Combat Aircraft 02.2022

Col Frederick Irving Eglin. First rated as a same efforts for the F-15C, F-15E, F-15EX An F-22A from the 325th Fighter Wing touches down at Eglin AFB on
military aviator in 1917, Eglin was, sadly, and the F-16C. November 20, 2018. The wing’s 43rd Fighter Squadron has been operating
killed when his Northrop A-17 crashed from Eglin since Hurricane Michael heavily damaged Tyndall in 2018
on January 1, 1937, while on a flight Eglin became the primary site for testing USAF/Samuel King Jr
from Langley Field, Virginia, to Maxwell the USAF’s new F-15EX when the 40th
Field, Alabama. FLTS and 85th TES received jets in March C-146A serial 11-3016 taxies as it prepares to depart from Crestview on
and April 2021, respectively. May 22, 2016. The Wolfhounds are based at Duke Field
Renamed the Eglin Field Military Antonio Gemma More
Reservation, on October 1, 1940, the Activated at Eglin on October 1, 2021,
base reverted to its earlier name on the 753rd TEG is the operational test One of two E-9A Widgets operated by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group’s
December 28, 1944, and assumed its organization responsible for Air Force 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron serial 84-0047 taxies at Tyndall AFB, Florida,
current designation on June 24, 1948. Global Strike Command’s B-1B, B-2A, on April 14, 2010 Ted Carlson
The 463,128-acre base is located near B-52H and B-21A bombers, as well as
Fort Walton Beach and three miles from ACC’s intelligence, surveillance and CV-22B serial 12-0063 from the 1st Special Operations Wing’s 8th Special
Valparaiso. It is assigned to the Air Force reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, which Operations Squadron departs NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas, on August 31,
Materiel Command (AFMC). include the U-2S, RQ-4B and RQ-170A. The 2012, at the conclusion of a hurricane evacuation from its home base at
group’s nine assigned squadrons are co- Hurlburt Field, Florida Keith Snyder
The base is home to AFMC’s 96th Test located with operational units throughout
Wing, which supports developmental the United States.
test and evaluation (DT&E) of all of the
USAF’s air-delivered weapons. The wing, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) units
its operations group and subordinate at Eglin comprise the 84th TES, which is a
40th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) report component of the 926th Wing/Operations
to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Group (OG) at Nellis AFB. The squadron
AFB, California. The squadron operates supports test operations as an associate
a variety of tactical aircraft that include unit alongside the 85th TES.
instrumented A-10C, F-15C, F-15E, F-15EX
and F-16C/D fighters. Activated on Assigned to the Air Education and
April 24, 2019, the 417th FLTS conducts Training Command (AETC), the 33rd
developmental testing for all variants of Fighter Wing (FW) conducts F-35A
the C-130H and C-130J, including the MC- training. The 33rd OG is responsible for
130H/J and AC-130J. the 58th and 60th Fighter Squadrons
(FS). Nicknamed the‘Mighty Gorillas’,
Although headquartered at Eglin, the the 58th FS was the first USAF fighter
53rd Wing is a component of Air Combat squadron to receive the Lightning II, in
Command (ACC) and reports to the USAF July 2011. Known as the‘Fighting Crows’,
Warfare Center (USAFWC) at Nellis AFB, the 60th FS became the wing’s second
Nevada. Tasked with operational testing F-35A squadron when it was reactivated
of unmanned aircraft, bombers, fighters on October 29, 2021. A small number of
and associated weapons systems, the personnel assigned to Detachment 1,
wing is responsible for four geographically Headquarters Florida Air National Guard
separated groups and associated units at support Lightning II training efforts.
more than 20 locations across the US.
Managed by the 96th TW, the Eglin Gulf
Headquartered at Nellis AFB, the wing’s Test and Training Complex covers around
53rd Test and Evaluation Group (TEG) 724 square miles of the Florida Panhandle
manages and executes ACC’s operational and 120,000 square miles over the eastern
test and evaluation (OT&E) and tactics third of the Gulf of Mexico. Ranging from
development for a variety of tactical the panhandle to the Florida Keys, in the
aircraft. Meanwhile, the group’s 85th south, the over-water area is 275 miles
Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), wide and more than 500 miles long.
stationed at Eglin AFB, conducts those
Since October 2018, Eglin has also
served as the temporary home for the

One of two WP-3D Hurricane Hunters operated by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Aircraft Operations Center visits Keesler AFB,
Mississippi, on November 13, 2019 USAF/Randy Bynon

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 51

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REPORT FLORIDA PART ONE

Lockheed Martin F-22As and Northrop
Grumman T-38As assigned to the 325th
FW at Florida’s Tyndall AFB. The aircraft’s
relocation was the result of a Category 5
hurricane that virtually destroyed Tyndall
in October 2008.

Special ops at Hurlburt Field Above: A pair of Texan efforts are conducted by the 19th SOS. Located within Eglin AFB in Crestview,
IIs from Training The SOTRG is also responsible for the 18th Duke Field is also known as Eglin AFB,
Although it resides within the confines Air Wing Five at Special Operations Test and Evaluation Auxiliary Field 3. Opened in 1942, Duke
of Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field operates NAS Whiting Field, Squadron (SOTES), which is tasked with Field served as the training base for the
as an independent USAF facility and is led by T-6B BuNo overseeing all test activities involving the Doolittle Raid on Japan in April 1942. It
under the control of the Air Force Special 168185 operate over special operations aviation fleet. Both was later named to honor 1st Lieut. Robert
Operations Command (AFSOC), which Pensacola Beach on squadrons utilize aircraft assigned to the L Duke, who was killed when his Curtiss
is headquartered there. Designated as June 21, 2016 operational squadrons. A-25 Shrike crashed during a test mission
Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field 9, it is situated 35 Antonio Gemma More near Tullahoma, Tennessee, in 1943.
miles east of Pensacola, adjacent to Fort Tenants at Hurlburt include the 14th
Walton Beach and is named to honor 1st Weapons Squadron, which reports to Duke is home to the 492nd SOW’s 492nd
Lt Donald Hurlburt, who was killed in an the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, SOG, which is responsible for the 6th and
accident at Eglin in 1943. Nevada, via the 57th Wing/OG. The 524th SOS. Operating the PZL C-145A
squadron conducts the graduate-level Combat Coyote and Cessna 208B Caravan,
The 1st SOW (special operations wing) weapons instructor courses for the special the 6th SOS is responsible for the fixed-
is the host wing at Hurlburt Field, which operations community. wing Aviation Foreign Internal Defense
has been home to the Air Commandos (AvFID) program. It will operate three
since the 4400th Combat Crew Training The AFRC/919th SOW’s 919th SOG Embraer A-29B Super Tucanos when the
Squadron was activated in April 1961. is responsible for the 2nd SOS, which aircraft are delivered later this year.
Flying operations are conducted by the supports MQ-9A operations alongside
squadrons within the 1st and 492nd the active duty 65th SOS. Additionally, Also based at Duke Field, the 524th
SOWs. Seven special operations squadrons the 5th SOS supports training operations SOS provides agile intra-theater mobility
(SOS) reporting to the 1st SOW’s 1st alongside the 19th SOS. support for special operations forces
Special Operations Group (SOG) fly worldwide, utilizing the Fairchild/Dornier
operational missions. They comprise the The 8th SOS CV-22B operations at C-146A Wolfhound.
8th and 15th SOS, which respectively Hurlburt are supported by the Florida
operate the Bell/Boeing CV-22B and ANG’s 249th SOS. The associate unit The AFRC’s 919th SOW is Duke Field’s
Lockheed Martin MC-130H/J; the 34th and was activated on August 20, 2020, and host wing and its 919th SOG is responsible
319th SOS, which fly the Pilatus U-28A; reports administratively to the 125th for the 711th SOS, which supports the
and the AC-130J-equipped 4th and 73rd FW in Jacksonville. Initially known as AvFID program. The wing’s 859th SOS
SOS. Additionally, the 65th SOS operates Detachment 2, Headquarters Florida supports the NSAV program in the C-146A.
unmanned MQ-9A Reapers, which are ANG, the unit began operating Ospreys Both squadrons operate the active-duty
based elsewhere, via ground control in December 2015. units through classic associations.
stations at Hurlburt.

