Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

NEW USAF F-35s BOEING KC-46 TRAINING NAVAL AVIATORS
LOOK
COMBATOMBAT
C
READY FOR A NEW ERA OF CARRIER AVIATION
TOO IMPORTANT TO FAIL?
COMBAT DEBUT ENDS








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THE PHANT






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• Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk

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INSIDE





January 2020 • Vol 21 • No 1













IN THE NEWS 64 GOSHAWK: BACK ON TRACK
The US Navy was struggling to train
aviators amid big problems with its
6 HEADLINE NEWS SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE! Boeing T-45 Goshawks in 2017. But
Euro ghter targets electronic warfare, with the problems xed, Andy Wolfe
GlobalEye tracks more success, and USAF As part of your subscription, you can now enjoy even reveals how training is back on track
light attack moves slowly forward more Combat Aircraft, more often, with the launch of thanks to a number of new initiatives
Key.Aero — Your Aviation Destination.
8 NEWS Visit www.key.aero and use your customer ID and email 72 FROM STARFIGHTER TO
Our new integrated news and analysis address to register today for your exclusive access. EUROFIGHTER
section includes a USAF F-35 air power Stefan Petersen recounts one family’s
milestone in the Middle East, the rst history that charts a remarkable story
P-8 Poseidon for the UK plus latest unit 50 of the Luftwa e, from the F-104G
and deployment news and all the latest TOPGUN — THE REAL STORY Star ghter to the F-4F Phantom II and
military losses The long-awaited sequel to the movie the Euro ghter
Top Gun is released in June 2020, but
it will be a Hollywood depiction of 78 MOODY’S RETRO ‘HOG’
16 THE OPS DESK what happens at the US Navy Fighter The 23rd Wing at Moody AFB,
Scott Wol ’s fascinating column details how Weapons School. Jamie Hunter and Georgia, has painted one of its A-10Cs
special forces tackle deliberate targeting Richard Collens tell the story of the in special markings to salute the
real TOPGUN — a school of combat history of the unit, as Nate Leong
20 READY ROOM excellence in the high desert reveals
Combat Aircraft’s regular column, looking at 80 ‘FULCRUM’: THE STORY
the stories behind the US Navy and Marine OF A RUSSIAN CLASSIC
Corps headlines, by Rick Burgess
In the second of a two-part feature,
24 AMERICA’S TANKER: Alexander Mladenov looks at the
TOO IMPORTANT TO FAIL? most ambitious ‘Fulcrum’ derivative
This year has seen a succession of problems — the MiG-29M. It was also used as
emerging for the USAF’s already delayed a baseline for the MiG-29K shipborne
Boeing KC-46 tanker program. Jon Lake ghter, eventually ordered by India
assesses the options available to the US Air and Russia. After the MiG-29K’s land-
Force based export version was sold to
Egypt, the further improved MiG-35
32 CONTRACT ADVERSARIES: was ordered for the Russian air arm
USAF PROJECT MOVES AHEAD
The US Air Force announced at the end 88 THE F-4 THAT REFUSED TO DIE
of October that it had earmarked seven Ted Carlson recounts a memorable
companies to provide contract aggressor mission with QF-4 Phantom IIs and
services across the combat air forces (CAF). F-14 Tomcats in the heyday of missile
Jamie Hunter evaluates what this means and testing operations at Point Mugu
how it will evolve
94 CUTTING EDGE
38 MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK: David Axe’s column looking at the
CONTRACTED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT latest technological developments in
The US Air Force’s over-arching contract military aerospace
covering contracted training for ‘Red Air’ 96 FLASHBACK
aggressors also includes close air support. Combat Aircraft’s trip down memory
Joe Copalman meets Valkyrie Aero, which lane, this month it’s an A-7D at
o ers cost-e ective aircraft and optimized ‘Gunsmoke’
support to the military
48 BIG SHOT: NIGHT ‘RHINO’ ON THE COVER | PAGE 50
Combat Aircraft’s new feature showcasing
military aviation’s best images each month Your Aviation Destination
— this month it’s a Greek F-4E
62 ‘ATLANTIC RESOLVE’: Two of the most striking fi ghters See
DOWN AT THE DOCKS on the planet — adversary F-16A page 99
Part of the European Reassurance Initiative, and F/A-18C over Nevada as
‘Atlantic Resolve’ has seen a series of large they hunt down a student. In for full SUBSCRIBER
US Army deployments to Europe, with this issue we meet the TOPGUN details EXCLUSIVE
the latest example getting under way in instructors. Jamie Hunter
October, as Dino van Doorn reports







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COMBAT EDGE // FIND US ON












LOOKING AHEAD




ELCOME TO THE new stealth bomber will enter USAF
rst issue of Combat service, two — maybe three — latest-
Aircraft of the new generation ghters could be ying, and
decade and a new loyal wingman drones could be escorting
look for our logo on manned strike packages into high-threat
Wthe front cover, with operating areas. There will be unexpected
more developments to come… hotspots, emerging concerns and more
It’s an exciting time for military than a few surprises along the way.
aviation and you can now interact with In 2021 we will mark the 30th
the magazine and our constant ow anniversary of Operation ‘Desert
of content like never before thanks to Storm’ — one of the most in uential
our brand new website: www.Key.Aero. air campaigns in history. Most air forces
Subscribers can now access all of our bear little resemblance to the massive air
content, in a digital format — globally — armada that assembled in the Gulf back
in a fast and e cient way. then. The contrast in technology between
Looking at the year ahead, naturally then and now is stark. Combat Aircraft will
we’re pretty excited about the new continue not only to look ahead, but also
Top Gun movie. In this issue, we tell the to look back. Make sure you’re strapped in
real story of the TOPGUN school, with for the ride.
exclusive new images and interviews Keep on top of all the latest breaking
from NAS Fallon, plus much more military news and access all of our
coverage to come in the months ahead. content at www.Key.Aero
It comes during a big period of change as
the rst F-35C student pilots prepare to
earn their coveted red and blue patches.
The coming decade will herald
some signi cant milestones in military
aerospace. An unmanned tanker will Jamie Hunter,
provide an aerial refueling capability Editor
for US Navy aircraft carriers, a brand E-mail: [email protected]


Dubbed ‘MiG-28s’ in the movie Top Gun, nimble F-5s
continue to provide adversary support for the US Navy
Fighter Weapons School — better known as TOPGUN. This
F-5N Tiger II is the fl agship of VFC-13 ‘Fighting Saints’, and
this unit continues to fulfi ll the role of bad guys for young
aviators that come to NAS Fallon to earn their coveted
TOPGUN patch. Jamie Hunter























04 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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CONTRIBUTOR OF THE MONTH
TED CARLSON


ED CARLSON IS a numerous contest awards
professional aviation over the years and has worked
photojournalist in for many large aerospace
Tsouthern California. With corporations. In this issue, he
1,300 hours of military flight reflects on one of his most
time alone performing aerial memorable assignments,
photography, he’s forged a flying QF-4 Phantom IIs at
reputation as one of the best Point Mugu on a live-fire
in the business. He was won missile shoot.





www.Key.Aero // January 2020 05




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[HEADLINES]






































This image: An artist’s
impression of the two-
seat Eurofi ghter ECR.
Airbus Defence and
Space
Inset: The new
missionized rear
cockpit of the
Eurofi ghter ECR. Airbus
Defence and Space


The UAEAF looks set to increase its
GlobalEye fl eet to fi ve aircraft. Saab




















platform, which was made public
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ANNOUNCES PLANS at the event held in November
FOR ADDITIONAL SAAB GLOBALEYES 2015. Referred to as the Swing
Role Surveillance System (SRSS)
by the UAE, an initial order for two
THE UNITED ARAB Emirates Air signed the contract amendment The announcement came aircraft was placed at the Dubai
Force (UAEAF) intends to procure or received a formal order relating as Saab exhibited its third Airshow 2015, in a contract worth
two additional Saab GlobalEye to the announcement, but the production GlobalEye at the $1.27 billion. In 2017, the country
aircraft. The UAEAF announcement agreement has an estimated Dubai event. exercised an option to procure an
was made on November 19 during cost of $1.08 billion. If the air arm Participation of the GlobalEye additional aircraft for $238 million.
the Dubai Airshow. Saab said it proceeds with this transaction, it at the Dubai Airshow this year The rst aircraft is expected to
will now enter into a period of will increase its total GlobalEye was tting, given that the UAE be delivered to the UAE Air Force
negotiations and that it has not yet order from three to ve. is the launch customer for the during 2020.


06 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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[HEADLINES]



EUROFIGHTER GOES F-35 PRODUCTION


‘WILD WEASEL’ CONTRACT AWARDED



LOCKHEED MARTIN HAS received Martin nalized a $34-billion
AIRBUS UNVEILS DETAILS OF a $7.03-billion modi cation to an agreement for the production
EUROFIGHTER ECR CONCEPT existing contract that provides and delivery of 478 F-35s in
for the procurement of 114 F-35s
Lots 12, 13 and 14. It includes
for the USAF, US Marine Corps, 291 aircraft for the US, 127 for
IRBUS AND for electronic attack (EA) and US Navy, international partners, international partners, and 60 for
EUROFIGHTER suppression/destruction of enemy air and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) FMS customers. The F-35 program
revealed details of defense (SEAD/DEAD). The concept customers. The aircraft will o ce says the deal provides cost
a proposed ECR also features a twin-seat cockpit comprise 48 F-35As for the USAF, reductions over the Lot 11 prices
(Electronic Combat con guration with a multi-function 20 F-35Bs for the marines, nine for all three variants and says that
ARole) variant at the panoramic touch display and a F-35Cs for the navy, 12 F-35As for under Lots 13 and 14 the average
International Fighter Conference dedicated mission cockpit for the Norway, 15 F-35As for Australia, unit cost for the F-35A (including
in Berlin in November. The rear seat. and eight F-35As and two F-35Bs the engine) will be less than
development would help to The concept is being driven by for Italy. $80 million.
underpin the aircraft’s status as Airbus, Hensoldt, MBDA, MTU, In addition, the F-35 Joint
an enabler in high-end con ict in Premium Aerotec, and Rolls- Program O ce and Lockheed
support of the overall survivability Royce and supported by German
of coalition forces in high threat national industry bodies. In terms
environments. of a kinetic weapon for the role, the
The Euro ghter ECR is aimed Euro ghter ECR could incorporate
squarely at the German Luftwa e’s MBDA’s SPEAR-EW, which is
requirement to replace its Tornado being developed in partnership
ECRs and Airbus says the new with Leonardo under a Technical
capability should be available by Demonstration Programme (TDP) The unit cost of the F-35B remains the highest of the three variants of
the Lightning II. USMC/LCpl Ginnie Lee
2026. The Euro ghter ECR would be contract awarded by the UK. It P
Percentage price ercentage price
L
Variantariant
able to passively locate emitters and would provide the Euro ghter with V L Lot 12ot 12 L Lot 13ot 13 Lot 14ot 14 reduction from Lot 11eduction from Lot 11
r
actively jam threats, and it will o er a low collateral, high-precision F-35A $82.4m $79.2m $77.7m 12.8
F-35A
12.8
$79.2m
$82.4m
$77.7m
a variety of modular con gurations weapon for SEAD missions. F-35B $108.0m $104.8m $101.3m 12.3
$101.3m
12.3
F-35B
$108.0m
$104.8m
$103.1m
$98.1m
F-35C $103.1m $98.1m $94.4m 13.2
F-35C
$94.4m
13.2
A KC-46 Pegasus assigned to
the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at
McConnell AFB, Kansas. LIGHT ATTACK
USAF/TSgt John Winn
PROPOSALS RELEASED
THE USAF RELEASED a nal request used to develop an instructor pilot
for proposals (RFP) associated with program for the Combat Aviation
the purchase of a limited number Advisory mission, to meet ‘increased
of AT-6 Wolverines from Textron needs of partner nation for light
PEGASUS ENTERS INITIAL Aviation and A-29 Super Tucanos attack assistance’. The service was
from Sierra Nevada Corporation/
expecting to issue contract awards
OPERATIONAL TESTING Embraer Defense and Security, by the end of 2019 for the A-29 and
in early 2020 for the AT-6.
on October 24. The service plans
THE USAF’S BOEING KC-46A tanker conducting pre-IOT&E activities to acquire two or three examples
program o cially began its initial when multiple ‘category one’ of each aircraft and will use them
operational test and evaluation de ciencies were discovered. to focus on ‘building allies and
(IOT&E) phase on October 22. This is They include problems with the partner capacity, capability and ALSO
designed to test the e ectiveness, aircraft’s remote vision system interoperability and training and
suitability, and mission capability (RVS) and the refueling boom, but experimentation’. The AT-6s will be THIS
of the Pegasus and assure that it is the recent discovery of problems stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada, and
capable of accomplishing its three with the cargo locks has limited the used by Air Combat Command for
primary mission sets, comprising aircraft’s ability to simultaneously continued testing and development MONTH...
aerial refueling, cargo/passenger carry passengers and cargo. The of operational tactics and standards
operations, and aeromedical successful completion of IOT&E is that will improve interoperability F-35As head back to the Gulf
evacuation. Testing will continue a requirement for the aircraft to with international partners. Air Force
while Boeing works to correct achieve initial operational capability. Special Operations Command will Huge US Air Force air armada
identi ed de ciencies with the For more on the KC-46 see pages operate the A-29s from Hurlburt remains poised for potential
KC-46A. The aircraft had been 24-30 in this issue. Field, Florida, where they will be trouble in the Middle East.
www.Key.Aero // January 2020 07


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[NEWS]




