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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2757.PDF
Directory: world air forces Type SH-2G SuDer Seasprite SA342L Gazelle I EL SALVADOR No 10 12 Role ASW/ASuW attack/ASW I FUERZA AEREA SALVADORENA (AIR FORCE) El Salvador received five ex-Chilean air force T-35Bs in 1999. It requires combat aircraft in the Alpha Jet-class - to replace grounded Ouragans and Magisters - and transports in the CN235/C-27J category. El Salvador has also been linked with a Kfir purchase. Significant amounts of equipment delivered by the USA during El Salvador's long-running civil war are awaiting disposal. Type A-37B Dragonfly C-47/Turbo AC-47 0-2A/337 UH-1H/M Bell 412 CM170 Magister Arava 201 DC-6B Fairchild Merlin 1MB Gulfstream Commander Socata Rallye 235GS T-41D Mescalero Schweizer TH300C T-35B Rockwell RC114 No 9 3/3 16/1 1/6 31/13 •• 3 •• 1 •• 1 •H 8 •• 6 5 1 Role COIN trans/COIN COIN/trng COIN/army sup COIN/trans/SAR trans trans COIN/trng trans VIP/trans trans trans trng trng trng trng GUARDIA NACIONAL (NATIONAL GUARD) Tasked solely with transport duties, the service oper ates a VIP Falcon 900 and an An-32 Cline. A Yak-40 Codling is in storage. ERITREAN AIR FORCE Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, with which it has since disputed border regions. Both sides have suffered heavy losses. Eritrea acquired 10 MiG-29s - flown by Ukrainians and probably acquired from Moldova - in late 1998 to early 1999, but lost five during the fighting. Russia appears to have delivered another two in 2001. Several Su-27s were acquired in 2003 from unknown sources. The Redigos were deliv ered in 1994 and six MB339s - one lost during the fighting in 1998 -were accepted in 1996-7. They have light attack and training roles. The Mi-35 is thought to have been captured from the Ethiopian air force. Type Su-27/UB MiG-29/UB Fulcrum MB339FD Harbin Y-12 Redigo Mi-8/Mi-1 Dornier 228 MI-35 Him ESTONIA .flHBHHBHBBHBHHI EESTI OHU VAGI (ARMY AVIATION) The Estonian air arm was re-established in 1991 after the Baltic state emerged from the Soviet Union. It is equipped with two An-2 Colts used for transport and medevac duties and a W-3A for training. The USA handed over four Robinson R44 helicopters in early 2002, which are also used by the police. The border guard operates two Let L-410s a Schweizer 300 and four Mi-8 transport helicopters. YE ITYOPYA AYER HAYL (AIR FORCE) Ethiopia has been engaged in a long-running border dispute with Eritrea. Russia originally supplied 10 Su-27s and seven more were delivered in 2003. Eritrea claims to have shot down an armed helicopter and around seven MiG-23s, while reports from Addis Ababa reveal that air force pilots recalled to duty for the war have suffered "harassment" because of the loss of 10 aircraft during the war. At least some of the Su-27s were flown by Russians during the conflict. Persistent reports of the delivery of two Ka-50 attack helicopters to Ethiopia have never been substantiated. A programme to upgrade at least a squadron of MiG-21s was launched in early 1998, with Israel's IAI and Elbit submitting separate bids with Russia's MAPO. Elbit won an order in July 1998, but it is unclear whether upgraded aircraft have entered Ethiopian service. The C-130Bs were acquired in 1998. The MiG-17s are prob ably unserviceable. Two Mi-14 ASW helicopters, of lim ited value in a land-locked country, are believed to be operating alongside Mi-8s and Mi-17s in the transport role with their specialised equipment removed. A small army aviation element operates transports. Type No Role Su^7/Si^7y^^^^15/2^int/trnQ^^^^^ MiG-23BN/MiG-23UB 18/4 int/attack/trng MiG-21MF/MiG-21U 30/4 int/attack/trng MiG-17 Fresco 15 attack - ArM2Cub^^^^^^^^^trans^^^^^^ Yak-40 Codling 1 VIP M^4Hin<^^^^^^^^^^attack^^^^^^ Mi-8/17 Hip/Mi-14PL Haze21/2 assault/trans An^2Clin^^^^^^^^^^trans^^^^^^ C-130B Hercules BB trans SA316 Alouette III ^^^20^^trans^^^^^^ SF260TP 12 trng L-39ZO Albatros 15 trng platform - to replace elderly F27s, the first of which is due to retire in 2003. There are also plans to replace the Vinka trainer and the two Piper communications types. The Hawks will be retained in service until 2015, but are to lose their attack/combat support role from 2006. Type F-18CD Hawk 51/Hawk 51A 1-70 Vinka L-90 Redigo F27-100/100/400M Learjet 35A PA-28 Arrow ll/IV PA-31-350 Chieftain No 57/7 46/7 28 9 1/1/1 ••• 4/3 6 Role int/int/trng trng/attack trng/liaison liaison EW/trans/trans VIP/EW trng/TT liaison liaison ARMY DHC-6 Twin Otter Cessna 401 _2 trans trans FIJI MILITARY FORCES Fiji is no longer believed to have an air wing following the sale of a single AS355F-2 Ecureuil helicopter donated by France in 1989. FINLAND IBIBHB^H SUOMEN ILMAVOIMAT (AIR FORCE) The Finnish air force received its last F-18C Hornet in August 2000 and in the same month the last Saab Drakens were retired. Finland has already sought details of an MLU for the F-18s, which would include new weapons capability, JHMCS, IFF and MIDS and the first phase of the upgrade was launched in 2003. It requires three transports in the C-27/C295 class - two possibly with a tanking capability and one as an ELINT SUOMEN MAAVOIMAT (ARMY) The Finnish army's air element was established in January 1997 when the air force's helicopters were transferred. Ageing Mi-8s are close to retirement and will be replaced from 2004 by the NH90 selected as the winner of the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme. The army also seeks up to 20 attack helicopters - AH-64s or Tigers. Type No Role NH90 ^^^^^^^20*utility^^^^^ Mi-8 flHB7 utilityflHBB MD500D 2 trng ARMEE DE L'AIR (AIR FORCE) France has pledged to increase its defence spending in the six years from 2003, reversing the trend set in the late 1990s. The air force remains committed to the Rafale, although its first air-to-surface/air-to-air F2 vari ants will not enter service until 2005, before being declared operational the following year. The Jaguar A will be the first type replaced. The majority of the Rafales will be two-seaters. The defence ministry ordered the next batch of 59 Rafales in 2003, including 57 F2 variants and two aircraft for trials. The delivery of the aircraft, however, was delayed by contractual argu ments between the French ministry of defence and Dassault. Some 500 Scalp EG cruise missiles and 850 Mica air-to-air missiles are also eventually to be pur chased. An upgraded nuclear missile, the ASMP-A, is to be delivered in 2007 for use on the Mirage 2000N, and eventually air force and naval Rafales. While the air force awaits its fourth-generation fighter, it continues to use the Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000 as its principal The French air force is due to receive its first Rafale fighters in 2004 www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 25 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2003 41
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