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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2812.PDF
Directory: world air forces corroboration. Tanzania's long coastline means that transports are also used for patrol flights and a dedicat ed type will be procured if funds can be made avail able. A police air wing has a Cessna U206, two Bell 206L LongRangers and a Bell 47G-3B2. Type MiG-29 F-7A (MiG-21) F-6 (MiG-19) F-5(MiG-17) DHC-5D Buffalo Y-12 (II) Beech A100 Cessna 402/Cessna 404 F28 Fellowship 1000 MiG-15UTI No 6 •• 10 •• BIH 1 1/2 2 ••i 2 •• Role int int int attack/int trans trans (wfu?) comms comms/comms VIP trans trng KONGTAP AGARD THAI (ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE) Asia's economic woes hit the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) hard and it was forced to cancel an order for eight F/A-18C/D Hornets placed in 1996. In 2000, it suc ceeded in agreeing a deal for 16 ex-USAF F-16A/B ADFs, partially financed by swapping a large F/A-18 spares holding. An initial five aircraft were delivered in August 2002 and the remainder arrived by July 2003. The Thai air force would like to upgrade its other F-16s, but funding has not been secured. In 1999, the RTAF signed for 25 ex-German air force Alpha Jets. These machines have been in storage since the early 1990s and are in poor condition. While the airframes were cheap, around $27,000 each, the reconditioning work was not, costing 50 to 60 times this amount. EADS refurbished the 20 aircraft, which are replacing ageing GV-10Cs and AU-23s. The first jets were handed over in September 2000. German Alpha Jets were configured as light strike aircraft rather than trainers. In May 2000, Elbit re-won a $66 million deal to modify 31 F-5Es. The upgrade includes the Python 4 AAM, Elbit mission com puter, new ECM, RWR and improved IFF. In September 2000 the government said it planned to "form a commit tee" to select a supplier of six secondhand C-130s. Plans for AEW, and tanker aircraft are in abeyance. Two Super Pumas were for sale after a third aircraft was involved in a fatal crash in September 1997, but in 2001 it was decided to refurbish the aircraft and return them to the air. IAI was selected in August 2001 to upgrade 19 UH-1s with new avionics to keep them in service until at least 2010. Modernisation of the pilot- training syllabus means PC-9s have assumed part of the Fantrainer's role - the latter is now used for light attack and weapons-training duties only. Type No Role F-16A/B Block15 F-5A/B/RF-5A AlphaJet^ PC-9 46/8 3/4/1 19* 23 Cessna T-41D Mescalero 6 AU-23 Peacemaker G222 HS748-208 737-400 Merlin IVA Bell 412/HP/EP Bell 206 Fantrainer 400/600 AS332L2 Super Puma 22 6 6 1 3 2/3/4 6 30 2 int/trna int/trnq/recce COIN tma. liaison COIN trans transA/IP VIP/roval fit comms trans/SARA/IP trng tny^^ trans KONGBIN THA HAN LUR THAI (ROYAL THAI NAVY AIR ARM) The Thai navy has small fixed-wing combat and long- range patrol fleets, as well as helicopters which operate from three classes of guided missile frigates. In August 2001, the navy ordered two Super Lynx 300s in a $35 million deal. The Harriers were purchased from Spain in 1997 and can be deployed at sea on the aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet. Ex-Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS2s are being considered as additions to the air group. Chakri Naruebet's air wing also includes Seahawks delivered in 1997. The ship is Spanish-built and launched in 1996. It has a 175m-long flightdeck with a 12° ramp. Some of the Bell 214STs are for sale. Refurbished ex-USN A-7 Corsairs are also a relatively new addition. Type No Role A-7E/TA-7E Corsair P-3A/UP-3T F27-200MPA/F27-400M CL215 S-70B-7 Seahawk Bell 212ASW S-76N Summit Sentrv 02-337 U-17B 14/4 2/1 3/2 2 6 6 5 11 4 attack/attack ASW/MR MR/trans MR ASW ASW trans attack marines liaison KONGBIN THA HAN BO (ROYAL THAI ARMY AIR DIVISION) Like Thailand's two other armed services, the army has been hit by the country's economic collapse. A compe tition for up to 36 transport helicopters - either Bell 412s or S-70 Black Hawks - to equip an air mobility brigade was settled by acquiring 30 ex-US UH-1Hs: US Helicopter was selected in August 2002 to overhaul