Task Force — Operation ‘Inherent
Resolve’ on April 30. This strike marked
the F-35A’s rst combat employment.’
The two F-35s on the ATO used
LIGHTNING COMBAT GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
DEBUT COMPLETE used by so-called Islamic State (IS)
(JDAMs) to hit a tunnel network
and a weapons cache in the Hamrin
Mountains near Baiji in Iraq.
Few further o cial details of the
deployment have emerged, although,
over the past year or so, Operation
HILL F-35AS ROTATE BACK TO MAINTAIN PRESENCE IN THE GULF ‘Inherent Resolve’ has evolved from
being a campaign to roll back territory
held by IS in Iraq and Syria to what is
S AIR FORCE F-35As join the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Order (ATO) and were assigned to a now an intelligence-driven targeting
of the active-duty 4th (AEW) at Al Dhafra Air Base in the dedicated VUL (Vulnerability Period) in mission, with ghters providing top
Fighter Squadron (FS) United Arab Emirates. Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ (OIR). cover for coalition troops. As a result,
‘Fighting Fuujins’ and The F-35s launched initial local According to a CENTCOM news kinetic strikes have dramatically
the Reserve Command’s shakedown missions on April 24 release, the F-35’s rst kinetic action reduced. As well as delivering
U 466th FS ‘Diamondbacks’, having been tted with external came on April 30 during what it weapons, the USAF has been keen to
returned home to Hill AFB, Utah, in missile rails but with no weapons called an ‘air interdiction during its stress the bene ts the F-35A brings
late October at the conclusion of attached. Images released by inaugural deployment to the US Air to bear in the on-going campaign in
a six-month tour to the US Central CENTCOM subsequently con rmed Force’s Central Command’s area of the Middle East. In a press release it
Command (CENTCOM) region. This the rst combat missions on April responsibility’. A further release added: described how the jet’s ‘powerful and
was the rst combat deployment of 26 — complete with live external ‘Two USAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft comprehensive integrated sensor
USAF F-35As, having departed Hill on AIM-9X Sidewinders — as the USAF conducted an air strike at Wadi Ashai, package’ would be able to ‘fuse,
the night of April 11, eastbound to F-35As joined the daily Air Tasking Iraq, in support of Combined Joint integrate and share data with other









































Above left to right: Having arrived at Al Dhafra
on November 16, the new F-35A deployment
appears to be operating from a new location
rather than the sun shelters used on the debut
deployment. USAF/TSgt Joshua Williams This image: The 34th Fighter
Squadron ‘Rude Rams’ fl agship
The 494th Fighter Squadron arrived at Al F-35A arrives at Morón Air Base,
Dhafra on October 18 to join operations in the Spain, on November 12, en route to
region. USAF/TSgt Kat Justen Al Dhafra. Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta

08 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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[NEWS]



UPGRADED B-2A
PREPARED FOR
FLIGHT TESTS

NORTHROP GRUMMAN RECENTLY
completed hardware installations
associated with the B-2 defensive
management system modernization
(DMS-M) upgrade on an initial test
aircraft. Ground testing in advance
of flight tests is already under way,
with work being carried out at the
contractor’s facility at Air Force
Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
The upgrade package includes a
digital electronic support measures
(ESM) subsystem, new antennas
and updated cockpit displays and
With a large F-35A deployment, upwards of 30 F-15Es, processing units that improve threat
a full squadron of F-22A Raptors and F-16s, the USAF radar detection and crew situational
is maintaining a formidable presence in the Gulf awareness. The DMS-M also includes
region. USAF/TSgt Joshua Williams
a new open mission software
architecture that will provide the
battlefield assets’. USAF Chief of Staff arriving at Al Dhafra on October the Saudi base and returned to system with the flexibility to meet
Gen David Goldfein elaborated: 18 to join a mix of 4th FW F-15Es Ellsworth at the conclusion of an future threats. The system had been
‘The F-35A provides our nation air from Seymour Johnson AFB, North undisclosed mission. PSAB already scheduled to begin developmental
dominance in any threat. When it Carolina. In addition, the 389th FS supports F-22As deployed from flight tests in 2018, but due to delays
comes to having a ‘quarterback’ ‘Thunderbolts’ have 18 F-15Es at the Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the engineering and manufacturing
for the coalition joint force, the enduring (undisclosed) operating from the 27th Expeditionary Fighter development phase for the $3-billion
interoperable F-35A is clearly the location in CENTCOM under the Squadron (EFS) and US Navy program was extended through
aircraft for the leadership role.’ 332nd AEW. EA-18Gs from electronic attack mid-2022. The system has initially
Underscoring the importance of squadron VAQ-134 ‘Garudas’ at NAS been installed in B-2A serial 93-1087
the F-35 in CENTCOM, the returning LANCERS IN SAUDI ARABIA Whidbey island, Washington. Spirit of Pennsylvania, which serves as
aircraft were almost immediately Meanwhile, an undisclosed number The 31st Fighter Wing’s 555th the prototype. Once certification of
replaced by a new contingent of 18 of B-1B Lancers touched down FS is also getting involved in the the final DMS-M flight-test software
jets from Hill’s 34th FS ‘Rude Rams’ at Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), CENTCOM action, having deployed load and ground checks have been
and 421st FS ‘Black Widows’, which Saudi Arabia, on October 25. The F-16s from Aviano Air Base, Italy, completed, flights will start. The
arrived at Al Dhafra via Morón event marked the Lancer’s first to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, on DMS-M program is described as the
Air Base in southern Spain on return to the region since the October 28 and it is now assigned single-largest modification effort
November 16. last bombers left in March 2019. to the 379th AEW. Although the undertaken to date on the B-2A.
They joined an impressive The B-1Bs, which were operated squadron has made numerous visits
armada of combat air power in by the 28th Bomb Wing’s 34th to Afghanistan, this deployment NIGERIEN BASE
the region, with F-15Es from RAF Bomb Squadron, flew direct from to Middle East is the first for ‘Triple
Lakenheath’s 494th FS ‘Panthers’ Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, to Nickel’ since 2006. OPERATIONAL
THE USAF HAS begun intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
operations from Nigerien Air Base
201 in Agadez, Niger. The Nigerien
Air Force and the USAF began flying
limited Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
operations into the base on August
1. The flights included USAF C-130s
that carried out resupply missions.
Nigerien Air Base 201 was originally
scheduled to be operational by the
end of 2018, but weather-related
issues delayed its completion. Its
location in central Niger was selected
because of its geographic advantage
in combating threats from violent
extremist organizations in the area.
This image from October shows a 335th FS ‘Chiefs’ The USAF had previously conducted
F-15E at Al Dhafra returning from a mission with a mix of
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) and GBU-54 laser operations from another base near
JDAMs. USAF/TSgt Kat Justen Niger’s capital, Niamey.


www.Key.Aero // January 2020 09




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[NEWS]






















Led by an F-35C, this is a formation of Edwards-based
operational test Lightning IIs. Six F-35As of the 31st TES
recently left Edwards to be reassigned to the 422nd TES
at Nellis. USAF/Giancarlo Casem
USAF RELOCATES IX F 35AS THAT had the F-35 Joint Operational Test Team
been operated by the
(JOTT). The instrumented aircraft will
53rd Wing’s 31st Test and
continue to support IOT&E with the
OPERATIONAL SCalifornia, were relocated 422nd TES, which is also a component
Evaluation Squadron
of the 53rd Wing. The F-35As were
(TES), at Edwards AFB,
consolidated at Nellis to permit the
to Nellis AFB, Nevada, where they service to ‘launch operationally-
TEST F-35S were reassigned to the 422nd TES relevant numbers of instrumented
‘Green Bats’. The move follows the
airplanes’. The successful completion
completion of the 31st TES’s portion of IOT&E will result in a Full-Rate
of the Lightning II’s initial operational Production decision for the Joint
31ST TES MOVES JETS FROM EDWARDS TO NELLIS test and evaluation (IOT&E) as part of Strike Fighter program.

FIRST DUTCH KDC-10 RETIRED With the arrival of the rst former USAF DEVELOPING
Dutch KDC-10, OARS will be able to
OMEGA AIR INC has acquired and will remain in service until the o er this refueling method. ‘ARSENAL PLANE’
two KDC-10 tankers from the end of 2021, after which it will be In 1992, two DC-10-30s CONCEPT
Dutch government including transferred to Omega Air. were acquired from Martinair THE USAF IS once again evaluating
ground support equipment and The KDC-10s will augment and converted into KDC-10 an ‘arsenal plane’, but is adapting
spare parts. The Defence Materiel Omega Aerial Refueling Services’ con guration by KLM Engineering the concept to include the service’s
Organisation (DMO), responsible for (OARS) current eet of two Boeing and Maintenance at Schiphol latest technological pursuits. In
the acquisition, maintenance and 707-300s and a single DC-10. These Airport. The rst KDC-10 (T- its latest incarnation, the ying
disposal of defense materiel of the are equipped with the hose-and- 264) entered Dutch service in munitions truck would be capable of
armed forces of the Netherlands, drogue system able to perform September 1995, followed by the delivering hypersonic weapons and
has been involved in the sale, but probe-and-drogue refueling only. second example in April 1996. integrating a networked advanced
the total value has not been made Omega has provided refueling Both will be replaced by the battle management system. It
public. KDC-10 serial T-264 Prins services to the US Navy and Airbus KC-30 MRTT (Multi-Role remains unclear if an existing
Bernhard was retired on November US Marine Corps since 2001 Tanker Transport), under the NATO bomber or airlift aircraft would be
1 from Royal Netherlands Air Force to support training ights and Multinational Multi-Role Tanker adapted for the role, but during a
service. The tanker took o from exercises. The company has been Transport Fleet (MMF). A total of recent event the air force’s assistant
Eindhoven for the last time on considering expansion of its eet eight aircraft are on order, ve secretary for acquisition, technology,
November 4 for the ferry ight to its to start providing its services to aircraft will be based at Eindhoven and logistics, suggested that the
new owner in the US. The second the US Transportation Command while three examples will be USAF’s bombers are already evolving
KDC-10, T-235 Jan Sche er, is still (USTRANSCOM), but it was lacking located in Cologne in Germany. to t the ‘arsenal plane’ concept.
being operated by 334 Squadron boom-equipped tanker aircraft. Marco Muntz The service is looking at integrating
hypersonic weapons with the B-52H
and expanding the B-1B Lancer’s
weapons capacity from 24 to 40
munitions and integrating the AGM-
158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stando
Missile (JASSM), the extended-range
AGM-158B JASSM-ER, and the AGM-
158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile
(LRASM). The service is planning
KDC-10 T-264 Prins Bernhard to conduct several ‘arsenal plane’
climbs away from Eindhoven for a experiments over the next few years
mission in April 2019. Marco Muntz as the concept is developed further.


10 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




22/11/2019 13:17
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[NEWS]




RAF TYPHOONS IN ICELAND NORWAY GOES IOC WITH F-35

RAF EUROFIGHTER TYPHOONS deployed aircraft to Iceland and ROYAL NORWEGIAN AIR Force jets are expected to assume the
have arrived in Iceland for a one- is also the rst time the RAF has F-35As achieved initial operational quick reaction alert mission from
month deployment protecting covered the Icelandic mission. capability (IOC) on November Evenes Air Station in northern
local airspace as the UK’s O cer Commanding No 1(F) 6, after concluding a two-year Norway by 2022.
contribution to NATO’s Icelandic Squadron, Wg Cdr Mark Baker period of intense operational test In related news, Luke AFB,
Air Policing Mission. No 1 (Fighter) said: ‘We are very excited to be and evaluation (OT&E). Achieving Arizona, has unsurprisingly been
Squadron deployed to Ke avík Air here and are looking forward to the milestone means the ghters named as a candidate base for a
Base on November 13 from RAF starting ying operations. We will be permitted to deploy to Belgian F-35A Formal Training Unit
Lossiemouth, Moray, and they have come here at the request Iceland next year, in support of beginning in 2023. The training
were scheduled to remain here of the Icelandic government to the NATO Air Policing Mission. The unit will be located at the Glendale
until mid-December. provide a capable force designed declaration followed a deployment base for at least seven years. A
This is the rst time in more to o er reassurance and police the of F-35As from the Ørland Main site survey and environmental
than 10 years that the RAF has country’s airspace.’ Air Station to Rygge Air Station impact analysis will be conducted
near Oslo that was intended to to ensure the base can support
RAF Typhoon FGR4s arrive at Kefl avík on November 13 to start the local verify 332 Squadron’s ability to the additional ights before a nal
air policing mission. Crown Copyright operate the Lightning II away from decision is made by the secretary
its home station. The Norwegian of the air force.
Norway has announced IOC for its F-35As. RNoAF













HH-60WS DELIVERED


TO DUKE FIELD TRAINING SPECIALS


THE 96TH TEST Wing’s 413th Flight support developmental testing, Training Wing Two (TRAWING 2) at NAS Kingsville, Texas,
has painted T-45C BuNo 163656 in a special scheme
Test Squadron received the rst were delivered by crews from based on the Texas fl ag. It’s the latest of a number of
of two HH-60W Combat Rescue the Detachment 2, 88th Test designs aimed at helping to promote squadron culture.
Helicopters at Eglin AFB’s Duke and Evaluation Squadron (TES). Brandon Thetford
Field in Florida, on November The initial operational test and
6. A second example arrived evaluation program that will
following a ve-hour ight from follow is expected to begin in
the Sikorsky Developmental mid-2021. Moody AFB’s 347th
Flight Center near West Palm Rescue Group in Georgia will
Beach, Florida, the following be the rst operational unit to
day. The helicopters, which will receive the HH-60W.

The fi rst new HH-60W combat rescue helicopter arrives at Eglin AFB’s
Duke Field in Florida, on November 6. The aircraft was delivered to the
413th Flight Test Squadron. USAF/Samuel King Jr The 80th Flying Training Wing (FTW) at Sheppard AFB, Texas, has
applied a ‘Heritage Scheme’ to each squadron fl agship in the wing.
This T-6A (serial 03-3689) is from the 89th Flying Training Squadron
(FTS) ‘Banshees’. Brandon Thetford



















www.Key.Aero // January 2020 11




22/11/2019 13:17
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[NEWS]





UK ACCEPTS POSEIDON





FIRST BOEING P-8 HANDED OVER IN THE US









































ISRAEL’S ‘AIR FORCE ONE’ LIFTS OFF

THREE YEARS AFTER landing in IAI retro tted a number of
Israel, the Israeli ‘Air Force One’ mission upgrades including
took o for its maiden ight on Directional Infrared Counter
November 3. The Boeing 767- Measures (DIRCM) protection
338ER was recon gured by Israel against man-portable air-defense
Aerospace Industries (IAI), which systems (MANPADS) and advanced
reworked the former passenger heat-seeking missiles, and
aircraft over the last two year s for jamming systems. The aircraft will
its new role carrying the Israeli join 120 Squadron ‘Desert Giants’
prime minister and president for of the Israeli Air Force, based at An Air Force Reserve Command HC-130N from the 920th Rescue Wing’s
o cial visits abroad. Nevatim Air Base. Noam Menashe 39th Rescue Squadron makes a pass over the fl ight line at Patrick AFB,
Florida, during the wing’s ‘Sundown Ceremony’ for the Combat King on
November 2. AFRC/920th RQW
COMBAT KING SUNDOWN


THE US AIR Force Reserve in 2017. The squadron expects to
Command’s 920th Rescue Wing receive its rst new HC-130J combat
commemorated the impending rescue aircraft in March 2020.
retirement of the nal legacy Several of the unit’s personnel are
HC-130Ns at Patrick AFB, Florida, already attending training at Little
on November 2. The wing’s three Rock AFB, Arkansas, and Kirtland
HC-130N Combat Kings were AFB, New Mexico. The rst aircrews
operated by the Alaska Air National are expected to complete Combat
Guard prior to their assignment to King II mission quali cation in
Anthony Hershko the 39th Rescue Squadron at Patrick February 2020.


