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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2510.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES Honduras Fuerza Aerea Hondurena Infiltration by left-wing guerrillas from Nicaragua continues to pose a serious threat to Honduran security. US aid is increasing annually, and the upgrading of a number of airfields continues. After consistently denying repeated requests for F-5E Tiger lis, the US Government has finally agreed to supply a dozen ex-USAF aircraft. The first two will arrive at La Ceiba before the end of 1987, and the rest will follow in 1988. Northrop has received a support contract for these aircraft, financed by FMS funding. The Sabres are based at San Pedro Sula, while the Super Mysteres are located at La Ceiba, with a dual air-defence/attack role. At least 20 Super Mysteres were received between 1976 and 1982, but of the survivors only a dozen or so are generally serviceable at any one time. Also based at La Ceiba is the A-37B unit, while the transport and communications fleet is concentrated at Tegucigalpa-Tocontin. Training is carried out by the Military Aviation Academy at Comayagua using a T-41/EMB- 312 Tucano/CASA 101 Aviojet sequence. Type No Role F-SE Tiger II Super Mystere B.2 F-86E/F/K Sabre A-37B Dragonfly RT-33A C-101BB Aviojet EMB-312 Tucano Cessna T-41D C-130A Hercules C-47 Dakota IAI-201 Arava L-188A Electra DC-6A C-54 Skymaster IAI Westwind 1123/1124 PA-24 Comanche Cessna 180/185 Commander 114 UH-1B/H Iroquois Bell412SP Sikorsky S-76 12" Int/FGA 12 Int/FGA 4/4/2 Int 15 Attack 3 4 12 5 1 8 3 1 1 1 1/1 1 2/2 2 4/13 10 Recce/Training Training Training Training Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport VIP Communications Liaison Liaison Transport/SAR Transport VIP "On order Hong Kong Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force This policing and communications force, a department of the Hong Kong Government, operates from a central base at the Inter national Airport. Manned by 83 civil servants supplemented by 100 volunteers, its principal roles are coastal patrol, anti-smuggling duties, SAR, and survey work. A Super King Air 200 was due to replace the Cessna 404 in September 1987, while a second will replace the Islander in late 1988. Two Slingsby T-67M Fireflys will supplement the Bulldogs in training roles from December 1987. British Army Scout AH. Is assist in illegal-immigrant operations, while SAR assistance is provided by the Wessex heli copters of 28 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Type No Role Bulldog 128 T.67M-200 Firefly Super King Air 200C Cessna 404 Titan BN-2A Islander SA.365C Dauphin 2 2" 1/1" 1 1 2 Train/Patrol Training Coast Patrol (WFU?) Survey/SAR Patrol/SAR On order Hungary Magyar Legiero Smallest of the Warsaw Pact air arms, the Hungarian Air Force is supported by a Soviet Air Army based in the country. Two fighter regiments operate MiG-21s, together with some MiG-23MFs and two-seat variants of both types. A ground-attack regiment re-formed on Su-25s late in 1984, its previous equipment comprising MiG-17 Frescos and Su-7B Fitters which were retired in 1981. Su-22s have been noted in the tactical recon naissance role. There is also a transport regiment, a helicopter regiment, and a flying training school. Type No Role MiG-23MF Flogger 25+ Int/FGA MiG-21F/PF/PFM Fishbed 100+ Int/FGA Su-25 Frogfoot 30+ Attack Su-22 Fitter 15+ Recce II-28 Beagle 6+ ECM/TT MiG-15UTI Midget 6+ Training L-29 Delfin 20+ Training Yak-11 Moose/Yak-18 Max 25+ Training An-24 Coke 6 Transport An-26 Curl 15+ Transport 11-14 Crate 6+ Transport An-2 Colt 12+ Transport Mi-24 Hind + Attack Mi-8 Hip 12+ Assault Mi-4 Hound 12+ Assault Ka-26 Hoodlum 6+ Liaison India Indian Air Force This large air force is enjoy ing a period of massive re-equipment, with aircraft purchased from both East and West replacing many ageing combat and transport types. In 1986 the first of 165 MiG-27Ms to be licence-built by HAL became operational, replacing the final two squadrons of Su-7s. The last of an initial batch of 48 MiG-29s arrived in May 1987, although ultimate procurement, including a possible licence-build programme, may add another 150 aircraft to the inventory, replacing the MiG-21 interceptor force. 