the machines for delivery to Thailand by November 2003. Two UH-60Ls were, however, ordered in May 2001 and a third seven months later. The army has also stated an intention in 2002 to order 22 more UH-60Ls but this was cut to nine in 2003. A planned attack helicopter squadron has been formed around a nucleus of AH-1 Cobras delivered in 1990. Procurements to simplify the light transport and trainer/observation aircraft fleets are on hold. Type No Role AH-1 F Cobra Bell 206A JetRanqer Jetstream 41 C212-300 UH-1H/UH-1H KinqAi^OO Cessna U-17 Maule Super Rocket 3 10 2 2 68/30* 2 5 18 attack obs trans trans trans/trans comms comms ^tmo^ FORCE AERIENNE TOGOLAISE (AIR FORCE) A former French colony, Togo continues to rely on France for its aircrew training. France has also supplied most of its fleet. Type Alpha Jet EMB326G Xavante TB30 Epsilon King Air DHC-5D Buffalo 707-320B F28 Fellowship 3000 Reims-Cessna F337 No 4 m 3 2 1 ••• 1 •m Role attack attack/trng COIN/trng trans VIP/trans VIP/trans comms SA318B Lama II SA319 Alouette III AS332 Super Puma 3 ••• 1 VIP TONGA DEFENCE SERVICES AIR WING On 4 May, 1996, the Tonga Defence Services (TDS) established a new air wing operating a single Beech G18S for reconnaissance and SAR operations around the South Pacific archipelago. In 1999, an American Champion Citabria was acquired for training. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DEFENCE FORCE AIR WING Trinidad and Tobago's Air Wing has been an indepen dent element of the tri-service defence force since 1977. Its fixed-wing fleet includes single examples of the Cessna 172, Cessna 310 and Cessna 402, as well as two Piper Navajo Chieftains. Two S-76s and three BO105CBS are operated by a state-owned company, Helicopter Services, which leases the helicopters to individuals and companies, helping reduce the overall cost of running the air wing. AL QUWWAT AL JAWWIYA AL JAMAHIRIYAH AT- TUNISIA (REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA AIR FORCE) Tunisia's modest air force is reliant on F-5E/F Tigers and a mixture of armed trainers for its combat needs. The Czech-built L-59Ts are the newest combat aircraft, having been delivered in 1995. They have training and light attack roles. New aircraft have eased the burden on the elderly MB326s, the oldest of which were received in the mid-1960s. MB326Ks are single-seaters optimised for ground attack. The ex-USAF C-130s were acquired in 1995, 1999 and 2002 as military aid from the USA, along with a dozen UH-1Hs and three HH-3s. The Let L-410 light transports were also delivered in 1995. Italy donated five G222s in 2000 and offered another two in 2002. Type No Role F-5E/F-5F MB326B/K/L C-130B/E/H S208A L-410UVPTurbolet SA341 Gazelle AS350B Ecureuil SA316 Alouette III TURKEY 12/3 4/8/4 8/1/2 2 3 5 6 5 int/attack/trnq attack/COIN/ trans/trans/trans liaison trans anti-tank/liaison liaison liaison TURK HAVA KUVVETLERI (AIR FORCE) The collapse of the Turkish lira in March 2001 has severely hampered the country's defence acquisition programmes, but a recovery in the economy in the third quarter of 2003 led to a revival of defence spending plans. Plans to acquire 737AEW&C platforms from Boeing were revived in June 2002 when a contract was signed. Procurement of 50 AH-1Z attack helicopters and possibly Ka-50s also looked like being back on track. Production of 240 locally built F-16s was con cluded in 2000, bringing to an end project Peace Oryx, a joint venture between the Turkish government and Lockheed Martin. To support the F-16s in the frontline, Turkey has contracted IAI to upgrade 54 of its F-4E Phantoms, and, in a separate deal, 48 F-5s which are used as lead-in fighters/trainers. The first upgraded F-4/2020 was redelivered in March 1999; 34 aircraft will be upgraded in Israel with the rest modified in Turkey using lAI-supplied kits. RF-4Es are to be equipped with El-Op LOROP systems, which will allow the air force to retire wet-film reconnaissance systems. IAI is teamed with Elbit and Singapore Aerospace to upgrade the 48 F-5A/Bs, including cockpit display, navigation and weapon system changes. The work will be carried out 64 25 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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