12 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




22/11/2019 13:17
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8-15 News C.indd 12

[NEWS]




HE UK MINISTRY of JSTARS COMES HOME
Defence accepted JAPANESE F-15J The Georgia Air National Guard and
the rst of eight Air Combat Command’s 116th and
P-8A maritime patrol 461st Air Control Wings and the
aircraft for the Royal UPGRADES PLANNED US Army Intelligence and Security
TAir Force at Boeing Command’s 138th Military Intelligence
Field, in Seattle, Washington, THE US STATE Department has AN/ALQ-239 Digital Electronic Company closed out an 18-year-
on October 29. The following approved a possible Foreign Warfare Systems (DEWS). The long deployment to the US Central
day the Poseidon was own to Military Sale (FMS) that will allow cost for the Japanese Super Command area of responsibility (AOR)
NAS Jacksonville, Florida, where the government of Japan to Interceptor (JSI) con guration on October 1, when the last E-8C
personnel from the RAF’s No upgrade up to 98 F-15J Eagles is estimated at $4.5 billion. Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar
120 Squadron are undergoing with AN/APG-82(v)1 Active Boeing will be tasked to produce System (JSTARS) aircraft assigned
training with the US Navy. The Electronically Scanned Array kits for the upgrade and the to the 7th Expeditionary Airborne
training is being provided by (AESA) radar, Advanced Display modi cations will be carried out Command and Control Squadron
patrol squadron VP-30, which is Core Processor II (ADCP II) by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ew its nal sortie from Al Udeid
the eet replacement squadron mission system computers, and (MHI), which built the F-15Js. Air Base, Qatar. Joint STARS battle
for the Poseidon. Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15Js are to receive a package of management aircraft have been
Assigned the serial ZP801, the much-needed upgrades under a new $4.5-billion deal with Boeing. continually deployed to the CENTCOM
rst of nine Poseidon MRA1s for Commonwealth of Australia AOR from Robins AFB, Georgia, since
No 120 and 201 Squadrons carries November 2001. The E-8Cs ew
the name Pride of Moray. The rst 10,938 sorties, totaling 114,426.6
Poseidon is expected to arrive in combat ying hours, supporting
the UK in February 2020 and all nearly every CENTCOM operation,
nine will be in service by 2024. The including ‘Enduring Freedom’, ‘Iraqi
aircraft will initially operate from Freedom’, ‘Freedom’s Sentinel’ and
the air eld at Kinloss Barracks, ‘Inherent Resolve’.
Scotland, until facilities at RAF
Lossiemouth are completed.
WORLD NATO’s enhanced forward presence U-100. The Phenom 100EV was
The fi rst RAF P-8A Poseidon battalion, which is based in Rukla. produced at the company’s facility
arrives at NAS Jacksonville in in Melbourne, Florida, rather than in
October. Crown Copyright/ NEWS Amphibious ships fully capable Brazil. The Phenom 100EV features a
Cpl Lee Matthews The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Garmin G3000-based digital cockpit
IN BRIEF two Canberra-class landing and uprated Pratt & Whitney Canada

CHINOOK ENGINE Croatian Black Hawk helicopter dock (LHD) ships, PW617 engines.
HMAS Adelaide (L 01) and HMAS
EVALUATION UNDER WAY sale approved Canberra (L 02), achieved nal Indonesian ‘Viper’ plans
The US State Department has given operational capability in early The chief of the Indonesian Air
THE US ARMY Combat Capabilities its approval to the foreign military November. The 755ft (230m) 27,500- Force recently revealed plans to
Development Command Aviation and sale of two UH-60M helicopters and ton amphibious assault ships are acquire two squadrons of Block
Missile Center’s Aviation Development related equipment and services capable of carrying an embarked 72 F-16s between 2020 and 2024.
Directorate-Eustis has begun testing to the government of Croatia. The force of up to 1,122 personnel and The Indonesian Air Force currently
a modi ed NCH-47D helicopter sale has an estimated value of $115 the ight deck can simultaneously operates 33 F-16s that are divided
that has been re-engined with a million. The US had previously support six MRH90 medium-lift or between 16 Squadron at Roesmin
pair of 7,500shp (5,593kW) General approved the donation of two four CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters. Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru,
Electric T408 engines in place of UH-60Ms in October 2018. The ships can also carry up to Riau Province, and 3 Squadron at
the Chinook’s 4,800shp (3,579kW) 110 vehicles, including Abrams Iswahyudi Air Base in Madiun, East
Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshafts. Lithuania selects new helicopter main battle tanks, and four LCM Java. The jets include nine Block 15
The T408-GE-400 powers the Sikorsky Lithuania is the latest Eastern 1E landing craft can operate from F-16A/B variants and 24 upgraded
CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter that is European country to select Sikorsky’s the well decks. The largest ships Block 25 F-16C/Ds that previously
under development by the marine UH-60M to meet its future rotary- ever built for the RAN are based on served with the USAF.
corps. The CH-47 test program is wing requirements. The Baltic nation the design of the Spanish Navy’s
being conducted under a Boeing- plans to purchase six Black Hawks Strategic Projection Vessel Juan Taiwan retires ‘Huey’
GE Aviation-US Army Cooperative via the US Foreign Military Sales Carlos I (L61). The Republic of China marked the
Research and Development (FMS) program at a cost of around end of an era on October 30, when
Agreement (CRADA). The modi ed $334 million. The Black Hawks will Brazilian Air Force receives rst the Army Aviation Service formally
NCH-47D began six weeks of ground replace Lithuania’s current eet of Phenom 100EVs retired the last six UH-1H helicopters
testing in October 2019 and a 25-hour Russian-built Mi-8s. A formal letter of The Brazilian Air Force’s 6th Air from service during a ceremony
ight-test program will follow. The o er and acceptance for the FMS will Transport Squadron accepted a pair at Hsinche Army Base. The ‘Hueys’,
ve-year project began in 2015 and be signed by the end of 2020, with of EMB-500 Phenom 100EV light which had been assigned to the
will conclude in 2020. There is no deliveries expected within four years. business jets from Embraer in Brasilia 602nd Airborne Brigade’s 602nd Air
current plan to install the engine in In addition to Lithuania’s own armed on October 23. The aircraft will be Assault Group, have been replaced
the Chinook eet, but it could become forces, the Black Hawks will support operated under the designation by newly delivered UH-60Ms.
part of a future upgrade.

www.Key.Aero // January 2020 13




22/11/2019 13:17
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8-15 News C.indd 13

[NEWS]





This image: On arrival at Leeuwarden
F-009 was greeted by the fi re
department, which doused it in
foam instead of water as it laid on a
traditional welcome. Gert Kromhout
Inset: Lt Col Ian Knight in the cockpit
of F-009 after arriving at Leeuwarden.
Stephan De Bruijn



















DUTCH F-35 COMES HOME







FIRST OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT ARRIVES AT LEEUWARDEN

HE FIRST OPERATIONAL (JSF). Following political rigmarole, it received aircraft from the production expected at Volkel Air Base, ahead of
F-35A Lightning II for the was decided on July 5, 2012 that the facility at Fort Worth, Texas, and Full Operational Capability in 2024.
Koninklijke Luchtmacht F-35 was indeed the right choice and Cameri. Dutch F-35s have visited the Stephan de Bruijn
(KLu, Royal Netherlands just one month later, on August 20, country on two occasions from the
Air Force) arrived at the rst Dutch F-35A (serial F-001, US, but the arrival of F-009 is a major
TLeeuwarden in the construction number AN-1) made its landmark. Following checks by
Netherlands on October 31. Serial maiden ight from Fort Worth, Texas. the Defensie Materieel Organisatie
F-009 is the rst Italian-built F-35A The initial pair of Dutch jets joined (DMO, Defense Materiel Command)
for the KLu — completed at the Final the operational test team at Edwards the aircraft will be handed over
Assembly and Check Out (FACO) AFB, California. On November 6, to the KLu and assigned to 322
facility in Cameri — as well as being 2014 the KLu established its rst Squadron ‘Polly Grey’. A second
the rst operational aircraft to arrive squadron; 323 Test and Evaluation aircraft was expected in December. It
at Leeuwarden for permanent stay. Squadron (TES) at Edwards. is anticipated that 322 Squadron will
On July 17, 2002 the Dutch The 308th Fighter Squadron at reach Initial Operational Capability
government became a partner in Luke AFB, Arizona, is responsible for (IOC) in the fourth quarter of 2021.
the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program training Dutch F-35 pilots and has In June 2022, the rst F-35A is


FINAL LUFTWAFFE EUROFIGHTER

THE LAST EUROFIGHTER currently its early Tranche 1 examples under
on contract for the German a project named ‘Quadriga’. This
Luftwa e made its maiden ight includes 26 single-seat and seven
on October 28 at Manching. two-seat aircraft, plus options on
Serial 31+53 (GS113) is the last of ve more single-seaters. Typhoons
30 Tranche 3A jets for Germany. are also being considered to
The Luftwa e looks set to order replace the Luftwa e’s remaining
additional Euro ghters to replace Tornados.
SMART ‘WIZARD’



A welcome splash of color adorns this Boeing EA-18G Growler of
VAQ-133 ‘Wizards’ (BuNo 168376) that was detached to NAS Fallon, The Luftwaffe’s last Tranche
Nevada, in late October to participate in the US Navy’s Airborne 3A jet gets airborne from
Electronic Attack Weapons School HAVOC class. Jamie Hunter Manching. Dr Andreas Zeitler


14 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




22/11/2019 13:18
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8-15 News C.indd 14

[NEWS]





UNIT AND LOSSES

DEPLOYMENT NEWS Compiled by Tom Kaminski


• An Indian Navy MiG-29KUB assigned to the air force’s transport
• The 355th Fighter Squadron (FS) • The 56th Rescue Squadron crashed shortly after taking off from group, crossed a taxiway and a
has been inactivated and in its returned to Aviano Air Base, INS Hansa in Dabolim on November ditch, causing the main landing
place the 24th FS stood-up during Italy, on October 8, concluding a 16. Both pilots ejected safely before gear to collapse. One member of
ceremonies held at NAS JRB Fort deployment in support of Central the fighter came down in Goa. the seven crew was injured.
Worth, Texas, on October 25. The Command that began in May 2019. The crash followed multiple bird • AF-1B (A-4KU) serial N-1013
24th FS is an active associate unit strikes that caused a dual-engine (ex-BuNo 160198, c/n 14566),
that is stationed alongside the Air • The Ohio Army National Guard’s flame-out. operated by the Brazilian Navy’s
Force Reserve Command’s 301st Detachment 2, Company A, 2nd • A Nigerian Air Force A109LUH First Interceptor Attack Squadron
Fighter Wing. Assigned to the 495th Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment was destroyed in a hard landing in (VF-1), was heavily damaged in
Fighter Group at Shaw AFB, South is deploying to Afghanistan. Enugu state on November 14. No an aborted take-off at São Pedro
Carolina, the squadron shares the Normally stationed at Rickenbacker fatalities were reported as a result da Aldeia Naval Air Base in Rio de
responsibility for operating the International Airport, Columbus, of the mishap or the post-crash fire. Janeiro, Brazil, on October 21. The
301st FW’s F-16Cs with the wing’s the unit provides Operational • Italian Navy SH-101A (AW101) former Kuwaiti Air Force Skyhawk
own 757th FS. Support Airlift with a single C-26E serial MM81487 (c/n 50039) from was only returned to service after
Metroliner. the 1st Helicopter Squadron receiving upgrades in September.
• The last deployed EC-130H crashed aboard the Horizon-class The pilot was able to egress the
Compass Call departed from Ali Al • Company F, 1st Battalion 82nd destroyer Caio Duilio (D554) during aircraft without incident.
Salem Air Base, Kuwait, on October Aviation Regiment has deployed a training flight on November 6.
2. The departure of the aircraft to the US Central Command Six passengers and crew escaped USAF safety improves
coincided with the inactivation of Area of Operations (CENTCOM) without serious injury following the US Fiscal Year 2019, which
the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic area of responsibility in support Merlin’s hard landing. concluded on September 30,
Combat Squadron. of Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’. • An F-16 from the USAF 49th proved to be a far safer year for the
Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Wing’s 54th Fighter Group at USAF than 2018. According to data
• The deployment of three RQ-4Bs to Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, from the Air Force Safety Center
Yokota Air Base, Japan, concluded the Attack Reconnaissance crashed during an evening training at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, the
when the Global Hawks returned to Battalion operates the MQ-1C Gray flight on October 29. The pilot service suffered 14 major mishaps
Andersen AFB, Guam, on October Eagle remotely piloted aircraft. successfully ejected and suffered compared with 23 in FY 2018. A
20. Assigned to Det 1, 319th only minor injuries. The crash Class A mishap is one that results
Operations Group, the remotely • The New York Air National Guard’s occurred around 80 miles (128.7km) in more than $2 million in damage,
piloted aircraft shifted operations to 109th Airlift Wing began its 32nd southeast of Holloman. or a death or permanent disability.
Yokota during the summer typhoon year of support of the US Antarctic • Bell 412EP serial FAC0006 (c/n The recorded mishaps resulted
season when weather has a greater Program under Operation ‘Deep 36585), operated by the Colombian in the loss of three aircraft and a
potential to affect operations in Freeze’ on October 28, when the Air Force, crashed during a single fatality. The service suffered
Guam. first of five LC-130Hs departed from maintenance test flight on October 19 fatalities in FY 2018. Incidents
Stratton Air National Guard base 25. Six crew and passengers that involve the destruction of a
• The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s in Scotia. The wing’s 109th Airlift were killed when the helicopter remotely piloted aircraft are not
115th Fighter Wing completed a Squadron flies 10 ski-equipped LC- went down near Subachoque in included in the statistics unless one
four-month deployment in support 130H aircraft. During the upcoming central Colombia’s Cundinamarca of the criteria is met.
of Operation ‘Freedom’s Sentinel’ support season, which runs department. The 14 Class A events involved six
on November 9. In addition to the through February 2020, the 109th • An Indian Army Dhruv F-22s, two F-15s, and two F-16Cs,
wing’s own 176th Expeditionary expects to fly around 160 missions, helicopter was destroyed in an as well as single examples of the
Fighter Squadron, the deployment from its base at McMurdo Station. emergency landing in Kashmir C-17A, T-38C, T-6A, and CV-22B. The
was supported by the 378th Missions will include logistical on October 24. Two pilots and service also saw a reduction in Class
Fighter Squadron. The active-duty support for research in western five passengers, including the B mishaps, which cause between
associate is stationed alongside the Antarctica, where scientists are Northern Army commander, $500,000 and $2 million in damage,
115th at Truax Field in Madison. studying ice loss in glaciers as were on board, but no serious a permanent or partial disability, or
While deployed to Bagram Airfield, part of the International Thwaites injuries were reported — the the hospitalization of three or more
Afghanistan, the unit was assigned Glacier Collaboration. Throughout helicopter went down alongside a personnel.
to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. the 2018-2019 season, the river in the Poonch district of the The improvements can be
squadron completed 242 missions Jammu region. partially attributed to new
• The 20th Fighter Wing’s 79th within Antarctica transporting • Salvadoran Air Force BT-67 technologies and procedures
Fighter Squadron deployed 18 scientists, fuel, medical and other serial FAS-116 (ex-C-47B serial that are being put in place. The
F-16Cs to Bagram in late October, supplies. As part of Operation 44-76950, c/n 33282/16534) incorporation of a new Automatic
replacing the Wisconsin jets. The ‘Deep Freeze’, Joint Task Force- suffered a runway excursion during Ground Collision Avoidance System
aircraft arrived in Afghanistan on Support Forces Antarctica employs take-off at San Salvador/Ilopango in the F-16 fleet is one example.
October 26 following a stop at sealift and airlift to deliver supplies International Airport on October The system has reportedly already
Morón Air Base in southern Spain. and personnel to Antarctica.
22. The Basler Turbo BT-67, which is saved nine lives and eight aircraft.


