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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 3095.PDF
WORLD'S AIR FORCES A new Chinese-developed fighter, the Shenyang J-8 Finback, was revealed in 1985. This aircraft is a development of the J-7 (MiG-21), with two engines, a longer fuselage and a slightly bigger delta wing. The J-8 is believed to be in full production and squadron service. A further modified variant, the J-8-1I, announced more recently, was to have been fitted with US avionics to be purchased in a $500 million deal agreed in 1986. US government restrictions upon delivery of J-8-II equip ment caused the Chinese to cancel the Grumman co-ordinated programme in May 1990. Improving rela tions with the Soviet Union led to preliminary discus sions in Moscow during May 1990 concerning the possible Chinese purchase of modem combat aircraft. Negotiations were completed in April 1991 and resulted in an order for 22 Su-27 Flanker fighters which are to be based on Hainan Island to the west of Taiwan. Eight aircraft were delivered in August 1991 and the remain der will follow in early-1992. Apart from J-8s, the fighter regiments are equipped with a variety of Chinese-built MiGs. The J-6 (MiG-19) is in widespread use as a day fighter with some all-weather capability. Reconnaissance versions are also in service. More than 3,000 J-6s have been produced, including export models and two-seat JJ-6 trainers. An attack derivative of the J-6 is the Q-5 Fantan, with a new forward fuselage and side intakes. Further development of the design is in progress in conjunction with Aeritalia, with improved avionics and weapons systems, and a prototype flew in August 1988. Thomson-CSF has also provided a Q-5 avionics upgrade package. Other types in use include the J-7 (MiG 21) and J-4 (MiG-17F). China's "strategic" bomber force is based largely on the Harbin H-5 (11-28), with more than 450 in 12 regiments supported by some 100 H-6s (Tu-16). A maritime patrol variant of the Y-8 (An-12) transport, under development at Xian, is fitted with Litton APS-504 search radar and INS. China's new jet trainer, now known as the K-8, is under joint development with Pakistan. The prototype's first flight was delayed by US export licence difficulties associated with the aircraft's Garrett TFE731 engine. China has received 24 Sikorsky S-70C-IIs, together with six AS.332 Super Pumas, and is licence-building the SA.365 Dauphin as the Harbin Z-9. Fifty are being built initially, to join two supplied by France, most of which are for military use. There is also a new indigenous medium-lift helicopter under test, similar in configura tion to the Super Frelon. A January 1989 order for six CH-47D Chinooks has been effectively cancelled by a US embargo on military equipment. 24 Mi-17 helicopters have been acquired from the Soviet Union as an alternative. Aviation of the People's Navy A land-based service, the APN has seagoing ambitions in the shape of a 20,000- tonne aircraft carrier equipped with V/STOL combat aircraft and ASW helicopters, but although it is a realistic requirement it is unlikely to be fulfilled in the near future. Present equipment includes about 150 H-5s in three anti-ship divisions. The aircraft are armed with bombs and torpedoes. A coastal defence fighter force operates the J-5, J-6 and Q-5 in six divisions under the control of the,' AFPLA region in which they are located. A dozen Be-6 flying boats are used for MR and ASW, while some Z-5 helicopters and a mix of transport types operate in support roles. A new four-turboprop flying-boat, the SH-5 (PS-5), entered limited service in mid-1986. Type Air Force Xian H-6 (Tu-16) Harbin H-5 (il-28) Tu-4 Bull (B-29) Nanchang Q-5 Fantan Su-27 Flanker Shenyang J-8 Finback Xian J-7 (MiG-21) Shenyang J-6 (MiG-19) Shenyang J-5 (MiG-17PF) Shenyang J-4 (MiG-17F) Shenyang J-2 (MiG-15) Shenyang JJ-2 (M1G-15UTI) CJ-5 (Yak-18) CJ-6 Trident 1E/2E Y-7/An-24 Y-14/An-26 No 100. 