Training requirements for the AC-130J,
MC-130H and U-28A are supported by the
492nd SOW’s 492nd Special Operations
Training Group (SOTRG) at Hurlburt. Those

52 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Tenants at Duke include the 96th
Wing’s 413th FLTS, which conducts
developmental testing with the Bell
UH-1N, Sikorsky HH-60W combat rescue
helicopter and the Boeing/Leonardo MH-
139A Gray Wolf. Test operations associated
with the MH-139 are shared with AFGSC’s
Detachment 7. Likewise, Detachment
2, 88th TES from ACC’s 53rd Wing/TEG
supports HH-60W testing. The main body
of the squadron is located at Nellis AFB.

Tyndall AFB Above: A USAF and Hawaii. Although it remains assigned (WSEP), the Air Force Weapons Instructor
BQM-167A Skeeter to the 325th OG, the 95th FS is currently Course (WIC), and to air force, navy and
Located 12 miles southeast of Panama subscale aerial target without personnel or aircraft. army customers for developmental
City, Tyndall AFB was named for Lt Francis drone is launched and operational tests. Additionally, it
B Tyndall, who was credited with shooting at Tyndall AFB by Subsequently the decision was made is responsible for all USAF aerial target
down four German aircraft in 1918. He the 53rd Weapons to rebuild the base and assign a wing of support over the Eglin Gulf ranges and
was later killed in the crash of a Curtiss Evaluation Group’s 72 F-35As. In June 2021, the decision was full-scale targets for testing on the White
P-1F Hawk that occurred near Mooresville, 82nd Aerial Targets made to relocate the 31 Raptors and 16 Sands Missile Range near Holloman.
North Carolina, on July 15, 1930. The base Squadron on April 13, Talons and associated training aids to
originally opened as a gunnery range on 2014 Ted Carlson Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The Squadron aircrew operate a pair of
January 13, 1941, and was formally named move is expected to begin in summer Bombardier/de Havilland Canada DHC-
Tyndall Field on June 13, 1941. It took on Below: KC-135R 2022. It remains unclear how the Raptor 8-200 series twin-turboprops that were
its current name on January 13, 1948. 62-3562 from the move will affect AFRC’s 44th Fighter Group modified to act as airborne surveillance/
91st Air Refueling and its assigned 301st FS. The 44th is telemetry relay aircraft. Known as E-9A
Tyndall has served as the training base Squadron rolls out partnered with the 325th FW under classic Widgets, the aircraft provide ocean-
for the F-22A since the first Raptors arrived after landing at Nellis association and reports to the 301st FW surface surveillance and relay missile and
in 2004. The based 325th Fighter Wing and AFB, following a at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas. The 301st FS target telemetry for over-the-horizon
its three squadrons are assigned to ACC. Red Flag mission on ‘Red Tailed Angels’share responsibilities coverage of the Eglin Gulf Ranges.
Although the wing’s headquarters remains August 14, 2008 with the 43rd FS.
at Tyndall, the Raptors and Talons flown Ted Carlson The group’s 83rd Fighter Weapons
by the 325th Operations Group’s 43rd FS Reporting to the 53rd Wing at Eglin, Squadron conducts the USAF’s air-to-
and 2nd Fighter Training Squadron have the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group’s air and air-to-ground Weapon System
been temporarily operating from Eglin (WEG) assigned squadrons include the Evaluation Program (WSEP) East at Tyndall.
AFB since October 2018, when Hurricane 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall, The squadron hosts around 40 WSEP
Michael decimated the base, destroying or and Detachment 1 at Holloman AFB, deployments annually at Tyndall.
severely damaging 484 buildings. New Mexico. Known as‘Team Targets’,
the squadron operates the Department Headquartered at Tyndall, the First
The 43rd FS‘Hornets’is the USAF’s formal of Defense's full-scale aerial target Air Force/Air Forces Northern is the air
training unit (FTU) for the Raptor. Known (FSAT) program, which utilizes modified component of US Northern Command.
as the‘American Beagles’, the 2nd FTRS Lockheed Martin QF-16 fighters and When tasked, it conducts homeland
supports training efforts by providing also provides Kratos BQM-167A Skeeter defense and defense support of civil
T-38s that act as adversaries for the Raptor air force subscale aerial targets (AFSAT) authorities operations in the command’s
pilots. Raptor training is also supported by used for testing and training over the area of responsibility. Additionally, it is
guardsmen assigned to the Detachment 1, Gulf Range complex. The squadron tasked as the Continental US Region for
Headquarters Florida Air National Guard. provides target support for the Air Force the bi-national North American Aerospace
Weapon System Evaluation Program Defense Command and provides air
Following the storm, the Raptors defense through airspace surveillance
assigned to the 95th FS were transferred
to other F-22A units in Virginia, Alaska

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 53

#10

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REPORT FLORIDA PART ONE

and airspace control. Assigned to ACC, it Declared surplus following World War Two, December 1, 1939 and formally dedicated Left: MH-60T tail
is responsible for ensuring the aerospace the facility was turned over to the City of on April 16, 1941. From March 1946 until number 6045, from
control and air defense of the continental Brooksville and later became known as July 1962, when it was transferred to Air Station Clearwater,
United States, US Virgin Islands and Hernando County Airport. Tactical Air Command, the base supported departs from St
Puerto Rico. Assigned units include the Located 45 miles north of Tampa and Strategic Air Command Boeing B-29, B-50, Pete-Clearwater
601st Air Operations Center and the seven miles southwest of Brooksville, the B-47 bombers and KC-97 tankers. International Airport,
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center airport took on its current name in March at the start of a
at Tyndall AFB; the Eastern Air Defense 2013. The Florida Army Guard began Reporting to Air Mobility Command mission in support of
Sector in Rome, New York State, and the operations in Brooksville in 2000 and the (AMC), the base is located four miles Operation Bahamas
Western Air Defense Sector at McChord AASF currently supports Company B, 1st south of Tampa on a peninsula between Turks and Caicos on
AFB, Washington. Battalion 185th Aviation Regiment, which Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay. April 4, 2013
operates ten UH-60L Black Hawks in the The headquarters for both US Central Tom Kaminski
West Coast air assault role. The battalion headquarters Command and US Special Operations
is located at Jackson-Evers International Command are located on the base. Above: A pair of
Known as Florida’s Sun Coast, the central Airport in Mississippi. F-35As from the 33rd
portion of the state’s west coast is home to The 6th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) serves Fighter Wing’s 58th
the Florida Army National Guard's Aviation MacDill AFB was named in honor of as the host wing. MacDill had been home fighter Squadron
Support Facility 2 at Brooksville-Tampa Bay World War One US Army Air Service aviator to ACC’s 56th FW when it was selected conduct a training
Regional Airport. Col Leslie MacDill, who was killed in the for closure by the BRAC commission mission over the Gulf
Originally known as Brooksville Army crash of North American BC-1 after take- in 1991. However, the base, which was of Mexico near Eglin
Airfield, operations began in November off from Bolling Field in Washington DC on then assigned to ACC, was saved when AFB on October 15,
1942 and the facility eventually supported November 8, 1938. The base was originally Hurricane Andrew destroyed Homestead 2012 Jim Haseltine
training for Boeing B-17 and North established as Southeast Air Base, Tampa, AFB in August 1992.
American B-25 and Martin B-26 crews. in 1939, renamed MacDill Field on Right: A pair of TH-
After supporting Homestead’s units, it 57C’s from Training
became the new home of the National Air Wing Five at NAS
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Whiting Field operate
(NOAA) Aircraft Operations Center over Pensacola Beach
(AOC) when it relocated from Miami on February 23, 2017
International Airport in January 1993. Antonio Gemma More
The base was transferred to AMC and
welcomed the 6th ARW on October 1,
1996. Although restructured since then,
the wing and its operations group are
currently responsible for two squadrons
equipped with the Boeing KC-135R/T.
Responsibility for the maintenance and
operation of the Stratotankers is shared
with AFRC’s co-located 927th ARW/
OG and its 63rd ARS‘Flying Jennies’. The
associate organizations were relocated
to MacDill in 2008, as a result of the