www.Key.Aero // January 2020 15




22/11/2019 13:18
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8-15 News C.indd 15

BY SCOTT WOLFF






















BRINGING YOU THE LATEST TALK
FROM AROUND THE SQUADRONS





DELIBERA
DELIBERA
DELIBERA
DELIBERATE TE TE TE TE
DELIBERA
T T
TARGETINGARGETINGARGETING






HOW TACTICAL AIRCRAFT AND
SPECIAL FORCES TAKE DOWN
THE WORLD’S MOST WANTED


MAGINE FOR A moment you’re or kill’, but you have a good idea, given learned failures — and you’re supported
one of a nation’s elite soldiers, the nature of your target, that capture by the utmost trust and con dence from
assigned to a famed special won’t be an option. senior leadership. You’ve been on the
mission unit. Perhaps you’ve been Intelligence for the mission is provided brink of launching on a couple previous
part of this particular organization from a variety of very capable, credible occasions, but because of last-minute
Ifor more than a decade, with sources, and has been owing in for hiccups, you haven’t gotten under way.
multiple deployments all over the several weeks. You and your team-mates Tonight, it’s di erent. Tonight, it’s real…
world, and hundreds of low-visibility, have been poring over maps and satellite and it’s go time.
high-risk operations under your belt. images, along with other raw data and
You’re getting ready to embark on an analysts’ reports. There’s back-and-forth Deliberate targeting
assignment which could potentially chat with pilots who will transport the Whether the target is Abu Musab al-
de ne your career, and both your team into the target location, looking after Zarqawi, Osama bin Laden or Abu Bakr
success or failure could have global in ltration and ex ltration. You’ve been al-Baghdadi, the mission is a massive
repercussions. rehearsing at a remote location, practising undertaking, utilizing a variety of assets
The objective this time is one of the your craft in an environment with and disciplines to achieve the common
world’s most-wanted terrorists, and structures very similar to what you’ll nd objective: to capture or kill the bad guy
your unit has been given the task of when the mission goes down for real. in question.
bringing that person to justice. Anyone There’s been a tremendous build-up of Deliberate targeting (DT) is an approach
can clear rooms and kill bad dudes, but anticipation, because your bosses have that is focused entirely on a speci c
you can’t get information from a corpse. wanted this person for some time. Your person or place, at a speci c time, with
A breathing, talking individual can be skills are sharp. You have the knowledge all e orts supporting the operational
a treasure-trove of information. The you need and wisdom provided from requirements and mission commander’s
mission brief includes the words ‘capture hard-earned successes — and hard- objective. In order to achieve that, the

16 16 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




21/11/2019 20:55
16-19 Ops Desk C.indd 16 21/11/2019 20:55
16-19 Ops Desk C.indd 16

Once you have the intel you need,
targeting and tasking assignments
are laid out. Start on the objective,
and time you want to be there, then
work backwards. What do you need to
accomplish your task? How do you get
there? From where do you arrive? When
do you launch? Will you need to refuel?
What supporting assets do you need to
mitigate as much risk as possible?
The di erent steps to planning DT are
all inter-related, as they should work
together as an integrated whole to
achieve mission success. Targeting and
tasking should be planned in parallel,
and concurrently, to ensure seamless
integration. That can be challenging
since, in this era of modern warfare, no-
one ghts alone. When your objective
is one of particularly high value, you
can count on tremendous involvement
across the branches of armed service and
the intelligence community, as well as
overview at the most senior levels.
Devil is in the detail
The planning process for a mission
like this encompasses the complete
progression of taking the mission
commander’s intent (read: we’re going
to get this person, come hell or high
water) and guidance (read: get us there
safely, cover us while we’re there, and
get us out safely — we’ll handle the rest).
There needs to be a determination of
where to surgically apply force, where to
avoid contact at all cost, and how to get
there while causing the least amount of
alarm, tipping o scouts or informants,
right personnel and capabilities are like a well-oiled machine. Other times and crossing through airspace and
assigned, given the location of the will be complete chaos, wrought with over terrain controlled by potentially
target, the nature of area defenses, both spilled co ee, ared tempers, nger- hostile forces.
surface and air, the presence of other pointing, and all-round disdain for other Sounds easy, right?
‘Blue’ (friendly) forces, and a myriad of participants and their unique processes. As the mission nears its execution
other factors. But it works out, thanks to professionals phase, the charge becomes putting the
A typical DT mission template is broken like US Air Force weapons o cers, who required information into an integrated,
down into the following steps, referred to are masters of this type of chaos, and are synchronized, and co-ordinated order.
as an air tasking cycle: often the glue that holds it all together. That involves distributing the products
• Objectives, e ects, and guidance Recent events in the news are no to all users, not all of whom will be
• Target development exception. joining the party from the same place(s),
• Weaponeering and allocation The DT mission is built on the monitoring the execution of mission
• Air tasking order (ATO) production and foundation laid by the intelligence planning to adapt to changes in the
dissemination preparation of the operational operational environment, and assessing
• Execution planning and force execution environment (IPOE). Whether that intel the results of the combined e ort of all
• Assessment comes from signals intercepts, satellites, The 160th Special the agencies involved.
Operations
While these steps are provided in a human sources, hacking computer Aviation Regiment For the nal mission planning
sequence, the process of planning a networks, or whatever else is available, fl ies the uniquely portion, the goal is to produce the
mission like this, especially when so it all matters, and it all must paint the confi gured mission package materials and taskings
MH-47G for the
many di erence agencies are involved, same picture. If you don’t have credible, type of missions contained therein, ensuring they are
is anything but sequential. There will actionable information on which your described in this handed out to all the participating units
be moments in the mission planning plan will be based, your mission will fail feature. in order to place a dizzying array of
US Army/SSgt
cell when all will be humming along — if it launches at all. Reed Knutson capabilities into a position to accomplish

www.Key.Aero // January 2020 17 17




21/11/2019 20:55
16-19 Ops Desk C.indd 17
16-19 Ops Desk C.indd 17 21/11/2019 20:55

helicopters, and ‘acceptable risk’ seems to
be teetering precariously on the edge of
‘ridiculous and stupid’.
Which of those is the larger risk? While
the ‘Growler’ and ‘Greyhound’ SAMs
are really, really high on the scary scale,
perhaps the fighters are a bigger concern?
A double-digit SAM may be nothing to
scoff at, but they do have limitations,
and particular targeting criteria. If I’m a
fighter pilot covering a mission like this,
I’m probably a bit more worried about a
‘Flanker’ rolling into the operating area.
In the target area itself, the terrain
is sloped, features all manner of large
rocks, and is surrounded by olive groves.
The uneven terrain, trees, and boulders
present a significant impediment to the
insertion and extraction of the assault
force, perhaps even preventing the
helicopters from landing. As is said in the
the commander’s intent with the given allied yourself with state-controlled trade, ‘Getting there is half the fun.’
acceptable level of risk. agencies, either foreign or domestic,
The mission’s parameters are chances are you’re going to have a lot of it. Inbound ‘hot’
determined by time and distance. Do you If you recall Operation ‘Neptune Spear’ At any altitude or time, the noise is
have all the airframes you need available? — the mission to go after Osama bin constant and penetrating. The MH-47G
Do aircrews have the appropriate amount Laden — the infiltration route had the Chinook is a massive helicopter, creating
of experience? How’s their level of crew assault force flying nap-of-the-earth a wall of sound that can be heard from
rest? Do any additional assets need to be through some of the highest mountains a long way off. The pitch of that noise
brought into the theater? Do you have on the planet, through heavily defended increases with power modulation, so
the flexibility and versatility required to airspace in three different countries. it gets higher as you take off and the
meet your objective with the assets and At the actual objective, the Pakistani pilots are throttling up, or as you climb.
personnel your plan includes? Military Academy was less than a mile During descent into the landing zone,
Effective DT has a high price tag as down the road. The Pakistani Air Force the throttles come back and it lowers,
it applies to flow of information and was — and still is — equipped with but it never, ever goes away. The sharp
resource allocation. The targeting and F-16s. The risk was significant enough increase of that pitch means a sharp
assessment portions are especially that two top-secret helicopters with low- power application when the pilots are
intensive, as your high-value target observable characteristics were used in maneuvering in the formation, avoiding
(HVT) could have a last-minute change the operation. a mountain or other vertical terrain, or
to travel plans, weather could come into In a more recent high-profile operation, halting a descent close to the ground.
play negatively, as could factors such as when US forces raided a compound If you aren’t hooked to comms on the
the phase of the moon. Your assessment housing the founder of so-called Islamic aircraft, which usually is only the team
needs to include the things like the State (IS), the infiltration portion of the leader and the USAF joint terminal attack
current posture of the opposing force, mission was incredibly challenging — controller (JTAC), the ear-splitting noise is
as well as their capabilities and known similar to ‘Neptune Spear’. Operation the only interface you have with the state
tactics, techniques and procedures. What’s ‘Kayla Mueller’ included overflight of of the aircraft or the flight itself.
their leadership like? What about the mountainous terrain at low level and Imagine for a moment being on
specific HVT? Have you covered centers high speed, through airspace and over that beast: if you look around in the
of gravity and specific vulnerabilities? terrain heavily defended by Syria, Turkey, interior, almost 20 guys are packed into
What about habits and pattern of life? and the Russian Federation. the helicopter, and perhaps a military
How many people are around for close The surface threats alone in that part working dog or two. All the operators
protection? Has an attempt to deal with of Syria are nightmarish, including the would be dressed pretty much alike:
him been made before? If so, how recent SA-21 and SA-22 surface-to-air missile combat uniforms; hiking boots of
was the attempt? systems (SAMs). Both boast a very high various makes; webbing adorned with
probability of kill as well as advanced med kits, breaching tools, and spare
Threat picture considerations search and fire control radars designed magazines; GPNVG-18 panoramic night
DT missions can be wrought with peril, to detect low-observable aircraft such vision goggles firmly affixed to Wilcox
and most of that has more to do with as the F-22 and F-35. Not only can those mounts on OpsCore helmets; and a pretty
the operational environment than actual systems target aircraft, but they can standard weapons array — short-barreled
actions on the objective. If you are public defend themselves and target munitions M4 rifles with suppressors, as well as a
enemy number one, and you know this, fired at them. Throw in Russian fighters smattering of other weapons to deal with
you’re going to have protection. If you’ve — including Su-35s — and attack possible contingencies.

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The MH-47 routinely only has 18 seats The back-end crew of the MH-47 consists reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, and other
available. Why so few? Because the craft of four personnel — the ight engineer, players, all working together in concert
is built speci cally for special operations, who is the senior crewman, and three towards meeting the objective.
there is a bunch of non-standard crew chiefs. When not attending to tasks Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go as
equipment aboard. So, if you are one of involved with ying the aircraft, the four planned. While ‘Neptune Spear’ and ‘Kayla
the guys without a seat, it is a miserable of them have a secondary responsibility of Mueller’ were tremendous victories for
ride. Your butt and legs will fall asleep being gunners. Joint Special Operations Command, other
and it will be a constant battle to keep There are two miniguns in the front, one missions have resulted in less favorable
circulation to your lower extremities. Not in the cabin door, the other opposite in the outcomes. Aircraft have been downed
only that, but any part of you touching other window. The guns are much larger (Operation ‘Gothic Serpent’), aircrew
anything metal will be numbed from the and more complex than the armament have been lost, and members of the
vibration of the engines, the transmissions, normally carried on helicopters, and their special mission units (SMUs) have been
and the rotors beating the air. ammo boxes and batteries take up a killed in missions like these over the past
Here’s another thing, just to add to the good amount of the oor just behind the two decades.
fun factor: it’s freezing. The rear ramp door/window. They have a large battery As technology improves and lethality
is never fully closed during combat because they are DC-powered, allowing increases on both sides, the required
operations, and the other doors and crew them to be used without aircraft power level of co-ordination, precision, and
windows are open to accommodate the in the case of a shoot-down — a painful allocation of appropriate assets also rises.
aircraft’s guns. There’s no escaping the lesson learned from Roberts Ridge during The purpose of air assets elded by the
breeze, and the air ow goes from back to Operation ‘Anaconda’ in Afghanistan. Left: ‘Green USAF, US Army and US Navy is pretty
front as well. The interior of the helicopter Additionally, the MH-47G model has Berets’ assigned simple: support the boots on the ground.
to the 3rd
would be blacked out to conserve the two rectangular windows (left and right) Special Forces Maximize your performance and that of
crew’s night vision, but you could be just below the engines and forward of Group (Airborne) your aircraft to keep the threat picture
certain that you’d see other operators the ramp. Each of these has an M-240 conduct fast clean, thereby enabling the SMUs to get in
rope insertion/
shivering in the cold. mounted in it. extraction system and conduct their nasty business.
You would wiggle your ngers and toes training. US Army/ While there is much fanfare about the
almost subconsciously, starting to feel End game Spc Peter Seidler who and the how in the most recent
the cold knock you out of your reverie. We’ve all seen the news, and we know Below: US special operation, the focus should remain on
Your nostrils are assaulted by the smells: how this type of operation generally ends. forces are the why. Simply stated: there is evil in
a mixture of hot metal, engine exhaust, It’s a well-planned, well-co-ordinated required to work the world, and that evil must be met
with a host of
JP8 fuel, hot oil, and the occasional whi e ort between the Special Operations aviation assets in and driven back at the point of a sword
of the terrain below, since you’d be raging Aviation Regiment (SOAR), xed-wing order to execute employed by brave men willing to wield it
across the ground at really low altitude and rotary close air support (CAS) their missions. in times such as these.
US Army/SSgt
trying to avoid detection. assets, intelligence, surveillance and Iman Broady-Chin Sine Pari…