49 Mirage 2000s, known locally as Varja (Divine Thunderstreak), have been delivered, while Jaguars still flow from the HAL assembly lines to replace Hunters and Canberras in front-line squadrons. Despite the build-up of the Jaguar fleet, the last Canberra is not expected to disap pear from the inventory until 1995. An indige nous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) for the next decade is now the subject of a Dassault project definition study, but may fall victim to recently announced defence budget cuts. The prototypes at least will be powered by General Electric F404s of the same RM-12 version used in the Swedish JAS39 Gripen, and the first engines have been delivered. The transport fleet is also being rejuvenated, with more than 80 An-32s, named Sutlej by the IAF, delivered (but two already lost) from a total of 115 ordered to replace C-47 Dakotas, C-119G Packets, and DHC-4 Caribous. The Packets have already been retired, as have most of the C-47s apart from a few retained in support roles such as target-towing. The An-12s have suffered from airframe fatigue for several years, but are now being replaced by Il-76s, called Gajraj in India, 20 to 25 of which are Type No Role Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum A/B MiG-27M Flogger MiG-25R/U Foxbat MiG-23MF/BN/UM Flogger MiG-21 FL/bis Fishbed MiG-21MF/PFMA Fishbed MiG-21 U/UM Mongol Mirage 2000H/TH Jaguar IS/IB Hunter F.56/T.66 44/4" 165" 6/2 Int/Training Attack Reece/Training 40/70/15 Int/Attack/Tr 100+/200 120+/40+ 30+ 45/4 116* 80+/20+ Canberra B(I).58/PR.57/T.54 40+/8/8 Marut 1/1T Ajeet 1/2 HPT-32 Deepak HT-2 Kiran 1/1 A/2 TS-11 Iskra Gulfstream III Boeing 707 II-76MD Candid An-12 Cub An-32 Cline DHC-4 Caribou C-47 Dakota HS748 Boeing 737-200 DHC-3 Otter Do-228 HAOP-27 Mi-8/17 Hip Mi-24 Hind Mi-26 Halo Alouette III (Chetak) Lama (Cheetah) SA.365N Dauphin Navy Sea Harrier 51 Harrier T.60 Ajeet 2 Kiran 1/2 BN-2A Maritime Defender Tu-142M Bear 11-38 May Alize Do-228 Sea King 42/42A Sea King 428/42C Ka-27 Helix KA-25 Hormone Alouette III (Chetak) Hughes 269B Coast Guard F.27 Friendship Do-228 Alouette III (Chetak) 30/10 80/18" 50' 20 + Int FGA Training Int/Training Attack/Train FGA/Training Attack/Reece/ Training FGA/Training FGA/Training Training Training 95/70/60 Training 40 3 2 24" 15 + 113* 16 20+ 50+ 2 20 80" 50+ 60+/10 12 10 175 + 130 6" 6/10" 2/1" 6" 6/6 17 3 5 7 26- 9/3 20"/3 18 5 10 + 4 2 36' 6 Tact Training MR/Survey Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport Target Towing Trans/VIP/Tr VIP Transport Transport Army Liaison Transport Attack Heavy Lift Anti-tank/Liai AOP/Liaison VIP Int/Attack/ Reece Training Training Training MR/Comms MR MR/ASW ASW Comms ASW/SAR ASW/SAR ASW ASW Liaison/Train Training Coastal Patrol Coastal Patrol Liaison/SAR Delivery in progress On order required. The IAF is also scheduled to receive ten Do-228s by 1988 from early HAL prod uction batches, to be followed later by up to 70 more. 1987 purchases have included two ex-Air India Boeing 707s and three Gulfstream III special-missions aircraft. Funds have already been released for initial R&D related to an indigenous AEW programme, possibly using a HS748 airframe combined with a locally devel oped radar. Four to six aircraft are required. HAL HPT-32 elementary trainers are displacing the older HT-2s. In 1981 India began studies for an indigenous advanced trainer design. The project was later shelved, and more recently the two-seat Ajeet 2 was declared unsuitable for the tasks involved.' Small numbers of the Ajeet 2 have been procured for some roles, but the bulk of the requirement will be met by a foreign type, licence production of some 100 aircraft being envisaged following a small initial purchase of the selected type from its manufacturer. The final choice is believed to be between the Hawk and the Alpha Jet. The FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 28 November 1987
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