54 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

2005 BRAC decisions that ended tanker The air station’s area of operations
operations with the 319th ARW at Grand includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean
Forks AFB, North Dakota. As a result, the Basin and the Bahamas, and its motto
6th OG’s 91st ARS gained four additional is‘Anytime, Anywhere’. Assigned assets
Stratotankers, boosting its inventory from currently include ten Sikorsky MH-60T
12 to 16 jets. Medium-Range Recovery (MRR) helicopters
and four Lockheed Martin HC-130H
The wing received a further eight Long-Range Surveillance (LRS) aircraft.
KC-130Rs in 2018, as a result of the The station’s Jayhawk inventory is dictated
reactivation of the 50th ARS‘Red Devils’ by the requirement to support Operation
on October 1, 2017. All three of MacDill's Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT).
tanker squadrons support combat
operations on a rotational basis. In First started in 1983, the joint Coast
fact, the 91st ARS completed its most Guard, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
recent deployment in September 2021. and Government of Bahamas OPBAT
In September 2019, the 310th Airlift partnership combats drug smuggling to
Squadron, which had operated three and from the Bahamas. The Coast Guard’s
C-37A Gulfstream Vs, as part of the 6th OG, anti-narcotics and migrant smuggling
was inactivated and the 6th Air Mobility missions are flown from bases at Great
Wing was re-designated as the 6th Air Inagua and Freeport, Bahamas.
Refueling Wing on October 1 that year.
In 1987, Clearwater took on the
US Coast Guard responsibility to provide helicopters and
personnel to support the OPBAT mission.
The US Coast Guard’s largest and busiest The station’s HC-130Hs deploy in support
air station is situated on the northwest of Joint Inter Agency Task Force South
side of St Pete-Clearwater International (JIATF-S) operations in the Caribbean.
Airport, alongside Old Tampa Bay. Clearwater was the last of eight air stations
Assigned to the 7th Coast Guard District, to receive the HH-60J in April 1993. Its
Air Station Clearwater was commissioned conversion was completed when it retired
on October 29, 1976, and replaced Air the Coast Guard’s last HH-3Fs in 1994.
Station St Petersburg, which had been It was also the final station to begin the
located at Albert Whitted Airport since conversion from the MH-60J to the MH-
1935. The airport is nine miles north of St 60T in 2012.
Petersburg (on Florida's Gulf coast), seven
miles southeast of Clearwater and 17 miles Army Reserves
southwest of Tampa.
US Army Reserve Command’s (USARC)

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 55

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STATE

REPORT FLORIDA PART ONE

WEST FLORIDA STATE REPORT

Location Command Unit Aircraft Tail Code Notes

NAS Pensacola – Forest Sherman Field

Commander Naval Air Training (CNATRA) NFDS Blue Angels F/A-18E/F, C-130J

Training Air Wing Six (TAW-6) VT-10 Wildcats T-6A F

VT-86 Sabrehawks T-45C

12th Flying Training Wing/479th Flying Training Group 451st Flying Training Sqn T-1A AP

455th Flying Training Sqn T-6A AP

NAS Whiting Field, Milton

Training Air Wing Five (TAW-5) VT-2 Doer Birds T-6B E

VT-3 Red Knights T-6B

VT-6 Shooters T-6B

HT-8 Eight Ballers TH-57B/C

HT-18 Vigilant Eagles TH-57B/C

HT-28 Hellions TH-57B/C

HITU Bladerunners TH-57B/C, TH-73A

FITU Tourmentors T-6B

Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach/Valparaiso

53rd Wing/53rd Test & Evaluation Group 85th Test & Evaluation Sqn F-15C/E/EX, F-16C/D (Blk 40/50), QF-16A/C OT

417th Test & Evaluation Sqn (C-130H/J Series) {1}

926th Wing/Operations Group 84th Test & Evaluation Sqn No aircraft assigned {2}

33rd Fighter Wing/Operations Group 58th Fighter Sqn Mighty Gorillas F-35A EG

60th Fighter Sqn Fighting Crows F-35A

96th Test Wing/Operations Group 40th Flight Test Sqn A-10C, F-15C/D/E/EX, F-16C (Blk 25/40/42/50), F-16D ET
(Blk 40/50)

Hurlburt Field

57th Wing/OG/ USAFWS 14th Weapons Sqn CV-22B, MC-130H/J, AC-130W/J, U-28A {3}

1st Special Operations Wing/Special Operations Group 4th Special Operations Sqn AC-130J

8th Special Operations Sqn CV-22B

15th Special Operations Sqn MC-130H/J

34th Special Operations Sqn U-28A

65th Special Operations Sqn MQ-9A RSO

73rd Special Operations Sqn AC-130J

319th Special Operations Sqn U-28A

492nd Special Operations Wing/492nd SOTRG 18th Special Operations Test & Evaluation Sqn (No aircraft assigned)

19th Special Operations Sqn (FTU) AC-130J, MC-130H, U-28A {4}

125th Fighter Wing/Operations Group 249th Special Operations Sqn CV-22B {5}

919th Special Operations Wing/Special Operations Group 5th Special Operations Sqn (U-28A, C-145A, AC-130J) {6}

2nd Special Operations Sqn MQ-9A RSO

Duke Field

53rd Wing/53rd Test & Evaluation Group 88th Test & Evaluation Sqn Detachment 2 HH-60W OT

AFGSC Detachment 7 MH-139A

96th Test Wing/Operations Group 413th Flight Test Sqn UH-1N, HH-60W, MH-139A ET

919th Special Operations Wing/Special Operations Group 711th Special Operations Sqn C-145A, AC-208B

859th Special Operations Sqn C-146A

492nd Special Operations Wing/Special Operations Group 6th Special Operations Sqn C-145A, AC-208B

524th Special Operations Sqn C-146A

Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City

53rd Wing/53rd Weapons Evaluation Group 82nd Aerial Targets Sqn QF-16A/C, E-9A, BQM-167 TD

325th Fighter Wing/Operations Group 2nd Fighter Training Sqn T-38A/B/C TY {7}

43rd Fighter Sqn (FTU) F-22A TY {7}

95th Fighter Sqn (F-22A) TY {8}

301st Fighter Wing/44th Fighter Group 301st Fighter Sqn F-22A, T-38A TY

Lakeland-Linder International Airport, Lakeland

NOAA Office of Air & Marine Operations Air Operations Center WP-3D, Gulfstream IV-SP, King Air B300C, DHC-6-300

Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport, Brooksville

AASF #2 Florida Army National Guard B/1-185th AVN (ASLT) UH-60L

St Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Clearwater

7th Coast Guard District AIRSTA Clearwater HC-130H, MH-60T

5-159th AVN (GSAB) (USARC) A/5-159th AVN (CMD)(USARC) Ghostriders UH-60L

G/5-159th AVN (AA) (USARC) Devil Ray Dustoff UH-60L

MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa

6th Air Refueling Wing/Operations Group 50th Air Refueling Sqn KC-135R

91st Refueling Sqn KC-135R/T

927th Air Refueling Wing/Operations Group 63rd Refueling Sqn KC-135R/T

Notes: 1 Unit conducts flight testing with C-130 variants as required. 2 Associate unit, operates alongside 85th TES 3 Unit operates aircraft assigned to host wing 4 AC-130J training will
relocate to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 5 Associate unit operates alongside 8th SOS 6 Associate unit operates alongside 19th SOS 7 Unit will relocate to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia 8
Sqn currently has no aircraft or personnel assigned