On Operation
‘Neptune

Spear’ — the mission

to go after Osama bin

Laden — the infi ltration
route had the assault

force fl ying nap-of-

the-earth through

some of the highest
mountains on the

planet, through

heavily defended

airspace in three
different countries




www.Key.Aero // January 2020 19 19




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READY ROOM // UNMANNED TANKERS

READY ROOM






THE STORY BEHIND THE US NAVY HEADLINES RICK
BURGESS






































DRINKING eventual customers will be the F-35C


Lightning II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
strike ghters, EA-18G Growler electronic
attack aircraft, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
early warning aircraft (now being
FROM retro tted or built with suitable refueling
probes), and CMV-22B Osprey carrier
onboard delivery transport tilt-rotors.
Presumably, the customer list also could
include US Marine Corps F-35Bs and
AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft, plus MV-22B
A DRONE is provided by the F/A-18E/F using buddy
Osprey and CH-53 assault transports.
Currently, carrier-based aerial refueling

stores for probe-and-drogue tanking.
Deploying the MQ-25A will enable the air
wing to free up those Super Hornets for
combat missions.
The need for organic tankers
REVOLUTION WAS St Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, Tankers are vital for conventional ‘cat-and-
MARKED on September leading the way for the US Navy’s future trap’ carrier ight operations to extend
19, 2019, with the rst carrier-based aerial refueling platform. the combat radius of aircraft, but also to
ight of Boeing’s MQ-25 The Stingray will be the world’s rst Above: The fi rst provide a margin of safety for returning
Stingray unmanned aerial unmanned tanker aircraft. It is designed MQ-25 gets aircraft in case they are low on fuel, the
A vehicle demonstrator. The to operate from the navy’s aircraft carrier airborne for its ight deck is fouled — delaying recovery
company-owned craft, known as T1, eet to provide a recovery tanker for the maiden fl ight on of aircraft — or pilots are having to make
September 19.
made its aerial debut at MidAmerica aircraft of the carrier air wing (CVW). Its Boeing multiple passes before snagging an

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arresting cable or having to ‘bingo’ — and A-7 Corsair II, with some Intruders
divert to a nearby land base. becoming KA-6Ds. By the mid-1990s, the
Above:
The X-47B The requirement for carrier-based buddy store-equipped S-3 Viking and
Unmanned tankers came about in the mid-1950s jet ES-3A Shadow were the only tankers on
Combat Air era, with aircraft that were of shorter range carriers until being joined and ultimately
System —
Demonstrator than their predecessors. In addition, long- replaced by the Super Hornet, which
(UCAS-D) range missiles carried by Soviet bombers continues the role today.
completes created the need for the navy to intercept
preparations them at longer ranges, hence the need for Enter the MQ-25
for launching
aboard the airborne fuel. Boeing won the competition to build
aircraft carrier The US Navy lled the requirement in the MQ-25 tanker in part because it
USS Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN two ways: either by aircraft being tted had a prototype built, and one that
71) in November with ‘buddy stores’ to enable them to was already largely suited for the
2013. US Navy/ pass on fuel, or by retro tting existing navy’s requirements, but cost is a clear
MCS3C Heath
Zeigler types to act as tankers. Aircraft such as common denominator in many recent
the A-1 Skyraider and A-4 Skyhawk used major competitions. It was, however,
Below: The buddy stores, and types like the A-3 notable that Northrop Grumman
confi guration of
the Boeing UAV Skywarrior received drogue packages. pulled out of the running despite
was kept under Later, A-3Bs were converted to become having completed a huge amount of
wraps until it permanent tankers in sub-variants such pioneering work with its X-47B under
secured the
contract for the as the KA-3B and EKA-3B. The buddy store the Unmanned Combat Air System
navy. Boeing practice continued with the A-6 Intruder (UCAS) carrier demonstration program.













































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READY ROOM // UNMANNED TANKERS














































The ability of a large unmanned aerial the navy with a long-range unmanned
vehicle (UAV) to take o from and land surveillance aircraft with the potential
on an aircraft carrier was demonstrated to become a strike or electronic attack
by the X-47B, ultimately going to sea aircraft. The navy cancelled this ambitious Above: An artist’s
for operations aboard the USS Theodore e ort, wisely deciding to scale back impression of the
Roosevelt (CVN 71) in 2013. Despite this the requirements in order to reduce MQ-25 refueling
an F/A-18E Super
impressive feat, Northrop Grumman development risk and eld a carrier- Hornet.Boeing
chose not to continue through to the based UAV more quickly. In fact, the
MQ-25 competition, but the lessons MQ-25 program imposed only two key Below: This
artist’s impression
learned by the navy for UAV carrier performance parameters: the ability to — a screen
operations from the X-47B program are operate from an aircraft carrier and to grab from a
being applied to the MQ-25. conduct aerial refueling. video — shows
the planned
Boeing’s MQ-25 T1 had been conceived confi guration of
for the earlier Unmanned Carrier- A winning design the MQ-25 with
Launched Aerial Surveillance System The US Navy announced Boeing as the wing-mounted
refueling pods.
(UCLASS) concept, intended to provide MQ-25 winner on August 30, 2018. As Boeing

























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one observer noted, it was unusual
to apply a military designation to a
winning design before that design strike, surveillance, and electronic attack
has actually been chosen. Boeing THE missions.
was awarded a contract to build four During the navy’s August 2018 news
EMD (engineering and manufacturing FUTURE OF conference announcing the MQ-25
development) MQ-25As under an source selection, this author asked if
$805-million contract, and it initially UAVs IN the MQ-25’s carrier landings would be
graded as are those of pilots of manned
received $79 million to begin work on aircraft. One admiral present said the
the four EMD craft. The navy expects to THE CVW MQ-25, because of its precision landing
procure 72 Stingrays in a deal that could capabilities and absence of hands-on
be worth as much as $9.5 billion, with control, would achieve perfection every
the type’s integration into a CVW for An additional bene t of the MQ-25 single time. The then chief of naval
Stingray is that it will give the US Navy
operations, ADM John M. Richardson,
initial operational capability (IOC) taking real-world opportunities to explore added in jest that the main worry was
place by 2024. manned/unmanned teaming and lay the that the MQ-25’s impact spot on the
The prototype is likely to be transferred foundation to bring to the carrier air wing ight deck would wear out sooner than
to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, for future UAVs that will be able to conduct any other!
further testing. As the four EMD aircraft
are built, they too can be expected to be protocols will have to be developed and in order to make a UAV tanker e ective
put through extensive testing to include The Northrop re ned so as to not disrupt the routine and a team player in the eet. It’s an
launch and recovery trials at Naval Air Grumman X-47B of carrier operations. The use of the aggressive timeline and the relatively
Warfare Center Lakehurst Division in took on fuel from MQ-25 in the air tra c patterns around low development budgets scared o
an Omega 707
New Jersey. tanker over the the carrier has to be standardized to some potential parties. However, the
The challenging test regimen ahead Atlantic Test ensure smooth functioning. Scenarios MQ-25 is set to revolutionize the face of
will involve technology and procedures Ranges in April such as what to do when the MQ-25 the modern CVW, combining manned
2015, marking
for handling on a ight deck, a di cult the fi rst time itself needs to ‘bingo’ out to an air eld and unmanned aircraft in a world few
environment for manned aircraft, let an unmanned need to be explored. Communications could have scarcely imagined when
alone unmanned assets. The catapult aircraft had links and interfaces with the carrier and tankers rst joined the seaborne order
refueled in fl ight.
launching and arrested landing US Navy the air wing must be thoroughly exed of battle.


































Tankers are vital for conventional ‘cat-and-trap’
carrier fl ight operations to extend the combat

radius of aircraft, but also to provide a margin of safety

for returning aircraft in case they are low on fuel






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A KC-46A refuels a B-2A Spirit for the fi rst
time during developmental fl ight testing
from Edwards AFB, California, on April 23,
2019. USAF/Christian Turner














































































TOO IMPORTANT TO FAIL?










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This year has seen a succession of problems emerging for the
USAF’s already delayed Boeing KC-46 tanker program.
Combat Aircraft assesses the options available to the US Air Force.

REPORT Jon Lake

HINGS HAVE GOT steadily addressing a Cat 1 problem affecting the
worse this year for the US Air KC-46’s remote vision system (RVS), and
Force’s new in-flight refueling estimated that it would be another four
tanker, the Boeing KC-46A. years before the type is ‘into the fight’ — or
Brand-new aircraft coming operationally deployable.
T off the production line in It should, on the face of it, have
Seattle were found to have foreign been so easy.
objects and debris left inside them from
manufacturing — and this problem A troubled tanker
allegedly recurred even after Boeing Few could have predicted that Boeing
was supposed to have put measures — creator of the super-successful KC-135
in place to solve it. Next, it emerged Stratotanker, which was based on the
that cargo restraints in the aircraft hold design that also spawned the Boeing
came unlocked in flight on a number 707 — would experience such difficulty
of occasions, forcing Air Mobility in turning the tried and trusted, utterly
Command (AMC) to ban the carriage familiar and well-proven 767 jetliner
of cargo and passengers. This was yet into an air-to-air refueling (AAR) tanker,
another category one (Cat 1) deficiency, albeit one equipped with infra-red
defined as a shortcoming that ‘may countermeasures, protected against
cause death or severe injury; may cause electromagnetic pulse and fitted with
loss or major damage to a weapon cockpit armor. But adapting the 767 to
system; critically restricts the combat make it the USAF’s new tanker has been a
readiness capabilities of the using difficult and troubled process.
organization; or results in a production An attempt to simply lease 100
line stoppage’. KC-767A tankers from Boeing ran into
At the Air Force Association’s Air, Space political opposition, and the subsequent
and Cyber Conference in September, AMC compromise solution of buying 80
commander Gen Maryanne Miller said aircraft and leasing 20 more was officially
that Boeing had not made any progress in canceled by the US Department of








































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TYPE REPORT // BOEING KC-46





































Defense (DoD) in January 2006 after aps and landing gear of the 767-300ERF. Above: A 77th
becoming mired in accusations of This was an untried combination that Air Refueling
Squadron
corruption. led some to start referring to the KC-46 KC-135R
A new KC-X program eventually resulted as the ‘Frankentanker’. In the end, this prepares to
in the selection of the rival Northrop combination of elements did not present tank a KC-46A
from the
Grumman/EADS KC-30 (A330 MRTT) major problems. 22nd ARW
on February 29, 2008. A Boeing protest Instead, it was a wiring redesign that from Pease
to the US Government Accountability delayed the rst 767-2C ight from June AFB, New
Hampshire.
O ce (GAO) resulted in an ‘expedited 2014 to November that year. That resulted USAF/SSgt
re-competition’. With key criteria redrawn, in a $272-million pre-tax charge to Boeing Mary McKnight
the KC-767 was nally chosen, kicking for the redesign of the tanker’s wiring,
the A330 MRTT to the curb with a USAF which had been found to have insu cient
program of record for 179 Boeing aircraft, separation or inadequate shielding.
designated the KC-46A Pegasus. Over the course of the KC-46 ight-test
Bearing the internal Boeing designation program, the aircraft completed 3,800
767-2C, the aircraft was based on the ying hours and transferred more than
767-200 freighter airframe, but featured an four billion pounds of fuel, according to
improved version of the KC-10 Extender’s Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg.
refueling boom and incorporated cockpit But ight-testing threw up more
displays from the 787, and the wings, problems and caused further delays.


