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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2376.PDF
Directory: >st»»is4 •*:•• Russian inventory, the Su-33 (a navalised Su-27). Twenty-four of the aircraft are embarked on the recent ly refitted carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which is based at the port of Severomorsk. All fleets have extensive land- based support, with around 330 fixed-wing aircraft and 400 helicopters. In 2002 the navy approved a restart of work on the A-40 anti-submarine amphibian. Type Active Stored Order/Req TU-22M/MR Tu-16 Su-22 Su-25 SU-27/U/33/KUB Su-24/MR MiG-29 65/30 55 52/20 127 47 130 35 ••••••••• ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION MM4PL/BT/PS 60 Be-12 II-38 Tu-142/MR An-12 II-20RT 12 35 14 58 7 3 An-24 An-26 Tu-134 Tu-154 Yak-40 An-2 10 19 3 2 12 18 COMBAT HELICOPTER Ka-29 30 Mi-8/17 Ka-25PL/PS/T Ka-27PL/PS 35 65 85 TRANSPORT HEL 9 TRAINING AIRCRAFT Su-25UB/UTG 5 BORDER GUARDS AVIATION The border guard service operates around 200 Ka-27, Mi-8, Mi-24 and Mi-26 helicopters for frontier surveil lance and troop-transport roles, and the SM92 surveil lance aircraft. Also in service are around 70 An-24, An- 26, An-72, II-76, Tu-134 and Yak-40 transports. SPACE AND ROCKET FORCES AVIATION The recently merged space force (Kosmichesky Sily) and strategic rocket forces have transport aircraft and helicopters dedicated to support. BIVI7MKJ!ZJ FORCE AERIENNE RWANDAISE (AIR FORCE) Rwanda is recovering from a long and bitter ethnic and political civil war which came to a head in July 1994. Subsequently the Rwandan army pursued the forces of the former regime into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Operational activity Offensive operations against rebel forces on the DRC border continue with some use of offensive air support. Procurement All aircraft of the old regime were destroyed during the civil war. Rwanda then acquired its current fleet of heli copters from Russia. An order for an additional 12 Mi- 24s was placed in July 2004. Fleet review Two Mi-24s were sent for overhaul in Ukraine in early 2004, with this also including in the installation of GPS navigation equipment. Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT HELICOPTER Mi-24 ' 4 Mi-8MTV . 3-5_ Mi-17 AS355F SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia allowed US and British aircraft to operate from its bases during Operation "Iraqi Fredom" in March and April 2003. It also re-deployed F-15S Eagle aircraft to the north of the country to deter Iraqi counter-strikes. The USA and UK have since withdrawn their air forces from the kingdom but retain large training missions. Operational activity The air force has not been involved in ongoing counter- insurgency operations against Islamic rebels, with this task falling mainly to police and government helicopter units. KV-107IIA helicopters airlifted a special forces team into action against militants who had seized hostages in Dhrahan in May 2004. Procurement The largest single air force procurement is expected to be the replacement of the F-5 feet, with F-16s and Eurofighter Typhoons as possible candidates. But eco nomic problems continue to plague procurement efforts. The first of two ELINT-gathering RE-3As were deliv ered in early 2004, converted from KE-3A tankers by Raytheon. Some 20 Super Mushshak trainers were to be deliv ered from August 2004 to replace the Cessna 172s. A mid-life upgrade or sustainment effort for the Tornado interdiction fleet, similar to the RAF's GR4 programme is also a possible future extension to the Al Yamamah deal. The establishment of an in-country deep depot maintenance facility for the Tornado fleet by BAE Systems and the Saudi-owned Alsalam Aircraft Company has added to speculation that an upgrade is rising up the agenda. This site could also be used for work on Apache helicopters and C-130 transports. The army is understood to be discussing upgrades to its AH-64 Apache fleet to the D standard, and poten tially additional aircraft. The navy is looking to buy up to 10 helicopters of the NH90 class to operate from its frigates, with a decision due in 2005. Four 747s of the Royal Flight are to receive BAE's Nemesis defensive aids system. Fleet review The air force's F-5 fleet has largely been grounded since early 2004. AL QUWWAT AL JAWWIYA AL MALAKIYA AS SA'UDIYA (ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE/RSAF) Type Active Stored Order/Req F-15C/D/S "1. Tornado ADV/IDS 22/84 iftH7m;ii ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION RE-3A TANKER KC-130H Hercules KE-3A TRANSPORT C-130E/H/H-30/L-100 VC-130H BAe 125-800 Learjet 25/35A 2 6 9/29/2/3 JMMHMM 4/2 4 1/1 AB205 Bell412TP/AB412TP 5 16 AS532A2 Couqar Mkll 12 AS61A 3 TRAINING AIRCRAFT PC-9 Cessna 172G/H/M Super Mushshak 17/16 45 13 20 ROYAL FLIGHT Type TRANSPORT A340-200 707-120/707-320 Active Stored Order/Req 1/2 TriStar GOVERNMENT Type TRANSPORT Gulfstream lll/IVA/ Learjet L100-30 757-200 HELICOPTERS SA365N 2 Active Stored 2/1/2 1 5 1 ^^^^^™ 6 Order/Req ROYAL SAUDI NAVY Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT HELICOPTER AS532AL Cougar 12 ROYAL SAUDI LAND FORCES Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT HELICOPTER OH-58D UH-60 13 747SP/747-361 737-700 MD-11 3/1 1 ••MMM^BMBBH ARMEE DE LAIR SENEGAL (AIR FORCE) The western African country has strong defence ties with France, the USA and the UK but its poor economy has limited the development of its armed forces. Operational activity A truce with rebels in the south of the county has meant the armed forces have returned to peacetime garrison duties. French troops have a training mission based in the country. Procurement No major procurements are planned. Fleet review Senegal's small air force has a limited combat capabili ty through its elderly Magisters and armed Rallye train ers. The equally old F27s are the mainstay of the trans port fleet. Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT AIRCRAFT CM170 Magister 5 ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION DHC-6 Twin Otter 300MR 1 TRANSPORT F27-400M Friendship 2 Cessna 175 1 BN-2T Islander 1 727-2M1 1 COMBAT HELICOPTER SA318CAIouettelll 1 SA341 Gazelle 1 TRAINING AIRCRAFT Rallye 160ST 2 Rallye 235A Guerrier 3 SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO Europe's newest country came into existence in February 2003 with the dissolution of the old Yugoslav federation. The former Yugoslavia federal air force suffered heavily at the hands of NATO during the 79-day Operation Allied Force air campaign in March-June 1999. Operational activity Aviation activity is limited because a lack of funding for fuel. Helicopters are used to support troops patrolling the boundary with Kosovo but a NATO air exclusion zone prevents them operating close to the boundary. Belgrade is pressing for more air space to be freed up for its use. Procurement The country's state-owned aviation industry is trying to restart its export trade and recently unveiled a new design of UAV but it seems unlikely that the air force has it in service. Negotiations are underway with Russia to overhaul one An-24, one Yak-40, two Mi-24s and two Mi-17s. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 16-22 NOVEMBER 2004 83
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