56 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Aviation Support Facility (ASF) Clearwater Above: F-16C located around 40 miles east of Tampa Gulfstream G550, which is planned as a
operates Sikorsky's UH-60L helicopters serial 97-0107, and 60 miles southwest of Orlando, is now replacement for the G-IV, although the
from the north part of the airport. The from the 53rd Test home to NOAA’s diverse fleet of nine fixed- older aircraft may be retained as a backup.
Black Hawks are operated by Companies and Evaluation wing aircraft that have been modified for
A and G, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Group’s 85th Test special missions. The Avon Park Air Force Range is a
Regiment. Respectively nicknamed the & Evaluation Reporting to the Office of Marine and 106,000-acre bombing and gunnery range
‘Ghostriders' and‘Devil Ray Dustoff’, the Squadron, taxies Aviation Operations (OMAO) in Silver located in central Florida, approximately
two units are tasked with the command after landing at Spring, Maryland, the AOC conducts a ten miles southeast of the city of Avon
aviation and air ambulance roles. Eglin AFB on May variety of aerial surveys and projects. The Park. It is the largest training range east
4, 2021 aircraft operate throughout the United of the Mississippi River and offers 400 sq
The headquarters of the General USAF/M Sgt Tristan States and around the world, in support of miles of restricted air space.
Support Aviation Battalion is located at McIntire NOAA's mission.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and is The site is managed by the 598th Range
part of the USARC’s 244th Expeditionary Below: A-10C Known as Lakeland Municipal Airport Squadron, which is a geographically
Combat Aviation Battalion. serial 81-0989 when it opened in 1960, and later separated unit (GSU) of the 23rd Wing at
from 96th Test renamed Lakeland- Regional Airport, the Moody AFB, Georgia. Officially opened
Although the reserve Black Hawks have Wing’s 40th Flight facility assumed its current name in 2017. in March 1942 as the Avon Park General
been based at the Clearwater Airport since Test Squadron rolls Construction of the airport, originally Bombing and Gunnery Range, by
2002, construction of a new ASF at MacDill down the runway at known as Drane Field, was completed in November 1943 it had become Avon Park
AFB began in March 2018. Both units are Eglin AFB during a May 1942 when it became Lakeland Army Army Airfield and trained crew to operate
expected to relocate to the new facility weapons test flight Airfield. Throughout World War Two, it the B-17 and B-26 bombers. Although
early in 2022. When the Black Hawks move that evaluated a supported training for bomber crews and the Army Airfield was inactivated in
out, the US Army Jet Training Detachment new external fuel fighter pilots but was eventually declared September 1945, it was later reactivated as
will relocate to Clearwater from Dobbins tank configuration surplus to requirements and turned over the Avon Park Air Force Range in 1956.
Air Reserve Base, Georgia. on August 14, 2013 to the city of Lakeland.
USAF/Samuel Within the range is the Avon Park Air
Construction of the Pinellas County King Jr NOAA's aviation fleet is divided into light Force Auxiliary Field/MacDill AFB Auxiliary
Municipal Airport began in March 1941, and heavy categories, with the former Field, which consists of an 8,000ft main
however, the US Army took control of the comprising a pair of Beechcraft King Air runway, an operational control tower, an
project following the Japanese attack on B300C and four de Havilland Canada DHC- aircraft rescue and firefighting facility and
Pearl Harbor. The Pinellas Army Airfield 6-300 Twin Otters. limited ramp and hangar facilities.
became operational in August 1942. It
served as a military flight training base The heavy aircraft include a single While we’ve covered the wide range of
and supported anti-submarine patrols Gulfstream IV-SP and a pair of Lockheed military units from the services based on
throughout World War Two. Declared Martin WP-3Ds that collect data vital to Florida’s west coast, that’s only half the
surplus in 1946, the airfield was returned tropical cyclone research and forecasting. story – the Sunshine State has much more
to local control and known as Pinellas They are primarily tasked with hurricane to be discovered...
International Airport until 1958, when reconnaissance and intensity forecasting
it became St Petersburg-Clearwater in support of the National Weather Don’t miss the next issue of Combat
International Airport. In 2013, the airport’s Service’s National Hurricane Center (NHC). Aircraft Journal, which will feature Part
name was shortened to its current title. The AOC is expecting the delivery of a Two of this report, looking at the units
located on Florida’s east coast.
Central Florida

Best known for its‘Hurricane Hunter’
platforms, the NOAA AOC manages a fleet
of fixed-wing research aircraft that support
NOAA’s ongoing weather and atmospheric
research. Prior to its move to Lakeland-
Linder International Airport in June 2017,
the AOC had been based at MacDill AFB
in Tampa. The Lakeland facility, which is

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 57

ISR IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

WESTERN PACIFIC

David Axe highlights the use of intelligence surveillance But the People’s Liberation Army isn’t
and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft in the western alone in watching potential targets in the
Pacific as the USA and its allies try to keep a close region. While the movements of American
eye on what China is doing and vice-versa aircraft carriers and Chinese bombers
along the Taiwan Strait and into the China
WHENTHE AMERICAN, prompting the Japanese air force to and Philippine Seas make headlines,
British and Japanese launch fighters to investigate. manned and unmanned ISR aircraft on
navies surged three both sides of the Taiwan Strait’s unofficial
aircraft carriers and Chinese hint ’middle line’do the quiet daily work of
a helicopter carrier helping commanders on both sides
into the western The intensive surveillance, which came prepare for war.
Pacific, south of Japan back in August, after years of growth in Beijing’s ISR force,
the Chinese military responded with hints at how Chinese forces might wage To keep enemy flattops away from the
a surge of its own. On no fewer than naval battles against the United States and Philippine and China Seas, the Chinese
three occasions, Chinese unmanned its allies. In short, tailing enemy fleets so People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force
aerial vehicles shadowed the allied fleet, bombers and land-based rocket batteries deploys hundreds of anti-ship ballistic
can attack them. and cruise missiles. But those missiles
are useless without accurate targeting

58 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

An MQ-4C drone data. That’s where the PLA’s drones and TO KEEP ENEMY FLATTOPS AWAY
idles on a runway manned ISR aircraft come in. FROM THE PHILIPPINE AND CHINA
at Andersen Air SEAS, THE CHINESE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION
Force Base in Guam. In August, the allied flattops converged ARMY ROCKET FORCE DEPLOYS HUNDREDS
Non-stealthy drones from separate directions. The Royal Navy’s OF ANTI-SHIP BALLISTIC AND CRUISE
such as the Air Force’s new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth along MISSILES. BUT THOSE MISSILES ARE
single-jet RQ-4 and with her British, American and Dutch USELESS WITHOUT ACCURATE TARGETING
Navy’s MQ-4 are escorts had been crisscrossing the Pacific DATA. THAT’S WHERE THE PLA’S DRONES
vulnerable to air for several weeks. AND MANNED ISR AIRCRAFT COME IN
defenses, as Iran
proved when it shot In mid-August, the US Navy amphibious www.Key.Aero // February 2022 59
down a prototype Navy assault ship USS America along with the
drone in 2019 Japanese navy helicopter carrier JS Ise
US Navy photo by met Queen Elizabeth in the Philippine Sea
Mass Communication south of Okinawa.
Specialist 3rd Class
MacAdam Kane While the three carriers operated
Weissman together, a fourth big-deck ship, the
USN supercarrier USS Carl Vinson, passed
nearby with her own escorts.

ISR IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

The presence of four carriers in the same The next day, the Japanese spotted An RC-135V/W climbs into the air during Global Thunder 17, US Strategic
patch of ocean underscores the sheer another drone, a Harbin BZK-005, lying Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, at Offutt Air
weight of naval firepower the United south of Okinawa in the company of two Force Base in Nebraska in October 2016 USAF/Joshua Plueger
States and its allies can bring to bear for, Y-9s. The 30-foot, prop-driven BZK-005
say, a fight over Taiwan. can, like the TB-001, fly thousands of MANY OF THE
miles with a modest payload potentially AMERICAN ISR
In the face of opposition including cameras and a radar. AIRCRAFT FLY FROM
OKINAWA OR GUAM WITH
The Chinese military has long possessed On August 26, a second -- or the same THEIR RADIO TRANSPONDERS
surveillance planes -- including variants of -- TB-001 returned to the waters south ON, MEANING ANYONE WITH
the quad-prop Shaanxi Y-8 and Shaanxi of Okinawa, this time with two Y-9s. ACCESS TO POPULAR
Y-9 and tri-jet Tupolev Tu-154 -- that could “There was a risk of violation of airspace,” FLIGHT-TRACKING
track down these enemy flattops, relay the Japanese military’s joint staff stated. SOFTWARE CAN PLOT
their co-ordinates to PLARF batteries Japanese air force fighters -- F-15s, THEIR SORTIES
ashore and potentially help to chip away apparently -- sortied to keep tabs on the IN REAL TIME
at the allies’combined strength. Chinese aircraft.