450+ 15+ 550. 22' 200+* 250+ 2500+ 400 + 250+ 100+ 100+ 1000+ 1500+ 2/16 20+' 6+76+ Role Bomber Bomber/Recon Drone carrier Strike/Attack Int Int Int Int/Attack/Recon/Trng Int/Attack/Trng FGA FGA/Trng Training Training Training VIP/Trans Transport Transport An-30 8 Survey 11-18 10 Transport Hanzhang Y-8 (An-12) 20+ Transport Harbin Y-11/Y-12 15/2 Trans/Survey li-2 (C-47 Dakota) 50+ Transport 11-12/14 50+ Transport Y-5 (An-2) 250+ Transport Cl-601 Challenger 5 VIP SA.321 Super Frelon 13+ Trans/ASW/SAR AS.332 Super Puma ' 6 VIP S-70C-II Black Hawk 22 Transport Mi-8/17 Hip 30+/24 Transport SA.3421-1 Gazelle 8 Anti-tank Harbin Z-5/Z-6 (Mi-4) 350+ Transport Harbin Z-9 (SA.365N Dauphin) 25+ Transport Navy Harbin H-5 (II-28) 150+ Torpedo attack Harbin SH-5 4+ MR/ASW Be-6 12+ MR/ASW Shenyang J-6 (MiG-19) 300+ Int/Attack Shenyang J-5 (MiG-17PF) 100+ Int Nanchang Q-5 Fantan 100+ Attack Y-7 (An-24) 2 Transport Li-2 (C-47 Dakota) 20+ Transport Y-5 (An-2) 40+ Transport Harbin Z-5 (Mi-4) 30+ Transport Harbin Z-9 (SA.365N Dauphin) 6+ Transport * Delivery in progress Ciskei Ciskei Defence Force A light transport and liaison force, the CDF operates two Skyvan 3s, three BN-2A Islanders, two Cessna 152s, a BO.105 and three BK.117 helicop ters. Colombia Fuerza Aerea Colombiana Colombia was to have be come the first export customer for the IAI Kfir, having ordered 12 aircraft in 1981, but it cancelled the contract the following year. Negotiations resumed in 1985, and, after three years of bargaining with Israel, a $200 million contract for 13 Kfir C7/TC7s was announced in October 1988. Swift US approval of J79 engine export licences allowed an early delivery start, and the final five aircraft arrived in August 1989. Payment is to be spread over eight years, and includes a barter element, with coal being supplied to Israel. Other combat units continue to rely on Mirage Vs, which are finally being upgraded by IAI, and A-37B Dragonflies. The FAC is receiving US anti-narcotics assistance, taking delivery of eight OA-37Bs, two C-130Bs and five UH-lHs in September 1989. Eight more UH-lHs fol lowed in 1990 and further equipment may be offered later. An Argentinean offer of attack aircraft, also for anti-drug operations, was accepted and three Pucaras were delivered in December 1989. The large transport element is also responsible for running the services of the paramilitary airline Satena. The Colombian Army also uses light twins for communi cations duties. Armada de Colombia Formed as recently as 1984, this small air arm operates four MBB BO.105s from frigates and corvettes on liaison and communications duties. A fleet of light aircraft are in service for similar land-based missions. Type Air Force Klir C7/TC7 Mirage VC0A/C0R Mirage VC0D A-37B/0A-37B Dragonfly T-37C IA.58A Pucara T-34A/B Mentor Cessna T-41D C-130B/H-30 Hercules Boeing 707-320C DC-6 C-47 Dakota IAI-201 Arava F.28 Fellowship 1000 Citation II King Air C90 Queenair Commander 680/695 