until 2010. This programme provides some buffer for the air force as it seeks funds for around 12 multi-role fighters for service entry by 2001, with a desire for further deliveries by 2004. Israel and Romania are also working on a programme to mod ify 24 of its licence-built Pumas as anti-tank aircraft with die so-called SOCAT upgrade, which includes electro-optical sensors, a nose-mounted 20mm turreted cannon, integration FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 2 - 8 December 1998 83
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