A KC-46 undergoes electromagnetic
environment testing in the Benefi eld
Anechoic Facility at Edwards AFB.
USAF/Christopher Okula

This image:
Testing of the
wing aerial
refueling pods
(WARPs) with
a US Marine
Corps AV-8B
Harrier II. The
pods should
receive Federal
Aviation
Administration
(FAA)
certifi cation in
2020. Boeing/
John D. Parker

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Some 18 KC-46As were originally due The ‘boomer’ views the scene on a Air National Guard properly disconnect from it either. This
to have been delivered by August 2017, screen, with a panoramic picture of the director Lt Gen L. is necessitating changes to the KC-46A’s
but the process was delayed by serious procedure provided via the Rockwell Scott Rice, left, telescopic boom actuator, funded by
and his son Capt
RVS and boom problems. These required Collins-designed RVS, a suite of visual Lee Rice, a 157th the air force, which placed a $55-million
hardware and software changes to x, and infra-red cameras that can provide ARW pilot, fl y a contract with Boeing in August 2019.
forcing Boeing to spend $3.5 billion of high- delity imagery at night or in bad KC-46A together The GAO has estimated that designing
on August 8, 2019.
its own money to nd solutions, while weather without oodlighting. ANG/SSgt Morgan the modi cation and retro tting aircraft
the USAF withheld a sum of about But the RVS produces distorted imagery R. Lipinski will cost more than $300 million, and
$500 million, equivalent to $28 million in certain lighting conditions, can
per aircraft. wash out or black out in glare, and has
inadequate acuity (de nition). The system
New technology — can make depth perception more di cult
new problems for boom operators, making it harder
Unlike previous USAF tankers, the for the operator to gauge the distance
KC-46A incorporates a remote boom between the boom and the receiver
operator station immediately behind aircraft and leading to instances of the
the ight deck. Instead of lying on his boom accidentally scraping the receiver.
or her stomach, looking at the refueling These problems are being addressed by
procedure through a big window in the Boeing, at the company’s expense.
lower fuselage while steering the boom There are other issues with the boom.
and guiding it into the AAR receptacle The A-10C Thunderbolt II, for example,
of a receiver aircraft, the boom operator does not produce su cient thrust to push
of the KC-46A sits upright, in comfort. into the boom to start refueling, and can’t




























































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TYPE REPORT // BOEING KC-46











































that certi cation is likely to take three to September: ‘When we accepted the KC-46A
four years. KC-46 with known Cat 1 de ciencies,
The KC-46A is not yet able to use its we did so with the belief that it o ered
underwing refueling pods. Boeing is the fastest route to achieve limited DELIVERY
moving forward with getting the wing operational capability and meet an
aerial refueling pods (WARPs) certi ed urgent war ghter requirement. Eight STATUS
by the Federal Aviation Administration months have passed since our rst
(FAA), though former US Air Force delivery, and Boeing has not made any Of the 179 KC-46s in the USAF’s
Secretary Heather Wilson said this will not progress on the remote vision system.’ program of record, 67 are currently
be achieved until June 2020. Within a month of these deliveries, on contract. In October, the Air
further problems had emerged, with Force Life Cycle Management
Deliveries under way the discovery of tools and other Center awarded Boeing a
$2.6-billion contract modi cation
The rst two squadron KC-46As for the loose articles in various locations that covers the production of 15
USAF were delivered from Boeing’s inside completed aircraft. Eight tools Lot 5 KC-46As, plus spares and
Everett facility in Washington to were found in aircraft that had been other support equipment as well
McConnell AFB, Kansas, on January delivered to Boeing’s Military Delivery as two spare engines and ve wing
aerial refueling pod kits. Boeing
25, 2019, almost two years later than Center (MDC) and two more in tankers had previously received its rst two
originally planned. The USAF agreed delivered to the USAF. The KC-46 is built production lots, for seven and 12
to accept the aircraft so pilot and ‘green’ on the main 767 assembly line at aircraft, in August 2016. The third Above: A KC-46A
boom operator training could begin. Everett before being transferred to the lot, for 15 aircraft, was awarded in Pegasus wearing
AMC commander Miller explained in MDC, where the aircraft are completed January 2017; the fourth lot for 18 test registration
aircraft in September 2018. N464KC connects
By October, 23 had been delivered with an F-15E
to four units: the 418th Flight Strike Eagle
during trials from
Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Edwards AFB in
California; the 344th Air Refueling 2018. Boeing/
Squadron (ARS) of the 22nd Air John D. Parker
Refueling Wing (ARW) at McConnell
AFB, Kansas; the 56th ARS (the Left: Personnel
KC-46 training unit) under the 97th from the 60th
ARW at Altus AFB, Oklahoma; and Aerial Port
the Air National Guard’s 133rd ARS, Squadron prepare
which is part of the 157th ARW at to load cargo
onto a KC-46A
Pease Air National Guard Base, New at Travis AFB,
Hampshire. Delayed deliveries mean California. USAF/
that the USAF will seek to slow SrA Christian
down the retirement of the KC-135. Conrad

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permanently solve the issue. Miller said
that while she had not yet been briefed
on Boeing’s proposal, her interest was
in permanent and not interim xes for
Cat 1 aws.

No other option?
Writing for news website Breaking Defense,
Theresa Hitchens headlined her KC-46
article ‘Too crucial to fail’. There is no doubt
that the USAF is short of tanker capacity,
and indeed its plan to go from the current
level of 312 squadrons to its planned
force size of 386 squadrons includes an
increase from 40 to 54 tanker units. The
tanker force expansion is the second
largest in the plan (after the intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance force)
and military systems are installed, As a result of these additional and relies heavily on the KC-46.
including the refueling systems and requirements, the USAF accepted aircraft In her piece, Hitchens quoted Todd
communications equipment. at a slower rate of about one per month Harrison, the director of the Aerospace
The discovery of this foreign object instead of the planned drumbeat of three. Security Project at the Center for Strategic
debris prompted the air force to Original plans called for Boeing to deliver and International Studies (CSIS) as saying,
temporarily halt KC-46 deliveries in 36 KC-46As to the USAF in 2019, but just ‘There is no other option at this point. The
February 2019, after the delivery of six 11 had been delivered by June. air force needs new tankers, and Boeing
aircraft to McConnell. The stoppage Above: A boom The latest problem to hit the KC-46A is the only one making them.’
lasted from February 21 until March 11, operator works emerged in September, when it was Many would disagree strongly with
after which training ights resumed. with the remote revealed that multiple cargo restraint Harrison’s assertion. Boeing is not the
vision system,
Acceptance of new KC-46s was halted which has been devices had become unlocked in ight. No only company making tankers, however
again on March 23 after debris was one of the major cargo or equipment moved and there was much it likes to present itself as ‘the tanker
again found in closed compartments, trouble items for no immediate speci c risk to the aircraft or company for the US and the world’, as
the USAF.
according to former Secretary Wilson US Army/Sgt crew, though the problem was potentially chief executive o cer of Boeing Defense,
who described it as a ‘manufacturing James K. McCann catastrophic, and was classed as another Space and Security, Leanne Caret put it.
discipline’ issue. The air force resumed Below: The Cat 1 de ciency. As a consequence, AMC At Getafe in Spain, Airbus turns A330
the acceptance of KC-46s from Boeing 418th Flight Test stopped the carriage of passengers and airliners into what many believe is the
after instituting stringent inspections Squadron from cargo for an inde nite period. world’s best tanker — the A330 MRTT
Edwards AFB has
of all aircraft, including those already spearheaded Boeing has proposed a two-step (Multi-Role Tanker Transport), which
delivered to McConnell and to Altus AFB, the air force’s solution, using tie-down straps to allow many view as a potential option. Indeed,
Oklahoma. Aircraft had to have their development the aircraft to carry cargo as an interim last year Lockheed Martin teamed with
test work on the
fuel tanks drained to allow for these Pegasus. USAF/ step. In the longer term, the company Airbus in a bid to o er ‘power-by-the-
inspections. Ethan Wagner plans to produce a more ‘robust’ x to hour’ solutions with these aircraft. Aircrew
































www.Key.Aero // January 2020 29




21/11/2019 20:57
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TYPE REPORT // BOEING KC-46








































For now, the KC-46 has marched
forwards into its initial operational test
and evaluation (IOT&E) phase, designed
to establish whether the aircraft can
meet air force requirements. A statement
from the USAF said, ‘IOT&E will test the
KC-46’s e ectiveness, suitability, and
mission capability toward accomplishing
its three primary mission sets: aerial
refueling, cargo/passenger operations,
and aeromedical evacuation.’ It added,
‘The air force continues to test the new
from seven air forces would also highlight were allegedly altered to favor the Boeing weapon system, while Boeing corrects
the capabilities of their operationally aircraft in the re-run of the contest. That identi ed de ciencies in parallel, as the
deployed and combat-proven A330s, adjustment of yardsticks in turn resulted most expeditious means of achieving full
while o cers from 15 more air forces in Northrop Grumman withdrawing from operational capability.’
would doubtless be able to explain why the bidding process, complaining that the Boeing says it is working to introduce
their nations had now also selected the new criteria had been skewed towards incremental improvements to correct the
Airbus tanker, and why they were now Boeing’s o ering. But even after Northrop’s problems that have been highlighted. It
looking forward to receiving the type. withdrawal, Airbus stood ready to o er plans to retro t a secondary set of locks
They would tell of a tanker that carries the aircraft to the USAF, and to build it in in the hold to address the cargo restraint
more fuel than a KC-46, more freight and Mobile, Alabama. Above: A KC-46A concerns, and an upgrade to the RVS
more passengers, and that can safely The House Armed Services Committee Pegasus makes will automatically adjust contrast and
operate from shorter runways. If they were certainly sees alternatives to the KC-46. its fi nal approach resolution in di cult lighting conditions.
being mean they might even contrast the In its Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense to McConnell The latter is said to be in a preliminary
AFB, Kansas,
relatively untroubled development of the Authorization Act it stated, ‘The Secretary where operational design phase.
A330 MRTT with the litany of misfortunes of the Air Force has several viable options testing is now The USAF has elected to begin the
that have befallen the Boeing tanker. to ensure future tanker capability, to under way. USAF/ IOT&E process and to get the ball rolling
SrA Skyler Combs
And even outside the current A330 include acquiring a non-developmental by scheduling tests that don’t involve
MRTT operators’ community, there are commercial derivative tanker.’ Top: The offi cial either air refueling or cargo transport.
many in the US who say they know exactly There are options, in other words. There ceremony In the background, it continues to work
marking the
why that aircraft was originally selected is an alternative that is arguably a better arrival of the fi rst hard to correct the serious de ciencies
by the USAF as the KC-45A, to meet tanker for the USAF, and that would KC-46A for ‘Team that have plagued this aircraft, so the
the KC-X requirement. That was before support just as many US jobs. But it would McConnell’ on air force can eld an aircraft that truly
January 25, 2019.
Boeing protested the contract award not be a Boeing tanker, and that, perhaps, USAF/TSgt makes the grade as a suitable successor
to Airbus, of course, and before criteria makes it unacceptable. Abigail Klein to the KC-135.

30 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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24-30 KC-46 C.indd 30

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HE US AIR Force’s Air Combat controller (JTAC) training — this includes
Command (ACC) awarded Valkyrie Aero, which features in this issue,
seven companies contracts as a sub-contractor to ATAC.
worth $6.4 billion on The approved vendors will now have
October 18, 2019, to provide to bid against the operational taskings
Tcontracted adversary air laid out at 12 locations for the air-to-air
(ADAIR) over the next ve years. The adversary requirement and nine sites for
rms involved were Air USA, Airborne JTAC training.
Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), According to the contract, the USAF
Blue Air Training, Coastal Defense, is seeking 30,000 adversary sorties and
Draken International, Tactical Air 10,000 CAS/JTAC training sorties per
Support (TacAir), and Top Aces. year. The aggressor services have been One of TacAir’s
As part of the Combat Air Forces budgeted for Eglin AFB, Florida; Joint new F-5ATs
Contracted Air Support (CAF CAS) Base Hickam-Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Hill (74-1459/N697TA)
at Reno-Stead,
program, the companies will supply AFB, Utah; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; Nevada, in
contractor-owned, contractor-operated Kelly Field, Texas; Kingsley Field, Oregon; October. The pilot
wears the Thales
(COCO) aircraft to support air-to-air Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; Visionix Scorpion
combat training from October 2019 Luke AFB, Arizona; Nellis AFB, Nevada; helmet with the
until October 2024. In addition, some of Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; new HObIT (hybrid
optical-based
them will y contracted close air support Tucson International Airport, Arizona; and inertial tracker).
(CCAS) sorties for joint terminal attack Tyndall AFB, Florida. Michael Grove






























































32 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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The US Air Force announced at the end of October that it had earmarked seven companies to provide contract aggressor
services across the combat air forces. What will this mean, and how will it evolve?

REPORT Jamie Hunter






























































www.Key.Aero // January 2020 33




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INDUSTRY REPORT // USAF ADAIR



ATAC’s fi rst airworthy Mirage F1,
two-seat F1B N601AX, gets airborne
from Alliance Airport in Fort Worth,
Texas, on August 22, 2019.
ATAC/Henry Ham













































Contract air support is not a new Draken International pushed the bar adversary air capabilities. The outcome
concept in the US. ATAC blazed the trail by higher when it was formed in 2011 was clear — there was a cavernous void
securing US Navy contracts for adversary by Jared Isaacman, who pounced on in capacity, exacerbated by the advanced
support in 1994 amid a lack of in-house an opportunity to procure the Royal fth-generation ghter eet, which was
adversary assets. It sought to aid squadron New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) eet growing exponentially. The advent of
training by o ering cost-e ective ‘Red of redundant MB339s and A/TA-4K fth-generation ghters — the F-22
Air’, as well as pro les for surface vessels Skyhawks. It was a move that would and F-35 — has radically changed the
to train operators in self-defense during ultimately trigger a transformation in the aggressor world. Brig Gen Robert Novotny
work-up exercises. ATAC primarily contracted ‘Red Air’ market. told Combat Aircraft, ‘ When I became
utilized a eet of aging IAI F-21 K rs and commander of the 57th Wing [at Nellis in
Hawker Hunters to maintain a low cost Breakthrough contract June 2018] the 64th was ying nine sorties
base, while employing experienced The 2014 disbandment of the 65th a day, on average. Then you have an
aviators who could o er insight and Aggressor Squadron (AGRS), which ew animal like the F-22 or the F-35; it will go
expertise to underpin the value of the F-15C/Ds at Nellis AFB, Nevada, is seen as to an all-you-can-eat bu et and you can’t
company’s services. something of a watershed moment in this feed it enough! One of those will ‘kill’ all
Meanwhile, Discovery Air Defense story. The USAF was already desperately nine of those guys. So, to make everyone
Services, now known as Top Aces, was short of professional ‘Red Air’ aggressors more lethal, we had to work as hard as we
active further north in Canada, o ering for its front-line forces to train against, and could to y more aggressors and advocate
electronic warfare and adversary support now it was down to just two dedicated for modernization where possible.’
to the Department of National Defence units — the 18th AGRS at Eielson AFB, The USAF has an insatiable need for
(DND with a eet of ex-Luftwa e Alpha Alaska, and the 64th AGRS at Nellis, which adversary training. To address this shortfall,
Jets. It also procured ATSI (Advanced both y the F-16C and are kept active it released a proof of concept tender. This
Training Systems International), which supporting ‘Red Flag’ exercises, as well as led to a year-long ADAIR I ‘path nder’
operated A-4 Skyhawks out of Williams the Weapons School at Nellis, leaving little experiment at Nellis in 2015, during which
Gateway Airport, Arizona, and has since time for them to service front-line units. Draken International supported both the
gone on to win target-towing and Shortly after the deactivation of the Weapons School and exercise training,
aggressor contracts in Germany. 65th AGRS, ACC conducted an analysis of working in concert with the resident 64th

34 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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AGRS. Draken initially provided its radar-
equipped A-4K Skyhawks, which were
later joined by Aero L-159 ‘Honey Badger’
Top to bottom: Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA).
Draken
International’s Draken boss Isaacman said, ‘The L-159E
ex-Royal New is equipped with the Leonardo Grifo-L
Zealand Air Force radar and attack software suite. They are
A-4 Skyhawks
have supported a modern, virtually brand new fourth-
adversary and generation ghter aircraft with extremely
close air support low operational costs. In both cases, the
training. Draken
International A-4 and L-159 enable Draken to provide
tactically relevant adversary support,
All the contractor but at dramatically lower costs than a
adversary
companies are comparable military F-16 or F-15 ghter.’
stacked with Draken gained something of a lead
experienced thanks to the Nellis experiment. It also
pilots, which
is ideal when aided Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35
it comes to operational testing out of Edwards AFB
imparting that and JTAC training at NAS Fallon, Nevada,
knowledge to
young trainees. and has taken part in large-force training
José M. exercises in support of the Japan Self-
Ramos/Draken Defense Force at White Sands Missile
International
Range, New Mexico.
Draken has The Nellis proof of concept contract
enjoyed went through three extensions and three
signifi cant
success with modi cations to account for continued
its contracts at growth and requirements as the USAF
Nellis AFB. It is sought a more permanent solution.
expected to move
its Mirage F1s In June 2017, the USAF awarded Draken
there in 2020 to a ve-year, $280-million ADAIR II contract,
operate alongside cementing the original path nder study.
its L-159 ‘Honey
Badgers’, as seen Only two bidders came forward for ADAIR
here. José M. II, which Draken secured as a three-year
Ramos/Draken contract with two option years, until
International
December 2023. It speci ed that Draken’s
ADAIR II aircraft must be capable of ying
at Mach 1.5 and of completing sorties
of up to 60 minutes. As soon as Draken
signed the contract it was obliged to
execute at least 22 missions per day within
the rst month of operations.