PA-31 Navajo/Cheyenne PA-44 Seminole Mitsubishi MU-2 Cessna 404/401/340 Cessna 310 DHC-2 Beaver/H-550 Courier PA-32 Cherokee Six Cessna 185 Floatplane 12/1 •10/2 2 19/7 8 3 21 30 3/2 '1 2 1 1 2 1 1/2 2/1 1 1 3/1/1 2 9/1 1 1 Role FGA/lnt FGA/Recon Training Attack/COIN COIN COIN Training Training Transport Transport Transport Transport Transport VIP VIP Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Communications Bell 412 Bell 212 UH-60A Black Hawk UH-1B/H Iroquois Hughes OH-6A/500MD Hughes 530MG/500E Bell 206B JetRanger Hiller UH-12E Hughes TH-55/300C Bell 470/G Satena F.28 Fellowship 3000 HS748 C-54/DC-4 C-47 Dakota C.212 Aviocar 200/300 PC-6B Turbo-Porter Army Cessna 404/Commander 500 Navy PA-31 Navajo/Commander 500 PA-28 Cherokee B0105CB 2 4 10 9/31 n/10 6/2 10 4 6// 3/8 1 2 2 9 9/2 11 1/1 1/3 4 2 Transport VIP/Trans Transport COIN/Trans COIN COIN/Trng Liaison Liaison Training Training Airline ops Airline ops Airline ops Airline ops Airline ops Airline ops Communications Communications Liaison Comms/Liaison Comores Comores Military Aviation This small group of islands off the east African coast has a military aviation element comprising a Cessna 402B and an AS.350B Ecureuil, which are used for VIP communication duties. Three SF-260W Warriors, delivered in 1977, were operated until late 1982, when the surviving two aircraft were returned to the manufacturer. Congo Force Aerienne Congolaise The Congo air arm received 16 MiG-2ls in 1986, and these form the combat element alongside a squadron of MiG-17Fs and a two-seat MiG-15UTI trainer. At least two MiG-21s are known to have been lost in accidents. Seventeen transports and five helicopters are in service, but an SA.330 Puma delivered in 1975 crashed several years ago. The VIP flight has a nominally civil SN.601 Corvette. Type MiG-21 Fishbed MiG-17F Fresco MiG-15UTI Midget AN-24 Coke/An-26 Curl N2501F Noratlas C-47 Dakota 11-14 Crate SN.601 Corvette SA.365C Dauphin Mi-8 Hip Alouette ll/lll No 14 8 1 7/1 3 2 2 1 1 2 2/2 Role Int/FGA FGA Training Transport Transport Transport Transport VIP VIP Transport Comms/Liaison No 3/4 1/1 1 2 1/2 Role Patrol/Comms Comms Comms Comms Liaison/SAR Costa Rica Guardia Civil Seccion Aerea Part of the Civil Guard which reports to the Ministry of Public Security, this force is entirely based at Jose Santumaria Airport. Three Cessna 337 Super Skymasters were received in 1986 as part of a US military aid programme, which began in 1985 with the delivery of five Hughes helicopters. Type Cessna 337/Soloy 206 Aztec/Seneca Commander 680 Cherokee Six Hughes 269C/500E Cote d'lvoire Force Aerienne de Cote dTvoire The FACI has only one combat unit, operating four Alpha Jets from Bouake, comprising three of the original batch of six, plus an attrition replacement received in 1984. Since the 1979 transfer of most of the F.27 Friendships and F.28 Fellowships to the national airline Air Ivoire, the FACI has had only a small VIP/presidential transport fleet. This includes a Fokker 100, delivered in February 1989, and a Gulfstream IV acquired in September 1989. Type Alpha Jet F33C Bonanza Sessna F150H F.27 Friendship Fbkker 100 Gulfstream lll/IV King Air 200/Cessna 421 SA.330H Puma SA.365C Dauphin Alouette II No 4 4 '/. 1 1 1/1 1/1 3 3 1 Role Attack/Training Training Training Trans/Liaison VIP VIP Comms/Liaison VIP/Trans Comms/VIP Liaison FLIGHT INIWNAriONAI 27 November - 3 December, 1991 41
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