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Aviation History
1989
1989 - 3682.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1989 Bolivia Fuerza Aerea Boliviana Bolivia is one of the most unstable and poorest countries in the world, and its air force is largely equipped with ageing and often secondhand aircraft. Ambitious re-equipment plans in recent years have always been precluded by the lack of funds, exacerbated by the large proportion of the air arm's budget required to maintain the existing fleet of uneconomic aircraft. Negotiations with France for a batch of 12 Mirage 50s in 1983, tied to the extradition of a Nazi war criminal to France, were unsuccessful, although the FAB did secure 18 ex-French Air Force T-33s for only $6.2 million. Ten surplus US Army UH-1H helicopters were acquired in late 1987, and six former USAF C-130A Hercules in mid-1988. The FAB has a requirement for 12 Argentine IA-63 Pampa jet trainers later in the decade. Both the Army and the Navy maintain small air arms, the latter to patrol international borders formed by rivers and lakes, the country having no coastline. Type Air Force F-86F Sabre T-33A/N PC-7 Turbo-Trainer AT-6G Texan SF-260C T-23 Uirapuru/Tangara Cessna 152 Aerobat Cessna 172K/T-41 D C-130A/H7L-100-30 Hercules L-188CElectra F.27 400M Friendship CV-440 Metropolitan DC-4 C-47 Dakota IAI-201 Arava/C-212 Aviocar PC-6B Turbo-Porter Sabreliner 60/65A Learjet 25 B/D King Air F90/200/20DC Commander 690 Cessna 4028/404/42 IB Cessna 185/206/210/310 Bell 212 UH-IH Iroquois Hughes 500M SA.3158/HB.315 Lama/Gaviao Army C.212 Aviocar King Air 200 Navy AT-6G Texan Cessna U206G Cessna 402C 4 32 22 4 3 12+ 12 3/6 6/1/1 1 6 4 1 3 1/1 16 1/1 2 1/1/2 2 2/1/1 19/8/2/1 2 19 10 7/8 Int COIN/training COIN/training COIN Training Training Training Training Transport VIP Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport VIP Survey/VIP Communications Communications Comms/survey Liaison VIP/Comms Transport COIN/liaison SAR/Liaison Utility VIP Patrol (WFU?) Patrol VIP Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana Defence Force Air Wing This small air arm has its headquarters at Mafeking, and is tasked primarily with communications and transport flying in support of Defence Force ground units, but also has other roles including game conservation and anti-poaching patrols in the country's large game reserves. Type No Role C.212 Aviocar P 68 Obsetver BK.117 AS.355 Ecureuil Alouette III 2 I 2 1 1 Transport Observation Liaison Liaison Liaison Belgium is one of the few remaining Fouga CM. 170 operators Botswana Botswana Defence Force Air Wing The Air Wing took a major step forward in April 1988, when the first of nine Strikemasters, believed to be former Kuwait Air Force aircraft, arrived, becoming the air arm's first jet equipment and significantly enhanc ing its attack capability. Two CN.325 transports and a BAe 125 were also purchased during 1988, although the latter was quickly grounded for repairs after being hit by a missile fired by an Angolan fighter. Three Bell 412s have been pur chased, the last arriving in August 1989. Air Wing organisation is unchanged, with three units, Zl, Z2 and Z3, nominally allocated to defence, communications and transport respective ly, although in practice each unit tends to operate in all three roles. Type Strikemaster BN-2A Defender BN-2A-III Trislander Skyvan 3M CN.235 BAe 125-800 Bulldog 120 Cessna 152 Bell 412 AS.350 Ecureuil 9 6 2 2 2 1 5 1 3 2 COIN COIN/patrol Transport Transport Transport VIP Training Training Transport Comms Brazil Forca Aerea Brasileira "The largest and one of the best-equipped air forces in South America, the FAB buys most of its equipment from the country's own aerospace industry. Embraer has teamed with Aeritalia and Aermacchi to produce the AMX attack aircraft. The first Brazilian production AMX was due for delivery to the FAB in October 1988. A total of 79 AMXs, including 15 two-seat trainers, are to be purchased initially, although ultimately FAB procurement may rise to 150. In 1986 the FAB announced its intention to acquire 22 refurbished F-SEs and four F-SFs together with six modernised Mirages, to offset attrition and to provide a reserve against future losses. The Mirage Ills have been acquired from France, while deliveries of suitable F-SE/Fs from; USAF stocks began in October 1988. Update kits for the FAB's existing F-8Es are also to be supplied by the USA, and Dassault is modernising the Mirage fleet. Embraer's new supersonic trainer project, the T-X has been shelved until the country's economy improves. Interest in the IA-63 Pampa continues, and options on 50 more Tucanos are still held, and later purchase of F-16s from the USA has been discussed. Re-engining of 12 S-2 Trackers with PT-6A turboprops is to be completed by the IMP Group of Canada under a January 1989 contract. An avionics upgrade package will be installed by a different contractor. The FAB is organised into a number of com mands, including air defence, tactical, coastal, transport and training. An integrated air-defence system, using modern radars installed under the DACTA I/II programmes, covers most of Brazil. For tactical purposes the country is divided into seven Comandos Aereos Regionais (COMAR). These regional commands are co-ordinating agen cies which direct the aircraft of the operational commands. Forca Aeronaval da Marinha do Brasil Brazil's Navy intends to replace the carrier Minas Gerais with a larger ship, to be built in Brazil and equipped with a navalised version of the AMX, for service from the mid-1990s. The present carrier, in addition to operating ASW helicopters, operates FAB Trackers which are under naval control when embarked. The Naval Air Arm itself operates no fixed-wing aircraft. 12 new ASW helicopters are required to replace the frigate-based Wasps, with the Lynx, Dauphin 2 AB-212 and SH-2 Seasprite in contention. 42 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 29 November-5 December 1989
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