On November 16, no fewer than six of The greater risk is that, during wartime,
these manned surveillers -- two Y-9 and Chinese drones might succeed in
one Y-8 electronic-intelligence planes, pinpointing allied carriers. The US, British
what appeared to be a Y-8 signals- and Japanese navies combined possess
intelligence plane, a Y-8 anti-submarine more ships, more missiles and more
patroller and a Shaanxi KJ-500 early- planes than the Chinese navy does,
warning plane -- flew southwest of Taiwan but that advantage could slip fast if the
with two Shenyang J-16 fighters as PLARF, aided by manned and unmanned
escorts. Surveillance on this scale during surveillance aircraft, manages to draw a
wartime would be risky. Aircraft carriers bead on the big decks.
are, after all, some of the best-defended
warships in the world. Stealthy surveillance

Drones could probe a carrier group’s The work of fixing Chinese targets is
defenses without risking a crew, however. constant and ongoing -- a kind of daily
To that end, the People’s Liberation Army, answer to China’s own surveillance of US
PLA Air Force and PLA Navy have been and allied ships plying international air
developing a wide array of new UAVs. space over the western Pacific. Many of
the American ISR aircraft fly from Okinawa
Two new drone types flew at least three or Guam with their radio transponders on,
sorties in close vicinity to the allied carriers meaning anyone with access to popular
on August 24, 25 and 26. It’s possible the flight-tracking software can plot their
missions technically were test flights for sorties in real time.
the new unmanned aircraft.
But these same aircraft – Air Force RC-
On August 24, Japanese forces tracked a 135V/W electronic-intelligence (ELINT)
single Tengden TB-001 drone flying a loop planes and E-8Cs with their underslung
over the East China Sea west of Okinawa. GMTI radars as well as Navy P-8 patrol
The 32-foot, propeller-driven TB-001 is planes, among other jet-powered ’heavies’
China’s answer to the US military’s own – are big, slow, unarmed, non-stealthy and
Predator drone. The camera-equipped potentially highly vulnerable in wartime.
drone can carry lightweight weapons over
a distance of around 3,000 miles. Their operators are grappling with this

A Shaanxi Y-8JB ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft, attached to a naval aviation unit
under the People’s Liberation Army Northern Theater Command. The aircraft was undergoing
a round-the-clock flight training exercise in eastern China’s Shandong Province in early
August 2021 People’s Liberation Army/Xing Yun and Duan Yanbing

60 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

weakness. The Air Force is fielding stealthy Above left to right: Aviation Week broke the news of the type’s around 2016, when the Air Force’s 9th
RQ-180 surveillance drones that, with the A Shaanxi Y-8X existence back in late 2013. Operations Group based at Beale Air Force
right sensors, could maintain the service’s maritime patrol Base in California -- the stealth drone’s
ISR coverage even when missiles are flying aircraft taxis to its The Northrop Grumman-made RQ-180 reported main operator -- set up its own
and non-stealthy heavies don’t dare leave refueling spot during meets an obvious need for long-range, Guam detachment.
the ground. a training exercise penetrating aerial reconnaissance in
in east China’s highly defended enemy airspace. Non- It is unclear how many RQ-180s the
In September, an aircraft that appeared Shandong Province, in stealthy drones such as the Air Force’s Air Force possesses and how quickly
to be the twin-jet, flying-wing RQ-180 was early August 2021 single-jet RQ-4B and Navy’s MQ-4C – also the service is buying additional copies.
photographed flying over the Philippines. People’s Liberation Northrop products – are vulnerable to Aviation Week claimed there were seven
The photo seems to back up reporting Army/Xing Yun and air defenses, as Iran proved when it shot RQ-180s in service as of 2019. If the
that the batwing RQ-180 has been flying Duan Yanbing down a prototype Navy drone in 2019. RQ-180s replace RQ-4s on a one-for-one
from Guam for operations around China. basis, the USAF could eventually buy
A Shaanxi KJ-200 The Air Force operates at least one around 30 of the type.
Michael Fugnit, a self-acclaimed airborne early warning other stealth spy drone, the Lockheed
’skywatcher’, was in Luzon south of the aircraft holds, while Martin RQ-170. But the jet-propelled As recently as this summer, the Air Force
Philippines capital, Manila, when he saw another prepares to RQ-170 is just 66ft from wingtip to was assuring lawmakers the service could
a strange-looking aircraft high overhead. touch down. They are wingtip. The single-engine drone’s small safely retire most of its RQ-4s because it’s
His photo, which quickly circulated on regularly seen flying size translates into limited altitude and “bringing on … a family of systems”for
social media, depicts a flying wing aircraft over the western range performance compared to the ISR, according to Lt Gen David Nahom,
trailing a contrail. Pacific People’s approximately 130ft-span RQ-180. deputy chief of staff for plans and
Liberation Army/ programs. That new family of systems
Its shape and the contrail match those Xing Yun The USAF for years has been building up should be fully operational some time
in a photograph that plane-spotter Rob its Pacific stealth drone force. According between 2027 and 2029, Nahom said. But
Kolinsky snapped near Edwards Air Force A Shaanxi Y-9JB to a redacted annual report from its Air if Fugnit’s photo is any indication, the
Base in California in October 2020. They reconnaissance Combat Command, the USAF began RQ-180 is already operational – at least in
also match the description of the RQ-180 aircraft is one of staging RQ-170s from Guam back in 2009. a limited capacity.
that has been emerging in the media since several types of PLAAF
aircraft used to keep The RQ-180s reportedly began arriving
an eye on events in
the western Pacific
People’s Liberation
Army/Xing Yun

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 61

ISR IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC This image: A Xian While the Air Force continues to shift
62 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero H-6K bomber. PLA more of its ISR capability to a secretive
surveillance planes new stealth drone type, the US Army
tail US and allied is still comfortable operating manned
warships so that, in surveillance aircraft. Its newest ISR plane
wartime, bombers has, like the RQ-180, already deployed to
and land-based the western Pacific.
rocket batteries can
attack them The Army revealed the Artemis ISR plane
People’s Liberation in August 2020. Artemis is a Bombardier
Army/Wan Quan Challenger 650 twin-engine business jet
packed with sensors. It’s the Army’s first
Bottom: USAF E-3C jet-propelled surveillance aircraft.
and E-8C surveillance
aircraft sit on the Fake numbers
flightline at Prince
Sultan Air Base The Army revealed the Artemis ISR plane
in Saudi Arabia in in August 2020. Artemis is a Bombardier
March 2021. The Challenger 650 twin-engine business jet
USAF heavies are big, packed with sensors. It is the Army’s first
slow, unarmed and jet-propelled surveillance aircraft. One
non-stealthy arrived in Japan in late July 2020. It and a
USAF/Master Sgt sister plane have been flying surveillance
Wes Wright missions near the Air Force’s sprawling
base in Okinawa. Artemis carries a High-
Left top to bottom: Accuracy Detection and Exploitation
The Airborne System, a sensor suite combining a GMTI
Reconnaissance radar with ELINT receivers. The radar
Targeting & spots moving targets such as tanks and
Exploitation Multi- presumably could also detect ships. The
Mission Intelligence receivers can pinpoint enemy radars.
System aircraft. Flying at 40,000ft, the sensors could scan
Artemis carries for hundreds of miles in all directions.
a High-Accuracy “Deep sensing,”the Army calls it.
Detection and
Exploitation System The Artemises’initial missions over the
and a sensor suite Pacific are a temporary proof of concept.
with a GMTI radar The Challenger airframe itself might also
and ELINT receivers. be temporary. The Army plans to field
It was seen passing around ten larger Artemis planes starting
through Prestwick in 2028. The production Artemises could
on September 21 use Boeing 737 or Gulfstream G550
after spending some airframes. Rumors have circulated that
time flying along the the Army might, as a stopgap, acquire
Russia-Ukraine border the Royal Air Force’s five retired Sentinel
Barry Swann ground-surveillance planes.

