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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2382.PDF
Directory: world air forces between the Cougar, S-92, S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk and the Bell UH-1Y In 1999, the proposed acquisition shrank from 98 machines to 25 because of budget con cerns. The Super Cobra and Kiowa fleets are to be upgraded by AIDC from 2005 and 2006 respectively. Fleet review The AH-1Ws and OH-58Ds are both armed with the Hellfire anti-tank weapon. The OH-58D has a scouting role and is equipped with a large, multi-sensor mast- mounted sight above the main rotor. Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT HELICOPTER 90 62 38 UH-1H AH-1W SuperCobra OH-58D Kiowa OH'6AflBHi TRAINING HELICOPTERS TH-67 Creek 30 TH-55A Osage 15 UNMANNED AIR VEHICLES IAI Searcher TAJIKISTAN TAJIKISTAN AIR FORCE Tajikistan has suffered from internal conflict since the USSR collapsed in 1991, with Muslim rebels clashing with government forces. US troops also maintain logis tic bases in the country to support their operations in neighbouring Afghanistan. Operational activity It remains the least stable of the central Asian republics, and the government's grasp on power is not strong. Russian and Kazakhstan peacekeepers are based in the republic, equipped with Antonov twin tur- boprops, Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters and possibly Su- 25 ground-attack aircraft. As well as supporting the peacekeepers, the air element also provides cover to the Russian-controlled border guard on the Tajikistan- Afghan frontier. Russia announced it was to open another air base in the republic in October 2004. Procurement Plans exist to acquire Su-25s from Belarus. Fleet review Air support for army and police units is the main role of the Tajikistan air force. Type Active Stored Order/Req TRANSPORT Tu-154 fflffl COMBAT HELICOPTER Mi-8 10 Mi-24 5 JESHI LA WANANCHI LA TANZANIA (TANZANIAN PEOPLE'S DEFENCE FORCE) This East African country has joined the US war on ter rorism and has tried to increase internal security capa bilities. Operational activity The defence force's air wing has carried out no major operational activity over the past year. Procurement The newest arrivals are six MiG-29s bought from RSK MiG for $50 million in August 2003. A dedicated mar itime patrol type will be procured if funds can be made available. BAE Systems has sold Tanzania an air traffic control system. A Gulfstream G550 was purchased in 2004 as a new presidential transport. Two Y-8F-200S were delivered in November 2003. Fleet review The Tanzanian air wing transports remain more or less serviceable. The F-5, F-6 and F-7 fighters, as well as the MiG-15UTI trainers, are reported to fly rarely because of airworthiness problems. Tanzania's long coastline means that transports are also used for patrol flights. Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT AIRCRAFT MiG-29 F-7A(MiG-21) F-6(MiG-19) F-5(MiG-17) TRANSPORT 6 11 10 8 DHC-5D Buffalo Y-12(ll) Y-8F-200 Beech A100 Cessna 402/404 F28 Fellowship 1000 Gulfstream G550 HI 2 1 3/2 1 1 2 1 COMBAT HELICOPTER Bell 206B SA316BAIouettelll 4 TRAINING AIRCRAFT MiG-15UTI •• POLICE AIR WING Cessna U206 Bell 206L ^••••••••••i 2 KONGTAP AGARD THAI (ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE) Thailand has a long tradition of military aviation but the country was badly hit by the regional economic down turn in the late 1990s and its aircraft procurement pro grammes have not yet recovered. Operational activity Insurgent activity in three Muslim-dominated provinces of Thailand - Yala, Pattani and Songkhla - along the Malaysian border prompted the deployment of addition al troops backed by helicopters early in 2004. Procurement In 2000, it