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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2506.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES Aviation Legere de l'Armee de Terre 1986 saw significant changes in the operational structure of the ALAT aimed at improving operational effectiveness in the primary roles of anti-armour, observation and transport, Second-line units were less affected by the restructuring. The Force d'Action Rapide, with its HQ at Nancy, has three Regiment d'Helicopteres de Combat (RHC), each with around 70 helicop ters comprising Pumas and Gazelles, some Type No Role Air Force Mirage IVA/IVP 42 Mirage F.1C/C-200 145 Mirage F.1CR-200 40 Mirage F.IB 19 Mirage IIIC/B 10/39 Mirage HIE 123 Mirage IIIR/RD 31/15 Mirage VF 41 Mirage 2000C/B 105721* Mirage 2000N 75* Jaguar A/E 122/36 E-3A Sentry 4" Alpha Jet E 164 CM-170 Magister 302 Epsilon 150* CAP 10/20/230 52/7/6* C-135F 11 DC-8-33/55/62CF/72 6 TransallC-160/NG 50/24 TransallC-160NG 2*/2* N2501FNoratlas 27 Caravelle 7 C-212Aviocar 5 Nord 262 Fregate 27 DHC-6 Twin Otter 11 Falcon 20/50 20/ EMB-121 Xingu 25 PA-23 Aztec 1 Cessna 411/310 4/12 MS-760 Paris 5 Broussard 22 JodelD.140E 17 JodelD.140R 4 CE.42 Guepard 18 Robin HR. 100 6 AS.332C Super Puma 3 SA.330B/H Puma 31 SA.365 Dauphin 1 AS.350 Ecureuil 26* Alouette ll/lll 38/55 Navy Super Etendard 62 Etendard IVP 11 Etendard IVM 20 F-8E(FN) Crusader 25 Alize 21/9 Atlantic I 31 Atlantic ATL2 42" Gardian 5 Nord 262 Fregate 10/12 CM-175 Zephyr 12/11 MS-760 Paris 8 CAP 10B 10 Rallye 100S/100ST 10/6 Falcon 10/10MER 5/3 EMB-121 Xingu 16 PA-31 Navajo 2 Robin HR. 100 2 SA.321 Super Frelon 13/4 Lynx HAS.2(FN)/HAS.4(FN) 24/14 AS.350B Ecureuil 22* Alouette Ill/IllASW 18/16 Alouette II 10 Army SA.330 Puma 130 SA.342M Gazelle 155* SA.341 M/F Gazelle 103/56 Alouette III 70 Alouette II 19 Cessna F406 Caravan II 2 Broussard 10 0-1 Bird-Dog 5 Strike/Recce Int Recce Training Int/Training Attack Recce Attack Int/Training Strike Strike/Training AWACS Training Training Training Training Tanker Transport/ECM Transport ECM/ Command Post Trans/Training Transport/VIP Utility Trans/Training VIP/Liaison Training/VIP Training/VIP SAR Communications Comms/Liaison Liaison Glider Towing Communications Communications Communications Transport Trans/training VIP Liaison/SAR Liaison/Training Strike/Attack Recce/Tanker Training Int ASW/Training MR/ASW MR/ASW MR Trans/Training Training/Store Train/Liaison Training Training Liaison/Train VIP/Comms Communications Communications ASW/Transport ASW/SAR Liaison Training/ASW Train/Liaison Trans/Training Anti-tank Anti-tank/AOP/ Training Anti-tank/Liaison Liaison/Train Comms Communications Liaison * Delivery in progress ** On order HOT equipped, based at Etain, Pau, and Phals- bourg, together with a transport-dedicated RHC with Pumas at Nancy. There are three Corps d'Armee, headquartered at Baden, Lille, and Metz, each being allocated a RHC and a Group d'Helicopteres Legeres (GHL), the latter with some 20 to 30 Alouette II/IIIs each. Some armed anti-tank Alouette Ills remain in use with the RHCs pending replacement by SA.342M Gazelles. Three Zone de Defense GHLs, again equipped with Alouettes, complete the ALAT's first-line order of battle. Pilot training is at the Ecole de Specialisation at Dax on Alouette lis and Gazelles, followed by tactical training on the Gazelles and Pumas of the Ecole d'Application at Luc. There are also miscellaneous overseas, HQ, and trials flights. Future equipment should include the Franco-German Eurocopter HAP/HAC-3G, with deliveries from 1995, and battlefield surveillance Pumas fitted with 360°-scan, retractable radars. For service later in the 1990s, the ALAT is studying one and two type solutions to its Puma replacement requirement. Gabon Force Aerienne Gabonaises Formerly a part of French Equatorial Africa, Gabon maintains close diplomatic ties with France. Based at Libreville is the sole combat squadron, which was originally equipped with three Mirage VGs and two two-seat Mirage VDGs. These, together with two Mirage VRG