Just like the EP-3Es The US Navy has also deployed a new
before them, VPU-2 surveillance plane. This summer, spotters
has started painting photographed at least three Boeing-
fictitious numbers on made P-8 patrol planes sporting unusual
the P-8As that are antenna and fake bureau numbers.
being used for ‘sneaky
beaky’ surveillance. The fake numbers are part of the planes’
They are undoubtedly disguises. The Navy’s Special Projects
regulars to the Patrol Squadron Two (VPU-2), which
western Pacific operates the mysterious P-8s, takes pains
Mike Keaveney

A US Navy MH-60S helicopter,
US Air Force RQ-4 and Navy
MQ-4C drones, five Air Force B-52
bombers and six Air Force KC-135
tankers stationed at Andersen
Air Force Base, Guam, perform
a mass-taxiing exercise on April
13, 2020. RQ-180 stealth drones
reportedly also operate from Guam
US Air Force photo by Senior
Airman Michael S Murphy

WHILE THE
AIR FORCE
CONTINUES TO
SHIFT MORE OF ITS
ISR CAPABILITY TO
A SECRETIVE NEW
STEALTH DRONE TYPE,
THE US ARMY IS STILL
COMFORTABLE OPERATING
MANNED SURVEILLANCE
AIRCRAFT. ITS NEWEST
ISR PLANE HAS, LIKE
THE RQ-180, ALREADY
DEPLOYED TO THE
WESTERN PACIFIC

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 63

ISR IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

to blend in with regular forces. To most P-3s. The P-3s were distinguishable from Above: A Chinese THE US NAVY
people, the Jacksonville-based unit’s regular P-3s by their unique antenna BZK-005 drone, as HAS ALSO
aircraft look like the roughly 100 normal arrangements and bulges and windows photographed by a DEPLOYED A NEW
P-8s that fly with the US fleet’s regular on their fuselages not evident on non- Japan Air Self-Defense SURVEILLANCE
patrol squadrons. COMINT planes. Plane-spotters kept Force fighter. Two new PLANE. THIS
track of the VPU P-3s by looking for these People’s Liberation SUMMER, SPOTTERS
But these twin-jet P-8s are special. antennas and the ever-shifting bureau Army drone types flew PHOTOGRAPHED AT
The unusual antennas are apparently numbers on their fuselages and tails – at least three sorties LEAST THREE
part of elaborate radio-eavesdropping special-projects veterans have recalled the in close vicinity to four BOEING-MADE P-8
communications-intelligence (COMINT) laborious process of frequent repainting. US and allied aircraft PATROL PLANES
gear that, combined with other systems, carriers on August SPORTING UNUSUAL
allow the VPU-2 P-8s to pinpoint enemy The Navy began retiring its weary P-3s 24, 25 and 26. It’s ANTENNAS AND FAKE
forces and record their communications. in the early 2000s. The VPU P-3s were possible the missions BUREAU NUMBERS.
some of the last to go. With almost no were test flights for THE FAKE NUMBERS
For decades, VPU-2 flew propeller-driven fanfare, the fleet began modifying P-8s the new UAVs ARE PART OF THE
to carry COMINT equipment. One of the Japan Air Self- PLANES’ DISGUISES
VPU P-8s kept its transponder on as it flew Defense Force
over Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in January, off a train during shipping and fell into the
apparently while training with Special Left: A close view of Clark Fork River in Montana in 2014.
Operations Forces on the ground. the apparent RQ-180
over the Philippines in For all their secrecy, it is not hard to
It is not clear how many P-8s VPU-2 will September 2021. The guess where the VPU P-8s will be spending
eventually possess. Probably more than Northrop Grumman- much of their time: in the western Pacific,
four and fewer than ten. It appears the made RQ-180 meets where competing armadas of ISR aircraft
Navy borrowed one VPU bureau number an obvious need are hard at work surveilling enemy forces,
from an unfinished P-8 fuselage that fell for long-range, drawing up orders of battle that, in
penetrating aerial wartime, will turn into target lists.
reconnaissance in
highly defended
enemy air space.
Michael Fugnit

Three US and allied aircraft and helicopter carriers
converged in August. The Royal Navy’s new carrier
HMS Queen Elizabeth along with her British,
American and Dutch escorts joined USS America
– a US Navy amphibious assault ship – and the
Japanese navy helicopter carrier JS Ise in the
Philippine Sea south of Okinawa Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force

64 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

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EXERCISE: ZULFIQAR-1400 IN SOUTHEAST IRAN

GUARDIANS
OF MAKRAN

Babak Taghvaee recently helicopters. All this took place a few days simulated the rapid deployment of their Main photo: Two F-4E
monitored the activities of after a large scale air force exercise that joint forces to the region to counter any Phantoms of the 101
Iran’s main military branches involved more than 80 fighter jets. coastal attack from the enemy. Forces Combat Command
during a major seven-day and military equipment from units based Training Squadron
exercise on the southeast Defending the coast more than 1,500km away were deployed participating in Joint
coastline of the country to the area, including the Airborne Special Exercise Zulfiqar-1400
Joint Exercise Zulfiqar-1400 was Forces of the 223rd Quick Response hold at the end of the
THE IRANIAN MILITARY put conducted with two key objectives: Special Operations Brigade (QRSOB) of Chahabahar runway
on a major exercise in early increasing interoperability of the Iranian the Amy Ground Force, who were flown on November 1
November that saw all four of army forces, while countering an enemy from Tehran to Konarak onboard a C-130H All photos, Ali Kashani
its military branches – air, air invasion in the southeast of Iran. It saw transport aircraft on November 3. unless stated
defence, ground and navy – all of the assets simulating a counter-
practise their interoperability coastal attack involving one or more While the Iranian Air Defense Force Right: Map of Iranian
skills. The drills performed during Joint regional adversaries. (IRIADF) was responsible for securing the bases involved in
Exercise Zulfiqar-1400, took place from airspace over the area where the exercise Zulfiqar-1400
November 1-7, centring on the Makran Since 1979, the Iranian Armed Forces was being held, the Navy and Army
district on the Gulf of Oman. Aviation have had a relatively weak presence in the Ground Force were tasked with protecting
assets in the exercise comprised 16 southeast of Iran. This means the shores the coastline as well as the Iranian
fixed-wing aircraft, including 14 Iranian of the Makran district are more vulnerable territorial waters in the Oman Sea from the
Air Force fighters, alongside six UAVs and to an invasion by foreign forces compared invading forces. A number of units from
14 helicopters, notably four AH-1J attack to the coasts of south and southwest Iran. the Army, Navy and Ground Forces played
As a result Iran’s military has conducted a the role of enemy in an Orange — not
number of operations to compensate for the more usual Red — forces against Blue
the lack of military presence in that area. forces scenario.
More importantly, participating forces

66 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Iranian Army Aviation on drills Left: One of five
Ababil AB.3s of
This was the second time this year that the Iranian Navy at the
Iranian Army Aviation (IRIAA) had held an 10th TFB, Chahbahar.
exercise in southeast Iran. Back in January They are used for
2021, the 4th Combat Support Group surveillance and
(4th GSG) attended Eqtedar-99 on the maritime patrol in
coast of Makran. During the maneuvers, the proximity of the
seven infrared camera-equipped Bell 214A air base
Isfahan utility helicopters and three CH-
47C Chinook transport helicopters were Below: An ex-Iraqi
used by the 223rd QRSOB of the Iranian Mirage F1EQ-6,
3-6214, of the 102nd
Aggressor Squadron
lands after a mission
on November 7

