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Aviation History
1973
1973 - 2014.PDF
FLIGHT International, 26 July 1973 157 WORLD'S AIR FORCES assistance, the South Yemen operates a Coin force of four BAC Strike- masters and four Jet Provost T.52s operates alongside six Westland Sioux, four C47s and six Beavers. SOVIET UNION Soviet Military Aviation Forces The number of Soviet strategic missiles has surpassed that of the US although the Soviets' advantage is only in vehicles and not in deliverable warheads—a field in which the US, with its multiple in dependently targetable vehicles, is ahead. Operated by the Strategic Bocket Forces are some 1,618 ICBMs comprising some 210 SS-7 Saddler and SS-8* Sasin missiles, a thousand SS-lls and 290 liquid-fuelled SS-9 Scarps, a number of the last-named being committed to FOBS (Fractional Orbital Bombardment System). MBBMs total 700 Sandals and Skeans, 70 deployed against Chinese targets and the rest against Western Europe. With respect to the long-range bomber force, the Soviet Union main tains a smaller number than does the US, but the potential could become considerably more when the nejw variable - geometry Backfire bomber enters service in the near future. At least 12 of these new bombers are flying. Current equipment totals 110 Tu-95s, 90 Mya-4s, of which 50 are tankers, 500 Tu-16s Badgers and 200 Tu-22s Blinders, about half of which carry ASMs. Air Defence Command has some 10,000 SAMs and around Moscow there are 64 Galosh ABM launchers. An inter- cepter force of 3,200 aircraft is tied in with the missile elements to an exten sive early-warning radar system. Opera tional types include large numbers of MiG-19s, MiG-21s and Su-9s with a few remaining MiG-17s. Newer aircraft in clude Yak-28Ps, Tu-28s, Su-lls and an increasing number of MiG-25s. Taking a leaf out of America's Awacs book, an AEW version of the Tu-114 is opera tional and code-named Moss. The Tactical Air Force with about 4,300 aircraft flies MiG-21MFs, Yak-28 fighter and fighter- bombers, Su-7s and still a considerable number of obsolete MiG-17s, -19s and Il-28s. The large transport force has 1,700 aircraft, in which the An-12 pre dominates, the remainder comprising Il-14s, An-24s, Tl-18s and ten An-22s. Of a total helicopter inventory of 1,750, about 800 are of the Mi-6, Mi-8 and Mi-10 medium- and heavy-lift types, with the large Mi-12 expected to become opera tional shortly. There are numerous liaison and communications aircraft and the training inventory is extensive with Yak-18s, MiG-15UTIs, MiG-21UTIs, Su- 7UTIs and L-29s, the last-named type due for replacement by the newer L-39. Soviet Navy A total of 56 missile- equipped submarines with 560 missiles is operational with more due to be added to the fleet. In addition the Navy has two helicopter carriers with 20 Ka-25 ASW helicopters each. Of greater significance are Russia's first two con ventional aircraft carriers, currently being built. Shore-based aircraft are de ployed with the Arctic, Baltic, Black Sea and Far East Fleets and number 300 Tu-16s with one Kipper or two Kelt ASMs, 60 Tu-22 strike reconnaissance aircraft, 100 Tu-16 reconnaissance and tanker aircraft, 50 Tu-95 long-range recce bombers and 40 torpedo-equipped Il-28s. For maritime reconnaissance, about 100 Il-38s have been converted from the civil 11-18 and have been in service since 1970. Russia is one of the few countries to continue to operate flying boats in the shape of 80 Be-12s. Two hundred Mi-4 and Ka-25 helicopters fly on ASW duties. SPAIN Ejercito del Aire After many years with comparatively obsolete front-line aircraft, the Spanish Air Force has benefited considerably from a defence treaty between Spain and the United States and currently operates much modern equipment. In the intercepter role and doubling as fighter-bombers are 24 Mirage IIIEEs and six HIDE two- seaters in two squadrons, the one squadron of 21 F-104G Starfighters being returned to the US in May 1972. The order for 21 Mirage F.ls placed in March last year appears to have been reduced to 15 aircraft due to financial difficulties. A further 18 F.ls are on option. Two fighter-bomber squadrons with 36 F-4C(S) Phantoms are opera tional and the 36 Casa-built SF-5As and 34 -5Bs are divided into one squadron of SF-5A fighter-bombers, one squadron of reconnaissance of RF-5As and two squadrons of F-5B fighter-bombers. In addition there are approximately 50 HA.200 Saeta fighter-bombers in two squadrons and another squadron with the improved HA.220 Supersaeta totall ing 25 aircraft. Maritime aircraft num ber seven HU-16B Albatross amphibians in one squadron to be replaced this year by three P-3 Orions. For SAB there are a few HU-16As, Casa C-127s and some AB.205 and 206 helicopters. A further recent acquisition by the force Top, South African AF Super Frelon, below, a Beriev Be-6 of the Soviet Navy and bottom, Russian An-12s is a squadron of three KC-97L tanker aircraft for use in connection with Phantom operations. Transports number 12 DHC Caribou in one squadron, with another unit comprising six C-130s due to be phased into service this year. There are also two squadrons of C-54s, one squadron of Azors (total of 20 in service) and one squadron of C-47s, all operated on transport duties. On order are 30 Casa Aviocars with an eventual order totalling 50. Training is conducted on T-33As in one squadron and two units of C-47s, further types including seven Beech Barons (on order), T-6s, T-34s, I-115s, Aztecs, Navajos and Con- vair 440s. Helicopters include Bell 47Gs and Alouette Ills. Marinha The Spanish Navy flies four squadrons of helicopters made up of six Sikorsky SH-3Ds (four more on order), 12 Agusta-Bell 204Bs, five Hughes 500s, three Bell UH-lDs and a
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