reconnaissance fighters which were later cancelled, were ordered in 1973. Following delivery to the FAG in 1978, the aircraft stayed in France for train ing purposes until early 1980, when they were finally ferried to Gabon. By late 1981 two had been lost in a collision and the remainder suffered poor serviceability, but in 1982 a further batch of six Mirages was ordered from Dassault, comprising four Mirage VG-II and two Mirage VDG trainers. The aircraft were delivered in 1984, and were fully refurbished ex-Libyan machines which had been embar goed in France either before delivery or during overhaul. Three additional Mirages widely reported arriving in Gabon in February 1985 were in fact the survivors of the original fleet returning after refurbishment in France. Type No Role Air Force Mirage VG/G-II/DG 2/4/3 C-130H Hercules 1 L100-20/-30 Hercules 1 /3 EMB-110P Bandeirante 2 EMB-111A Bandeirante 1 F-28 Fellowship 1000C 1 N.262C Fregate 3 Cessna F337/F152 1/1 SA.330C/H Puma 2/2 SA 342L Gazelle 5 AS.350B Ecureuil 2 Alouette III 5 Presidential Guard CM. 170 Magister 4 T-34C-1 Turbo-Mentor 3 ATR-42F 1 •• EMB-110P Bandeirante 1 Falcon 50 1 Gulfstream III Int/FGA/Train Transport Transport Transport MR Transport/VIP Transport Comms Transport Anti-tank Coin Liaison Coin/Train Coin/Train Transport VIP VIP VIP ' On order La Guard Presidentielle This is an autono mous unit of mercenaries commanded by a former French Air Force general. The Presi dential Guard air wing operates CM-170 Magisters and T-34C-1 Turbo-Mentors, all of which are armed. The A-ID Skyraiders previously in use were retired in 1983, and at least four were sold in 1984. The air wing will become the first operator of the ATR-42F military transport in mid-1989, when the single example now on order is due to be delivered. Ghana Ghana Air Force A mainly transport- orientated force. The GAF's only combat unit is equipped with MB.326 armed trainers, and is based at Tamale in Northern Ghana. Bulldogs remain in use at the training base of Takoradi, but delivery of eight SF.260TPs apparently ordered in 1982 has yet to be confirmed. Serviceability of the Bulldogs and the MB.326s is questionable. The transport force is serviceable, however, and is based at Accra and Takoradi. Type No Role MB.326F/K 5/4 SF.260TP 8* Bulldog 122/122A 10 F-27 Friendship 400M/600 2/2 F-28 Fellowship 3000 1 Sky van 3M 6 BN-2A Islander 8 Bell 212 2 Alouette III 4 Train/Coin Training Training Transport/VIP VIP Transport Utility VIP Liaison 1 Delivery not confirmed Great Britain Royal Air Force Over the next decade the RAF will receive some £14,000 million of defence funds as the Tornado GR.l, Tornado F.3, Harrier GR.5, Tucano T.l, E-3A Sentry and TriStar tanker fleet is absorbed into the front line. It is also hoped that the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) will enter service in the mid-1990s to replace the Phantom and the last of the Jaguars. RAF Strike Command's 1 Group now has its full complement of Tornado GR.ls, equipping the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit (TWCU) at Honington, 27 and 617 Squadrons at Marham, and the RAF element of the Trinational Tornado Training Establishment at Cottesmore. All nine VC-10 tankers are in service with 101 Squadron at Brize Norton. Additional VC-lOs are in storage awaiting allo cation of another tanker conversion contract. To supplement and later replace the ageing Victor tanker force (55 Sqn at Marham), the RAF has bought six TriStar 500s from British Airways and another three from Pan Am. All nine are being converted to tanker/freight configuration by Marshall's of Cambridge and are operated by 216 Sqn at Brize Norton. No.l Group absorbed 38 Group, which formed the RAF's home-based tactical element, flying in direct support of the Army. The enlarged 1 Group moved its headquarters from Bawtry to Upavon. Spearhead of the force is the two UK based Harrier units, 1 Squadron and 233 OCU FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 28 November 1987
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