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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 3260.PDF
VC-25 2 E-3 Sentry 32 E-4 4 E-8 JSTARS 2 EC-18 4 F-4E Phantom II 3 F-15/F-15E Eagle 617 F-16 Fighting Falcon 802 F-22 Raptor 339" F-117 Nighthawk 54 CV-22 Osprey 50* TG-3/4 3/14 TG-7 9 TG-9 4 TG-10 1 TG-11 2 HH-l/UH-1 Iroquois 6/64 TH-53/MH-53 Stallion 6/40 HH-60/MH-60 Pave Hawk 49/10 T-1A Jayhawk 179 T-3 Firefly 110 T-37 Tweet 419 T-38/AT-38 Talon 377/94 T-39 Sabreliner 1 T-43 11 U-2/TU-2 31/4 UV-18 Twin Otter 3 AIR FORCE RESERVE A/OA-10 Thunderbolt 51 B-52H Stratofortress 9 C-130 Hercules 140 C-141B Starlifter 48 C-5A Galaxy 32 F-16 Fighting Falcon 71 H-60 Black Hawk 23 KC-135E/R Stratotanker 72 AIR NATIONAL GUARD A-10 Thunderbolt II 100 BIB Lancer 17 C-5 Galaxy 13 C-130 Hercules 246 C-141 Starlifter 18 C-20 (Gulfstream ll/lll) 13 C-21 (Learjet) 4 C-22 (727) 3 C-26 (Merlin) 16 F-15 Eagle 116 F-16 Fighting Falcon 607 H-60 Black Hawk 17 KC-135 Stratotanker 224 *order/requirement VIP/comms AEW command post surveillance recce/surv test fighter/attack fighter/attack fighter attack spops recce/surv trng recce/surv trng trng missile support SAR/Spec Ops SAR/Spec Ops trng tmg trng trng trng trng recce/trng para trng CAS bomber transport transport transport fighter attack sp ops/SAR tanker CAS bomber transport transport transport comms comms comms comms fighter interceptor sp ops/SAR tanker US ARMY The West's largest helicopter operator, with more than 5,000 machines, the US Army also operates some 260 fixed-wing aircraft. The rotary-wing fleet includes about 2,100 combat helicopters of five different types: the OH-58A/C Kiowa scouts; the AH-6J and MH-6J Little Bird special operations helicopters, the AH-lS Cobra and OI1-581) Kiowa Warrior light attack/armed reconnaissance helicopters, and the AH- 64D Apache attack helicopter. Two other special operations helicopter types, the All I- 47F Chinook and the MII-60K Black I lawkarcalso fielded. Delivery of the UH-60L is continuing, anil the TJ I-67A ('seek is used ior initial rotary-wing training. The Army is modifying 232 AH-64As to the AH-641) I A ingbow Apache configuration and another 529 will become AH-64( A, with provisions for the Longbow fire control radar. Remanufacttiring peaks at four aircraft per month."Hie first AH-641) a nnbat battalk in is being formed at Fort 1 lood, Texas. A second major aircraft modernisation programme involves the CH-471) Chinook heavy-lift cargo helicopter. Boeing Helicopters could earn as much as S3 billion if 300 Chinooks are rcinanufactured as part of the Improved Cargo Helicopter (ICH) project. The Chinook will get an engine upgrade, airframe strengthening and a partial digital glass cockpit. First flight of an ICH prototype is set for April 2001. Boeing is to deliver the first production ICH Chinooks in 2002. They will stay in service until at least 2020 when the Joint Transport Rotorcraft is to be fielded. The plan is to modify 26 CI l-47Ds a year through 2013. The AII-6J/MH-6J, meanwhile, will be further upgraded by Boeing under the Mission Knhanced Little Bird (Ml I.B) programme. They will conduct clandestine missions until replaced by the RW-X rotorcraft in the 2015-18 timeframe. The MF.LB combines the six-bladed rotor system of the MD600 with a four-bladed tail rotor. The first YRAH-66 Comanche prototype continues to expand its performance envelope in flight tests. The second aircralt with the mission equipment package (MF.P) will fly in 2000. The US Army plans to build 1,292 RAH-66s. Aside from the two prototypes, the US Army will build six "early operational capability" aircraft from 2003 for early field trials followed by eight aircraft which will be delivered for opera tional evaluation trials in 2004 and 2005. Type No Role ACTIVE ARMY AH-64A/D Apache 499/49 anti-tank/attack AH-1E/F/G/P/S Cobra 86 anti-tank OH-58A/C Kiowa 253 scout/FAC 0H-58D Kiowa 335 scout AH-6J/MH-6J 20/20 sp ops UH-60A/L Black Hawk 924 utility EH-60A Black Hawk 59 tactical ECM MH-60K/L Black Hawk' 23/37 sp ops MH-47D/E Chinook 11/25 spops UH-1H/V Iroquois 360 utility CH-47D Chinook 226 medium