succeeded in agreeing a deal for 16 ex- USAF F-16A/B ADFs, partially financed by swapping a large F-18 spares holding. An initial five aircraft were delivered in August 2002 and the remainder arrived by July 2003. The Thai air force would like to upgrade its other F-16s. A structural upgrade is also planned. Plans for AEW and tanker aircraft are on hold. Two Super Pumas were for sale after a third example was involved in a fatal crash in September 1997, but in 2001 it was decided to refurbish the aircraft and return them to the air. Israel Aircraft Industries was selected in August 2001 to upgrade 19 UH-1s with new avionics to keep them in service until at least 2010. An Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner was ordered for VIP duties. CT/4E trainers are on order from New Zealand. Some 16 SAR helicopters are being sought, with the UH-60 the prime candidate against the EH101, AB319 and Mi- 171. Fleet review Modernisation of the pilot-training syllabus means PC- 9s have assumed part of the Fantrainer's role - the lat ter is now used for light attack and weapons-training duties only. All the OV-10Cs have been retired and eight were transferred to the Philippines. Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT AIRCRAFT F-5E/F F-5A/B/RF-5A 35/5 OV-10C Bronco Alpha Jet 16 L-39ZA 34 AU-23 Peacemaker 22 ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION IAI Arava 3 10 TRANSPORT C-130H/C-130H-30 G222 BAe 748-208 737-476 A319 Learjet 35A 3 1 1 4 6 King Air 90/200 21: N22B Nomad 19 COMBAT HELICOPTER 3ell412/HP/EI UH-1H/N 19 Bell 212 •• Hughes 269A Bell 206 S-58T 1 5 AS332L2 Super Puma 2 TRAINING AIRCRAFT PC-9 CT4E Airtrainer Cessna 150H Fantrainer400/600 22 16 8/ 4 •K^HH^^^^H KONGBIN THA HAN LUR THAI (ROYAL THAI NAVY AIR ARM) The Thai navy has small fixed-wing combat and long- range patrol fleets, as well as helicopters which operate from three classes of guided missile frigates. Operational activity Maritime patrol activity has been stepped up to prevent Islamic militants in the south of the country receiving assistance. Procurement In August 2001, the navy ordered two Super Lynx 300s in a $35 million deal and the first flew in July 2004. The Harriers were purchased from Spain in 1997 and can be deployed at sea on the aircraft carrier Chakri Naruebet. Ex-UK Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS2s are being considered as additions to the air group. Fleet review Some of the Bell 214STs are for sale. Type Active Stored Order/Req COMBAT AIRCRAFT AV-8(S)/TAV-8A(S) 3 Summit Sentry 02-337 10 ISTAR/SPECIAL MISSION 4/2 P-3A/UP-3T S-2F Tracker F27-200ME/400M Dornier 228-212 DC-47 N24 Searchmaster 2/1 2 HH 3/2 2 5 TRANSPORT 0-1 Bird Dog U-17B 4 COMBAT HELICOPTER S-70B-7 Seahawk Super Lynx 300 Bell 212ASW Bell 214ST UH-1H _gmn_gm 5 4 2 KONGBIN THA HAN BO (ROYAL THAI ARMY AIR DIVISION) Like Thailand's two other armed services, the army has been hit by the country's economic collapse. Operational activity Counter-insurgency operations in border regions are the air division's main activity. Procurement A competition for up to 36 transport helicopters - either Bell 412s or S-70 Black Hawks - to equip an air mobili ty brigade was settled by acquiring 30 ex-US UH-1Hs: US Helicopter was selected in August 2002 to overhaul these for delivery to Thailand by November 2003. Fleet review A large number of helicopters, including some 80 UH-1 variants are unserviceable and in need of major over haul. Type Active Stored Order/Req TRANSPORT shorts 330LrrJBBHHHHHBIBHHB Jetstream 41 2 2 ••••• King Air 200 2 0-1A/E Bird Dog Cessna U-17 Cessna 208 Queen Air 50 13 1 COMBAT HELICOPTER AH-1F Cobra UH-60L Black Hawk 6 ill 206A www.fiightinternational.com
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