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 67

EXERCISE: ZULFIQAR-1400 IN SOUTHEAST IRAN

Army Ground Force (IRIGF) for day and air support for the artillery, armoured and anti-submarine warfare helicopters (serials Above left: Ground
night operations. infantry Forces of the IRIGF. 8-2301, 8-2303, 8-2306 and 8-2316) and a crew of the 101st
single RH-53D Sea Stallion (serial 9-2701). CCTS load flare
During Zulfiqar-1400, it was the Army The 288th Armoured Brigade of the pods on to an F-4D,
Aviation’s 3rd Combat Group based in IRIGF, from the city of Khash, participated During the exercise, a pair of the ASH- 3-6702, prior to a
the city of Kerman which were involved, in the exercise with its T-72S1 main 3Ds and two AB212ASWs flew Iranian night bombing sortie
providing two AH-1J Cobra attack battle tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting Navy Marines to the coast of Makran. The on November 3. The
helicopters (serial numbers 3-4519 and vehicles. The 388th Infantry Brigade from Marines performed fast-roping from the F-4Ds launched flares
3-4531), two AH-1J TOW Cobras (serials Iranshahr also participated with its BTR-60 Sea Kings, while a group of eight Marine to light up targets for
3-4550 and 3-4589) and three Bell 214A armoured personnel carriers, BM-21 Grad paratroopers took part in parachute- the F-4Es and their
Isfahan utility helicopters (serials 6-4854, multiple rocket launchers and a number jumping from the RH-53D. Their weapons iron bombs
6-4857 and 6-4858). of Howitzers such as Austrian GHN-45s, and military gear were airdropped next to
Russian D-30s and Iranian HM-41s firing them over the coast of Konarak. Above: An AH-1J TOW
Unlike the four AH-1s, the three Bell Basir laser-guided rounds. Cobra, 3-4531 fires
214As only worked day operations. They Four squads of Marines used four unguided rockets
were used for transporting three teams Navy aviation involvement IRINA helicopters for the coastal defense to support Navy
of the 223rd QRSOB, while the AH-1Js operation, while two other squads used Marines and Army
provided close air support for them at a Iranian Navy Aviation brought seven a BH7 Wellington-class hovercraft (serial Special Forces during
gunnery range off the coast. The AH-1J helicopters, four drones and two 104) off the coast of Konarak. They a counter-attack
pilots and gunners practiced their skills hovercraft, including two Agusta Bell played the role of Orange forces and mission on the
with guns, rockets and BGM-71A TOW AB 212ASW (serials 6-2410 and 6-2416), each one used a trail motorcycle to exit coast of Konarak on
anti-tank missiles. They also provided close four Agusta Sikorsky ASH-3D Sea King from the front door of the hovercraft. The November 4
Shahram Sharafi
JOINT EXERCISE ZULFIQAR-1400 WAS CONDUCTED WITH
TWO KEY OBJECTIVES: INCREASING INTEROPERABILITY Below: Paratroopers
OF THE IRANIAN ARMY FORCES WHILE COUNTERING A POTENTIAL of the Iranian Navy
ENEMY INVASION IN THE SOUTHEAST OF IRAN Marines prepare to
board an RH-53D of
the Iranian Navy (9-
2701) on November 4
Mehdi Nazari

68 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

patrol boat (serial 201) followed with a Left: The oldest
C-704 Nasr anti-ship missile fired at a ASH-3D Sea King in
retired cargo ship in the Oman Sea. The Iran hovers over the
shore based anti-ship units of the Iranian marines landing zone,
Navy also launched anti-ship missiles, such allowing troops to
as the C-802 Noor, at wrecked ships in fast-rope down to the
the area of the exercise. The surveillance ground on November 4
drones were used for battle damage Shahram Sharafi
assessment after each missile launch.

Air force participation Below: AB 212ASW,
6-2416, hovers
The 16 IRIAF fighters comprised three while Navy Marines
F-4D Phantom IIs of the 101st CCTS (serials disembark from the
3-6693, 3-6697 and 3-6702), eight F-4E helicopter along the
Phantom IIs (serials unknown), a Mirage coast of Konarak
F1BQ (serial 3-6406) and a Mirage F1EQ-6 on November 4
(serial 3-6214). They conducted two types Shahram Sharafi
of missions – during close air support for
the Blue forces, the F-4Ds were armed with
250Ib Mk 81 iron bombs to destroy targets

Wellington wasn’t the only hovercraft
of the IRINA which participated in the
exercise, as an SR.N6 Winchester-class
vessel was also present.

The IRINA also operated four drones in
the exercise. There were two Shahed-129
UCAVs (unmanned combat air vehicles),
known by the Navy as‘Simorgh’. These
drones (serials 027 and 030) were used
to airdrop Sadid smart bombs over the
Konarak coast to support the Blue forces.
A Mohajer-6 UCAV and a Mohajer-4 UAV
were also used for a variety of missions,
including maritime surveillance and battle
damage assessment.

During the maritime surveillance
mission, the UAVs detected several ships
and vessels that had been towed to the
exercise area at night, so they could be
targeted and destroyed by Iranian Navy
frigates and fast attack crafts (FACs). The
Tabarzin FAC (serial P232) launched a
Ghadir anti-ship missile, while the Keivan

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 69

EXERCISE: ZULFIQAR-1400 IN SOUTHEAST IRAN

Above: A 53-year- on the coast. The F-4Es were also armed
old F-4D, 3-6702, with AGM-65AM, a modern variant of the
prepares to land at TV-guided Maverick missiles with a digital
the 10th TFB after seeker instead of the optical/TV lens.
a combat air patrol
on November 5. It All 16 fighters flew from their home
was returning after a bases. The F-4Ds with the Mirage F1s
dogfight with Mirage flew from the 10th Tactical Fighter Base
F1BQ-3, 3-6406, near the area of the exercise at Chabahar,
while the F-4Es, which belonged to the
Left: The Iranian Navy 6th and 8th Tactical Fighter Bases, flew to
acquired many BH7 Konarak from Bushehr and Bandar Abbas
Wellington-Class respectively. Due to the long distance, a
Hovercraft from the Boeing 747-131F heavy tanker (5-8103)
British in the 1970s refueled them.
and many are still
operational. This All the Mirage F1s were used as
one was used by the aggressor aircraft to support the Orange
Orange forces during forces, with a Mirage F1BQ-3 (3-6406)
the exercise under the command of the high-ranking
Shahram Sharafi Brigadier Homayoun Heidari, commander
of 10th TFB (who would probably have
Left: A weapon and been in the rear seat). The jets were not
ammunition air drop just used for dissimilar air combat training
for Iranian Navy against the F-4Es, but to work the surface-
Marines from a Navy to-air missile (SAM) battery operators of
RH-53D on November the Iranian Air Defense Force (IRIADF).
4 Mehdi Nazari

IRAN’S SOUTHEAST

Exercise Zulfiqa-1400r took place in the southeast province of
Sistan and Baluchistan, a largely mountainous area that shares a
200-mile frontier with Afghanistan and a much longer 575-mile
border with Pakistan. There have been several flashpoints along
the border with Pakistan, because of the local support for the
Balochistan independence movement in Pakistan. From Iran’s
perspective, Sistan and Baluchistan also has a 300-mile stretch
of coast overlooking the Gulf of Oman that could be vulnerable
to an attack from some of its neighbours, which served as
justification for holding Zulfiqar-1400 there.

70 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Above right: This Three SAM systems were used in the main landing of the aircraft. Obviously the class diesel-electric submarines recently
ex-Iraqi Mirage exercise area. One of them, a Modernized aircraft has no data-linking capability. overhauled and upgraded. The USAF
F1BQ-3, 3-6406, was I-HAWK, fired one MIM-23B Hawk SAM at also used an RQ-4B Global Hawk and an
recently painted in a a target drone. The others were Mersad-16 For maritime patrol missions, a P-3F MQ-9 Reaper to keep an eye on the armed
gunship-grey scheme and 15th Khordad. The Mersad-16 fired a Orion (serial 5-8705) flew from its base at forces. The IRIADF warned the drone
after its overhaul at Shalamcheh-2 medium-range surface-to- Bandar Abbas and the 9th TFB was used operators to keep their aircraft far from the
Mashhad. It is shown air missile, while the 15th Khordad fired alongside an Ababil AB.3 (serial 6-2324) danger area for safety reasons.
returning to the 10th a Sayyad-3 medium-range surface-to-air surveillance drone. The drones flew in
TFB after a dissimilar missile. During the live SAM firings, Karrar from 10th TFB at Konarak. The exercise ended on November 7
air combat with and and Kiyan target drones were used by the and, two days later, all four branches of
F-4D, 3-6702. Sitting IRIADF to play the role of the fighter jets In addition to surveillance drones, the the army held a parade – the IRIGF and
in the back seat is and drones of the Orange forces. IRIAF was also operating armed and IRIADF at the coastal boulevard of Konarak
Brigadier Homayoun loitering drones. At-least one Kaman-12 and the Iranian Navy and Air Force in the
Heidari, commander During the drills, the Iranian Air Force armed drone participated in the exercise Oman Sea. A single P-3F Orion and two
of the air base used a number of surveillance and and airdropped Qaem TV/IR-guided smart three-ship formation flights, the first with
reconnaissance assets, including an RF-4E bombs, while several Arash loitering three F-4Ds and the second with two
Below: A Mohajer-4 Phantom II (serial 2-6502) from the 31st drones were used against various ground Mirage F1s and an RF-4E, flew over 11
surveillance drone Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS) targets off the coast of Konarak. Iranian Navy ships, three submarines and
of the Iranian Navy that has recently been equipped with two hovercrafts. An impressive ending to
launches at the 10th digital cameras, capable of delivering During the exercise, the US Navy used a an exercise that would have sharpened
TFB at Chabahar photographs immediately after the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the tactics of the Iranian military.
monitor the navy ships and submarines,
including the Tareq, one of the three Kilo-