The big contract
In July 2016, the USAF had issued a
request for information for the larger
ADAIR contract, reaching out to the
contractor air service companies to
support this massive, emerging, training
need. The solicitation to industry was
for nearly 42,000 hours of contracted
aggressor support training across the 12
air bases.
The USAF started to work even more
closely with the contractors, re ning
the requirements and ensuring it was
seeking a realistic solution that could be
met by the commercial providers. They
were permitted to provide support with
several aircraft types including third
and fourth-generation ghters, with
requirements including operations at
speeds of between Mach 0.8-1.5 and

www.Key.Aero // January 2020 35




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INDUSTRY REPORT // USAF ADAIR

altitudes up to 50,000ft. The contracted meet the requirement. Four of them
aircraft must be compatible with captive were selected as the primes under the
The 2014 air-to-air training missiles, electronic $6.4-billion contract.

disbandment countermeasures pods and infra-red The adversary contractors
search and track (IRST), and around half
of the 65th Aggressor will require a radar with a range of up to ATAC is now part of Textron Airborne
Solutions. In anticipation of the USAF
80nm (148km).
Only US-based companies were
Squadron, which fl ew permitted to bid as prime contractors requirement it procured former
French Air Force Mirage F1CR/CTs and
F-15C/Ds at Nellis AFB, and the aircraft will be own by American F1Bs, which began arriving at its new
civilians. However, the aircraft can be
Adversary Center of Excellence (ATAC-
Nevada, is seen as sourced from western nations or from ACE) in June 2017. It acquired 63 F1s from
‘threat countries’. All of this was deemed to
France, along with support equipment
something of a watershed be achievable despite a relatively modest and 150 engines. This facility at Fort
moment in this story cost per ight hour (CPFH). Worth Alliance Airport, Texas, is where
The solicitation set the wheels in motion
it performs maintenance, repair and
for the leading ADAIR contenders to overhaul work on the 80 jets operated
start lining up new eets of aircraft to by the company. The company carried



































































36 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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out the rst ight of one of its Mirage F1s speci c upgrades that can be used to won a contract to provide the Canadian
at Alliance Airport on August 22, 2019, enhance these ghters. Forces with aggressor training. In 2018
as two-seat F1B registration N601AX The company was swiftly rewarded it renewed that deal for a further 10
(ex-French serial 502) ew on ‘an initial when in 2018 it was awarded a ve- years. The company acquired its A-4N
acceptance ight’. year, $107-million contract from the Skyhawks through the takeover of
Meanwhile, TacAir of Reno, Nevada, navy running through May 2023. Under Advanced Training Systems International
bought a eet of 21 F-5E/Fs from the this deal it was to provide adversary air (ATSI) in December 2013, and these
Royal Jordanian Air Force, building on the services in addition to training for air and ex-Israeli Air Force jets joined a eet
ve ex-Royal Canadian Air Force CF-5D ship crews to counter electronic threats. of former Luftwa e Alpha Jets. It has
Freedom Fighters it already operated. The award was challenged by ATAC, repeatedly said it will acquire F-16s
TacAir has developed a bespoke which proposed a eet of ex-Jordanian despite the expected higher operating
upgrade for its ‘new’ aircraft at its F-16s. The challenge was denied and the costs that these aircraft will incur. In Left top to bottom:
Top Aces operates
maintenance and logistics facility in St contract went forward, the Government a media release related to the USAF seven A-4N
Augustine, Florida. It is adding a new Accountability O ce noting that the contract award, it said, ‘Top Aces will Skyhawks at
Garmin glass cockpit and radar to the advantages of the F-16 were outweighed be the rst provider to o er the F-16 Wittmund to
support Luftwaffe
jets, which are now known as F-5AT by the a ordability of the F-5. platform, con gured with a unique open Eurofi ghter
‘Advanced Tigers’. TacAir has partnered Draken International too has started system architecture designed to meet training.
with Duotech Services to retro t a radar expanding its eet to meet the new USAF the diverse needs of the USAF customer. Rich Cooper
warning receiver (RWR) and its low-cost requirement, receiving former Spanish Top Aces’ eet will initially be based at Mirage F1BM
NEMESIS mechanically scanned array Air Force Mirage F1Ms, and 12 Denel the F-16 Center of Excellence located in N552EM made
(MESA) radar. This is a ‘tailor-made’ system Cheetahs from South Africa. The Cheetahs Mesa, Arizona.’ its fi rst post-
restoration fl ight
that employs modern radar techniques, o er an advanced capability ‘o the shelf’, Now these four contractors have been with Draken on
with an ability to quickly add new thanks to their EL/L-2032 radar and Elisra selected as possible suppliers they will November 12,
modes to meet training requirements. RWR, plus a degree of commonality with each need to bid against operational 2019. Draken
International
According to DuoTech, it also o ers threat the Mirage F1s. The rst of 22 ex-Spanish taskings for the 12 locations that require
replication via unclassi ed and classi ed Mirages — F1M serial C.14-73 — arrived their aggressor services. The nature of Below:
means, allowing the aircraft to y ‘realistic at Draken’s Lakeland, Florida, facility the business dictates that they will need Draken
International
adversary intercept pro les, o ering in July 2018. Upgrade plans include to move their eets of aircraft around showed off one of
mission-critical situational awareness and a helmet-mounted cueing system, to keep them suitably employed, and its Mirage F1EEMs
assessment capabilities’. infra-red missile seekers, datalinks, and to meet the varying phases of training in a stunning new
scheme at its
NEMESIS is integrated with FAAC Inc’s electronic jamming and radar warning at each location. This is expected to Lakeland base
Zone Acquisition Process (ZAP) real- receiver capabilities. Draken marked the start in October 2020. It is reported that in October. The
world threat replication software, which rst ight of its Mirage F1B N552EM on Kingsley Field, Oregon, and Holloman aircraft is former
Spanish Air Force
provides high-speed missile simulations. November 12, 2019. AFB, New Mexico, will be the rst two serial C.14-70,
TacAir says the beauty of the F-5 is that it Top Aces was able to take advantage locations that are serviced, in support of now registered as
has a proven track record in the adversary of a highly pro-active Canadian stance F-15C/D and F-16C/D basic course pilot N574EM. Draken
International/
eld and that there are a number of when it came to training and in 2005 training. José M. Ramos






































www.Key.Aero // January 2020 37




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FTER NEARLY TWO decades
of combat operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq, and
in the face of a booming
civilian job market, the US
A military is facing manpower
shortages in several critical war ghting
quarters. Among the most consequential
shortfalls are ghter pilots in the US Air
Force, US Marine Corps and US Navy, but
there is a less-well publicized shortfall in
joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs).
These skilled personnel are responsible for
directing tactical aircraft executing close
air support (CAS), often in close proximity
to friendly ground forces. Both the pilot
and JTAC shortages are critical for the
infantrymen and special operators who
rely heavily on air support.
Compounding the impact is the fact
that JTACs rely on tactical aircraft for their
training. Regardless of their assigned






































The US Air Force has issued an overarching contract covering contracted training
for ‘Red Air’ aggressors and close air support. Valkyrie Aero is aimed at the latter,
offering cost-effective aircraft and optimized support to the military.


REPORT AND PHOTOS Joe Copalman
MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK






VALKYRIE AERO TACKLES CONTRACTED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT



38 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




21/11/2019 20:59
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38-44 Valkyrie Aero C.indd 38

branch of the military, all JTACs must employment aligned with training A-27 — a nod to the T-27 designation the
perform a certain number of di erent needs and scheduling. Valkyrie Aero is Brazilian Air Force applied to its EMB-312s
types of attack controls to gain or retain one such company, speci cally oriented tasked with pilot training. Building an
their certi cations. Historically, front-line towards ensuring that JTACs receive the all-Tucano eet aligns with Valkyrie’s goal
combat squadrons provided the pilots, required support to enable their ongoing of acquiring aircraft that met the criteria of
aircraft, and ordnance JTACs to meet their certi cation. Valkyrie chief operating o cer what JTACs need in a CAS platform.
needs, but the pilot shortage, coupled with Todd McCutchan told Combat Aircraft, ‘We Explaining Valkyrie’s acquisition
the increased use of multi-role aircraft with started in February 2018. There seemed philosophy, McCutchan said, ‘We
a broad range of mission sets beyond CAS, to be a gap in the quality and quantity approached this from the standpoint of,
has limited the opportunities for overlap in of support for the JTAC training mission if we’re going to train JTACs, let’s talk to
the training schedules of the JTACs and the in the US and abroad. We started the [them] and see what they want, and then
aviators who support them. This comes at company after identifying what we felt was we’ll buy the airplane and equipment that
a time when the US military — particularly a weakness there; where we thought that the JTACs want for their training.’
the USAF and USMC — is anticipating we could bring something to the market, Valkyrie’s leadership had an existing
signi cant growth in the demand for JTACs as well as to the customer, to improve their relationship with an individual in the US
over the next decade. training and readiness to deploy.’ who owned a large number of Tucanos
Based at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, and it secured that eet, the EMB-312Fs
Commercial solutions Valkyrie operates a mixed eet of a dozen coming from ex-French Air Force stocks,
One solution to the pilot shortage and Embraer EMB-312F and 20 Shorts S312 and the S312s being former Royal Air
its impact on JTAC training is the use of Tucanos. As both are con gured — or Force machines.
contract close air support (CCAS) services are being recon gured — for pure attack Whereas several of the more established
to provide both inert and live ordnance work, Valkyrie refers to both variants as the contract air service providers aim to






















































Based at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, Valkyrie
Aero is positioned to support JTAC training
over the numerous aerial gunnery ranges
throughout the southwestern US.


www.Key.Aero // January 2020 39




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INDUSTRY REPORT // CONTRACTED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

























































































With over three hours of loiter time, four hardpoints capable of carrying a combined
2,000lb of ordnance, a sensor with a feed that can be accessed by JTACs on the ground,
and attack speeds within 100kt of the A-10’s, Valkyrie’s Tucanos are highly capable attack
platforms that check most, if not all, of the boxes needed for a viable CCAS aircraft.

40 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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provide a wide breadth of capabilities mixed and matched to meet speci c needs.
through diverse eets of three, four, or The primary gun pod used by Valkyrie
even upwards of six aircraft types, Valkyrie is manufactured by Dillon Precision and
has instead chosen to focus solely on the centered around the company’s proven
JTAC training niche, enabling it to build its M134 7.62mm six-barrel minigun, with a
eet around a single type. Referencing the magazine carrying up to 3,000 rounds of
Inset: Valkyrie decision of the Southwest Airlines founder ammunition. Valkyrie owns a variety of
fl ies with veteran
JTAC instructors to stick with a single-type eet for ease of rocket launchers and bomb racks capable
in the back seats acquisition, maintenance, and training, of carrying multiple BDU-33s and other
of the company’s McCutchan said, ‘Herb Kelleher had it right. practice bombs, allowing for numerous
Tucanos. Having
a sensor operator Southwest Airlines gured some stu out, con gurations — absolutely ideal for
who speaks the and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. its trade.
language and It’s great for a couple of reasons. From pilot, who is going to be a CAS-centric
understands Building a better Tucano
the training the maintenance standpoint, it’s great. guy, someone who has come out of the
objectives of the When we modify the aircraft, we do them While the Tucano, o -the-shelf, provides military with at least 1,500 hours in the
JTAC instructor identically, so there’s no di erence there. the reliability, safety, performance, and attack or ghter community, and with a
on the ground
expedites We have economy of scale and volume. endurance required of a CCAS platform, CAS-centric background. A-10s, F/A-18Ds,
communications We also have commonality for training, optimizing it for the mission necessitated AV-8 Harriers, some of the [F-16] ‘Viper’
and helps so we don’t have pilots bouncing around numerous modi cations to transform community — that’s our primary ground
maximize training
opportunities. di erent kinds of aircraft. Even places that it from a trainer to a ground attack for recruitment. Our chief pilot is Jack
SSgt Tyler have the same type of aircraft, those aircraft thoroughbred. Valkyrie CEO Charlie ‘Coach’ Allison — he’s got 4,400 hours in
‘Sherpa’ Burgett — because of their age — will be all over Keebaugh, an air force veteran who spent the A-10 [all active-duty], and he retired
is a retired USAF
JTAC instructor, the board in terms of what kinds of radios, 10 years as a special operations JTAC, as an O-6 [Colonel], and has been doing
bringing 13 years instruments, and everything else you’re explained the need to transition the CAS continuously for more than 30 years.’
of experience to going to nd in them.’ company’s Tucanos to attack aircraft: ‘In McCutchan added, ‘All of our pilots are
the job.
Valkyrie Aero order to have a successful training event, former weapons school instructors, either
Tucano traits you need reliable aircraft that are out tted navy TOPGUN, air force weapons school,
Performance-wise, the Tucano gives with all the technology that a JTAC needs to or marine WTIs [weapons and tactics
Valkyrie a good match for JTAC training exercise. He needs the aircraft to challenge instructors].’
needs. Elaborating on what the aircraft the technology that they have, so they’ll be The back-seater is primarily a sensor
brings to the CCAS mission, McCutchan able to work together.’ operator. Valkyrie’s aircrew working in
said, ‘The Tucano has great time on station One of the primary upgrades Valkyrie this role are all prior JTACs familiar with
— the loiter time is over three hours. Our made to its Tucanos was the addition of the training objectives and experienced in
attack speeds are within 100kt of an A-10, L3 Wescam MX-15DiA sensor turret to the talking with aircraft and other ground
and it can carry a lot of ammunition.’ EMB-312Fs. The MX-15 brings exceptional units. ‘Our JTACs are a mix of marine and
Valkyrie’s Tucanos have the capability, giving JTACs access — via a air force veterans,’ McCutchan explained.
capacity to carry up to ROVER-compatible video downlink — to
1,000kg (2,200lb) of full-motion video up to a range of 10nm
ordnance on (18.5km). With day and night optics, a
four hardpoints, laser illuminator, and a laser designator, TUCANO
but the variety the MX-15 enables Valkyrie’s Tucanos to
of weapons they can employ is just as provide round-the-clock intelligence, TECHS
important. surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
The Tucano can carry an impressive services to JTACs on the ground, as well as
variety of free-fall bombs and forward- the ability to designate targets for laser- Valkyrie’s eet is supported in-house
by a team of highly skilled aviation
ring ordnance. McCutchan explained, guided weapons. The centerline mounting maintenance professionals. Explaining
‘We can carry a lot of weaponry on the of the MX-15 mirrors that of the light attack the company’s maintenance set-up,
aircraft for live ordnance training. We Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine and the Tucano’s Todd McCutchan told Combat Aircraft,
can carry up to 6,000 rounds of 7.62mm successor, the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. ‘All of our mechanics are prior military.
Since there’s really nobody in the
minigun ammunition, we carry up to Centerline sensor mounting eliminates US with Tucano experience, we’ve
12 BDUs [practice bombs], and up to 14 fuselage blanking, enabling Valkyrie’s built that up in-house. We’re on our
2.75in rockets.’ The company’s literature sensor operators to keep the system second year of maintaining, as well
also indicates the capacity for .50-cal pointed at whatever the JTACs need eyes as modifying the aircraft, so we know
machine guns and 127mm rockets, plus on, without the picture being masked by it very well. We have a relationship
with Embraer, so we have some OEM
Mk81 (250lb) and Mk82 (500lb) general- any portion of the aircraft. [original equipment manufacturer]
purpose bombs. support as well. They’ve been very
Weapons loads are mission-speci c Crew concept and supportive throughout the process.’
and driven entirely by the training operator experience In addition to Embraer, Valkyrie
requirements of the JTACs who In the air, Valkyrie relies on crews of two maintains relationships with other
OEMs of systems and components
are being supported on in the Tucano. According to McCutchan, it uses, such as L3 Wescam, Dillion
the ground, with ‘All of our aircraft we operate with a Precision, and Honeywell.
ordnance being two-crew concept. In the front seat is the