lift TH-67 Creek 137 trng C-12 Huron 47 comms C-23 Sherpa 7 trans RC-12 Guardrail 47 SIGINT RC-7 (Dash 7) 13 IN0T C-31 (F27 Friendship) 2 trans UC-35 (Citation V) 3 trans UV-18A Twin Otter 6 trans C-26 Metro 11 trans UV-20 Chiricahua 2 trans NATIONAL GUARD AND ARMY RESERVE C-12 Huron 67 comms C-20 (Gulfstream ll/lll/IV) 2 comms C-21 (Learjet) 1 comms C-23 Sherpa 12 trans RC-12 Huron 3 SIGINT AH-1E/F/G/P/S Cobra 406 anti-tank AH-64A Apache 184 anti-tank CH-47 Chinook 183 heavylift 0H-58A/C Kiowa 292 obs 0H-58D Kiowa Warrior 15 obs UH-1H/V Iroquois 839 utility UH-60A/L Black Hawk 441 medium lift EH-60A Black Hawk 5 tactical ECM US NAVY The USN maintains 12 aircraft carriers (11 active and one operational reserve) and their tactical aviation assets, which include 10 active-duty air wings and one reserve wing. Each air wing generally consistsof 76 fixed-wing aircraft andahalf- dozen helicopters. The nuclear-powered Nimitz class carrier will remain at the heart of the USAs power-projection capa bilities until the CVX-78 arrives after the turn of the century. The final Nimitz-class carrier, the CVN-77, will act as a tran sition ship to the next-generation large-deck, nuclear-pow ered CVX, which will carry 75 tactical aircraft and incorporate a new design nuclear propulsion plant and elec tric power system. The first CVX would enterservice in 2013. Procurement of the CVN-77 has been accelerated by one year to save money. The USN is proceeding with procurement of the I7A- I8E/F Super Hornet, an upgrade to the currently fielded C/l) version. The single-scat E and two-seat F models have greater range and payload, more powerful engines and provi sions for advanced avionics and weapons systems. The 17A- I8E/F made its first flight in November 1995 and initial operational capability is scheduled for 2001. The USN plans to buy a minimum of 545 Super Hornets. All A-6E Intruders have been retired and to help compensate for the Intruder's retirement, the F-14 Tomcat fighter has been given a limited ground-attack capability. The USN is modernising EA-6Bs and upgradingand procuring new F.-2CHawkeyes,tocnable them to extend their capability and service life until a replace- mcntaircraftisdevclopedinthenextcentury.All 121 lawkeye Squadrons arc equipped with E-2Cs. There are over 30 heli copter Squadrons in the L'SX, with UH-Is, SII-2s, SH-3s, CH-46s, and SH-60Bs. plus three mine-countermeasures squadrons operating the R1I-53I). The latter are being replaced by the MI 1-53E. F'ivc transport Squadrons provide worldwide fleet support, including carrier onboard deliver)'. Naval Air Training Command has 20 Squadrons in six wings operating T-45As, T-34Cs, T-44As, T-2Cs and TA- 4Js. T-39Ns are used to train radar operators. The USN is procuring the'l*-6A Texan II trainer, and T-45Adcliveries are under way for fast-jet training. The USN Reserve operates a large fleet of fixed- and rotary-wing types. US MARINE CORPS (USMC) The active-duty Marine aviation arm is divided into three Marine Air Wings (MAWs), which support ground forces- Although the exact composition of each wing varies, the aver age size is about 160 fixed-wing aircraft and 15 5 helicopters. Marine Fighter/Attack Squadrons fly the F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18A/B/C/D are utilised for close air support and anti-air warfare missions. The two seat F/A-18D also pro vides forward air control and reconnaissance support to the ground combat element. The USMC is receiving the latest night-attack-capable Harrier variant, which is equipped with the Raytheon AP( J-65 radar, and has plans to modify 72 of its older day-attack aircraft into the new radar configuration. The Marine Corps' electronic warfare assets are in four Squadrons, each possessing five EA-6B Prowlers. KC-130 Hercules are divided among three tanker/transport Squadrons with each Marine Air Wing having one KC-130 Squadron assigned. The Marine helicopter force consists ol heavy (HMH), medium (HALM) and light-attack (1IMLA) 98 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 2 - 8 December 1998
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