www.Key.Aero // January 2020 41




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INDUSTRY REPORT // CONTRACTED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT



Though they were operated by the French
Air Force exclusively for pilot training,
Valkyrie modifi ed its EMB-312s as modern
attack aircraft, complete with an MX-15
sensor turret mounted on the centerline that
is operated by a JTAC in the rear cockpit.



































































‘All of them are former instructors and they had to meet in the military, the ight time just in our higher-echelon
weapons school graduates.’ In addition company’s training program having to be leadership levels. We’ve worked hard to
to the service they provide in the air, they periodically inspected by the Department get to where we are.’
provide critical support on the ground, of Defense (DoD). Above left: Flags
being able to serve as JTAC instructors McCutchan enthused, ‘We’re really from all fi ve Operational employment
out on the ranges as well. Valkyrie CEO proud of our people. I’m a big believer branches of the During JTAC support missions, the station
Keebaugh added, ‘Post-mission, they’re in ‘the company is the people’ and US military and time, ordnance capabilities, and two-crew
the POW-MIA
an extra subject matter expert during we’ve got great people here. We have fl ag fl ank the concept enable a single aircraft to simulate
the debrief.’ Though no longer on active literally a couple of hundred years of CAS American fl ag multiple aircraft on a single mission. As
duty, Valkyrie’s operators are held to experience in this company, and probably hanging in McCutchan explained: ‘Generally speaking,
Valkyrie’s hangar
internal standards that mirror those over 20,000 hours of close air support at Falcon Field. we have the ability to simulate multiple

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aircraft because we have multiple crew Left page insets to the proliferation of new contractors, CCAS contracts
members. We can easily simulate up to six top to bottom: The with each new start-up learning from the This approach has already paid o , as
aircraft. Four is very simple, and we can Dillon Aerospace experiences of others who came before Valkyrie recently partnered with Textron’s
7.62 minigun pods
do six aircraft with each crew member used by Valkyrie’s them. The most common model for new Airborne Tactical Advantage Company
simulating two additional pilots. The Tucanos. companies to get a foot in the door is to (ATAC) in a successful bid for the US Navy’s
rear-seater is the sensor operator and the Valkyrie Aero bid on a contract with a ‘paper eet’ — Terminal Attack Controller Training (TACT)
front-seater is the CAS pilot. You might A view through aircraft the company could acquire for program. This contract will see Valkyrie
be [simulating] a four-ship of ‘Hogs’ and it the L3 Wescam the mission if given the green light. Such putting its Tucanos to work providing
just works out.’ With one aircraft, Valkyrie MX-15 sensor companies only go about the business of CCAS for navy JTACs, alongside ATAC’s
turret that
typically gets the pilot to act as the lead equips Valkyrie’s building assets to meet the demands of Aero Vodochody L-39s and Beechcraft
and number three aircraft, and the back- EMB-312Fs. the contract after it is awarded. AT-6 Wolverines.
seater acts as the number two and four The MX-15 is a This model has worked well, and is a While CCAS is Valkyrie’s core mission,
proven system
aircraft, thereby o ering a notional ight for day and proven lower-risk strategy, but Valkyrie the company can provide other services
of four CAS aircraft. night full-motion decided to take a di erent approach. that the Tucano lends itself to well.
For every training event the company video and target Keebaugh explained, ‘We’ve done what Keebaugh said, ‘We’ve got the expertise
designation.
supports, Valkyrie’s pilots and JTACs are Valkyrie Aero no-one has ever done before. We built to do training for FAC-A [forward air
deeply involved from long before wheels- Below: Up close our eet, our capability, before ever controller — airborne], training for ISR,
up through to the nal mission debrief. and personal getting a dime from the government. and for personnel recovery’. This past
According to McCutchan, ‘We do face-to- with the ‘offi ce’ There are several companies in several April, Valkyrie’s crews had an opportunity
face pre-briefs and debriefs, and we also of a Valkyrie industries that will go into it safe and to y contract ISR during a USAF exercise
A-27. With night
record the mission, so we’ve got both the vision-compatible put a proposal together about what called ‘Razor’s Edge’ at Davis-Monthan
sensor feed as well as the audio recording cockpits in the they would do if they won. We’ve taken AFB, Arizona.
for [analysis].’ company’s this eet of aircraft and modi ed them During the two-week exercise, which
Tucanos and to where we could go and operate served as a pre-deployment workup
Mission-ready from day one pilots current tomorrow. That way, when we do get the for the pararescuemen (PJs) of the 48th
on NVG fl ight
Contract air services have been operations, contract, there’s no build-up time on the Rescue Squadron (RQS), Valkyrie’s Tucanos
supporting the US military for in excess Valkyrie can government’s dime. We’ve already done seamlessly lled the roles that would
support JTAC
of two decades. Increased demand for training deep into that, and I don’t think anyone has done traditionally be assumed by unmanned
the kind of support they provide has led the night. that in this industry.’ aerial vehicles such as the MQ-9 Reaper

We approached this

from the standpoint

of, if we’re going to train
JTACs, let’s talk to [them]

and see what they want, and

then we’ll buy the airplane

and equipment that the

JTACs want for their training

Todd McCutchan

























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INDUSTRY REPORT // CONTRACTED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT







































and CAS aircraft like the A-10. Describing brothers who are former Delta [Force] or upgrading of the company’s eet
how Valkyrie supported the exercise, sons who are Rangers that are down- (including the forthcoming addition
McCutchan said, ‘We primarily did ISR range, so we want to make sure that of Link 16 to further enhance digital
and what’s called ECAS — emergency we are putting out the highest-quality interoperability), and with the recent
CAS. We were supporting PJs, so it was a product we possibly can.’ partnership with ATAC, Valkyrie seems
lot of night ying, a lot of ISR, and a lot of Regardless of professional or familial poised to prove its worth.
ECAS as well.’ connections, Valkyrie aims to provide In addition to traveling where needed
More recently, Valkyrie supported the very best in contract CAS and JTAC to support training, Valkyrie has its own
a week-long training detachment in instruction. McCutchan stated, ‘We set the facility. Keebaugh said, ‘We’ve also got
September for a group of NATO JTACs at bar very high for ourselves. Ultimately, our a range in Texas — 252 square miles of
the company’s own private range in Texas. goal is to ensure that JTACs are current privately owned land where we’re building
Then on October 18, Valkyrie — again in and that they are pro cient, so that when target villages. We’ve got a runway,
partnership with ATAC — was awarded they deploy they have a better chance of lodging, and the ability to feed people out
part of the USAF’s massive Combat Air coming home and bringing their friends there. We’ve got rotary-wing support built
Force Contracted Air Support (CAFCAS) home with them. That’s something we in, role-players at the ready, and military
contract. Valued at $6.4 billion and spread take very seriously, and it’s something that vehicles that can be used.’ Along with
among seven service providers, this will is at the core of the company.’ providing an immersive pre-deployment
meet many of the air force’s air-to-air and training environment, this facility could
JTAC training needs. Valkyrie’s Tucanos Evolution and expansion ease scheduling pressures on the few
are expected to y CCAS sorties out of 10 Looking towards the future, McCutchan One of Valkyrie’s military ranges designated for JTAC
operating locations. sees the need for CCAS developing further. ex-RAF S312s, training in the US.
He said, ‘We think the contract CAS market serial ZF267 — Valkyrie’s leadership is con dent that
Skin in the Game will continue to grow exponentially over now registered the company brings the perfect mix of
N267TC — on the
Being long-time veterans of the CAS the next few years. This is something that ramp in front of expertise, mission-suitable hardware,
community, Valkyrie’s pilots and JTACs I think the government has gured out, the company’s technology, safety, and a ordability to the
have personal connections to the service that it is incredibly wasteful monetarily, hangar at Falcon CCAS mission to make it a peer-leading
Field. Though
members they are supporting, adding an and with man-hours, maintenance hours, the EMB-312 and solution to two burgeoning problems.
extra incentive to provide the best training blade hours, and all that together to go S312 share a Summarizing what he thinks Valkyrie’s
they can. As Keebaugh said, ‘I personally out and train JTACs with F-35s, F-16s, and common pedigree combination brings to the CCAS mission,
and have similar
know the customer. The guys that we are F-18s. We think that about an 80:20 mix capabilities, there McCutchan told Combat Aircraft, ‘Our
supporting are guys that I served with. is around the right ratio for having guys are in excess of average [JTAC] controls per hour are much
They deserve the best training that’s going being able to be pro cient, current, and 900 differences higher than the military can produce, and
between the two
to make them more than likely have a then also work with [military assets] so Tucano variants. we think that we’re higher than any of our
better chance for coming home.’ For other they can see the real thing and stay good The current focus competitors as well. That’s because of the
Valkyrie instructors, the connections with the real thing as well.’ of Valkyrie’s e ciency and capabilities of the aircraft
upgrade efforts
are even more personal. According to With a growing résumé of successfully is the company’s and the technologies that are integrated
McCutchan, ‘A lot of our pilots also have executed contracts and continued EMB-312F fl eet. into them.’

44 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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uS NAVY & MARINE CORPS SPECIAL


air power YEARBOOK 2019








AIRCRAFT • PERSONNEL • SQUADRONS • MISSIONS • PROGRAMS Welcome to the 2019 edition of the
US NAVY & US Navy and Marine Corps Air Power



Yearbook. This annual bookazine
Marine CoRps aims to deliver a round-up of the



most exciting action from the ranks
AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2019 of two of the world’s premier air

arms, including insightful interviews

and reporting from the cutting edge

of naval aviation.

TOPGUN AT 50 YEARS OLD
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And much more!
100 Pages Special Magazine

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BIG SHOT // HELLENIC AIR FORCE F-4E

























































































Yes, there is still front-line fighter action out there that isn’t F-35-related! The reign of ‘classic’ fighters continues in some air arms,
illustrated here by a wonderful nocturnal image of a Hellenic Air Force F-4E(AUP) Phantom II and aircrew from 338 Mira at Andravida
— Greece’s last unit operating the fabulous ‘Rhino’. In the coming months, Combat Aircraft will be hot on the trail of the world’s last
remaining active-duty F-4s with stunning exclusive coverage. Rich Cooper

48 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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www.Key.Aero // January 2020 49




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TOPGUN













THE REAL STORY




The long-awaited sequel to the movie Top Gun is released in June
2020, but it will be a Hollywood depiction of what happens at the US

Navy Fighter Weapons School. Combat Aircraft tells the story of the
real TOPGUN — a school of combat excellence in the high desert.

REPORT AND PHOTOS Jamie Hunter and Richard Collens



ENTION THE TERM
TOPGUN and many will
immediately recount a
line or refer to a scene
from the 1986 Hollywood
Mblockbuster starring Tom
Cruise. Some 34 years later, the eagerly
awaited sequel is placing the spotlight
rmly back on the US Navy Fighter
Weapons School (NFWS), the formal Fallon in northern Nevada, TOPGUN has
name for this surprisingly publicity-shy retained its identity through numerous
organization. With its 50th anniversary in trials and tribulations over its half-century
2019, the real TOPGUN is focused on the of existence.
mission at hand — creating the world’s Unlike the movie, there is no
greatest ghter pilots. Yet from both sides competition for the students arriving
of the silver screen, this famous school is at TOPGUN. Myers explains, ‘It’s not
once again locking an exemplary public competitive in the sense of trying to beat
image of US naval aviation into the minds someone. You are literally trying to live
of millions. up to them. We are all on the same side of
‘TOPGUN is special because everyone this team, all pulling in the same direction
around you is just so talented — so driven — it’s still an extremely competitive
and dedicated to the mission — that you environment, but not from a
don’t want to let them down,’ says CDR head-to-head standpoint. This
Timothy ‘Ain’t’ Myers, the current ‘skipper’ is more collaborative.
of TOPGUN. Now o cially a department Every one of these
within the Naval Aviation War ghting students
Development Center (NAWDC) at NAS wants to













50 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero




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