DURING THE MARITIME SURVEILLANCE MISSION,
THE UAVS DETECTED SEVERAL SHIPS AND VESSELS
WHICH HAD BEEN TOWED TO THE EXERCISE AREA AT NIGHT,
SO THEY COULD BE TARGETED AND DESTROYED BY IRANIAN
NAVY FRIGATES AND FAST ATTACK CRAFT

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 71

TURBULENT

RETIREMENT
Jon Lake looks at the decision to prematurely withdraw roughly one quarter
of the Royal Air Force’s Typhoons, and the ramifications this will bring

BECAUSE
TRANCHE
2 AND 3 USE
DIFFERENT
COMPUTER
HARDWARE, THEY
RUN DIFFERENT
SOFTWARE TO THE
OLDER TRANCHE 1
AIRCRAFT, MAKING
IT DIFFICULT TO
MAINTAIN THE
SAME CAPABILITIES
ACROSS
THE FLEET

72 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Left: The RAF painted T he UK is planning to retire though Eurofighter GmbH offered to do
this Tranche 1 its Tranche 1 Eurofighter exactly that (at its own expense) when it
Typhoon FGR 4 in the Typhoons in 2025, leaving it looked as though Austria would acquire
colors of the Union with just 67 Tranche 2 and 40 a mix of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 aircraft,
Jack for the 2021 Tranche 3 aircraft. These are and a number of test aircraft have been
display season supposed to enable a full force converted to the later standard. Spain
All images: MOD of seven front-line squadrons to serve has embarked on a limited upgrade of its
Crown Copyright, through to 2040 – and possibly even Tranche 1 Typhoons, aiming to keep them
unless stated longer. viable alongside its later aircraft.

Above: Four Tranche 1 The UK bought its Eurofighter Typhoons It has been suggested that, in addition
Typhoons fly over RAF in three production batches (known to avionics obsolescence and ‘diminishing
Coningsby in the days as tranches). The aircraft delivered in manufacturing source’ issues affecting
when they made up each tranche differed slightly – Tranche the Tranche 1 aircraft, they will be unable
the RAF’s fleet (circa 2 introduced new processors in a
2009). The one in the reconfigured avionics bay, and had a
foreground wears strengthened forward bulkhead, to enable
the colors of 29(R) the eventual installation of a heavier
Squadron, while the active electronically scanned array (AESA)
remainder are flying antenna. Tranche 3 ushered in electrical
with 3(F) Squadron and cooling provision for an AESA radar,
and lugs to enable the fitting of conformal
Right: A dated fuel tanks on the upper rear fuselage.
Tranche 1 Typhoon
cockpit. With an Because Tranche 2 and 3 use different
avionics update, the computer hardware, they run different
aircraft would have software to the older Tranche 1 aircraft,
continued flying up making it difficult to maintain the same
to at least 2030 capabilities across the fleet.

Not economically viable

The official line is that it is not
economically viable to upgrade the earlier
aircraft to full Tranche 2/3 standards,

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 73

RAF TYPHOON TRANCHE 1

THESE
OLDER
AIRCRAFT WERE
NOT OPERATIONALLY
VIABLE, BUT THE
SUSPICION WAS
THAT THIS WAS
PURELY A FINANCIAL
DECISION TO REDUCE
SPENDING AND FREE
UP RESOURCES
FOR OTHER
PROJECTS

At a Green Flag exercise, a No.11 Sqn jet drops a 500lb
Enhanced Paveway II bomb, while the Typhoon fleet was
working up its capabilities during trials in the USA

Above: An 11(F) Sqn to operate freely in all airspace, following for a Tranche 1 Typhoon fleet committed off in a landing accident at Naval Air
Typhoon departs regulatory changes to the areas of mainly to UK training, QRA and aggressor Weapons Station China Lake in 2008, and
Gioia del Colle during navigation and identification friend or foe duties or for service in the South Atlantic. one was relegated to ground instructional
Operation Ellamy. The (IFF) compliance in 2025. duties, leaving just 30 in service.
aircraft is equipped The UK actually received 52 Typhoons
with a Lightning Others disagree, suggesting that the (35 single-seaters and 17 two-seaters) in Controversial decision
laser designator pod, Tranche 1 aircraft already have an RNAV-5 Tranche 1 – though, four of these were
four Paveway 2s and compliant INU/GPS (Northrop Grumman’s instrumented production aircraft (IPA) that Plans to retire Tranche 1 aircraft were
ASRAAM missiles LN-251), which is said to be perfectly were permanently assigned to test duties, outlined in the Strategic Defence and
compliant post 2025 for en route flying leaving 48 aircraft for the Royal Air Force Security Review of 2010 (Securing Britain
and for approaches and landings at a civil (RAF) Typhoon force. Sixteen Tranche 1 in an Age of Uncertainty), which decided
aerodrome. Some even question whether two-seaters were stripped for spares and that they should be withdrawn by 2019.
such compliance would even be necessary scrapped. One single-seater was written A provisional OSD (out-of-service date)

74 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Left: A Tranche 1 was set for 2018. The RAF’s plan to retire numbers could be made before F-35
Typhoon in the colors Tranche 1 aircraft came under close numbers had been finalised, and
of IX(B) Sqn flies scrutiny by the House of Commons Public expressed real anger that the RAF was
alongside the retiring Accounts Committee, whose report on planning to retire aircraft before their
Tornado GR4, which it the management of the Typhoon project airframe lives had been consumed –
replaced in February was printed in April 2011, even as Tranche something the committee chair, Labour’s
2019, over RAF 1 Typhoons were flying operational Margaret Hodge, called “an outrage.”
Lossiemouth, Moray missions over Libya during Operation
in Scotland Ellamy (see our sister title AirForces The Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Corporal Alex Scott Monthly, January 2022, p62-68). This was attempted to justify the decision on the
because, at the time, the Tranche 1 aircraft grounds that Tranche 1 software could not
Below: This 17 were the only Typhoons with a fully be updated to Tranche 3 standard in the
Tactical Evaluation cleared air-to-ground capability, using same way that Tranche 2 software could,
Squadron Tranche 1 Paveway II and Enhanced Paveway II laser and that having fleets within fleets would
was one of a handful guided/dual-mode bombs in association not be operationally viable.
that operated with the with the Litening III laser designator pod.
unit in 2010. The unit Although there was a grudging
gave up its Typhoons The committee questioned how acknowledgement that there was
in 2013 for three planning assumptions about Typhoon “risk that the eventual fleet size of 107
F-35Bs Alan Warnes Typhoons could result in shortfalls

Flying over Libya, during Operation Ellamy in 2011,
with 500lb Paveway II laser-guided bombs

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 75

RAF TYPHOON TRANCHE 1

against mandated capability levels”, of financial and budgetary pressures than Above: With the the UK would invest further in Typhoon’s
Permanent Under Secretary Ursula for any real operational reason. introduction of capabilities, including ground attack and a
Brennan robustly defended the plan. ground-based new AESA radar – with the aim of ensuring
She claimed that it was “better value for This became abundantly clear just five training systems the RAF could continue to operate it until
money to invest in Tranche 2 and 3, rather years later with the publication of the 2015 and simulators, the at least 2040. The review also included
than to try and deal with the obsolescence National Security Strategy and Strategic dual-seat Typhoons a stay of retirement for the Tranche 1
in the Tranche 1 aircraft. Defence and Security Review (A Secure found themselves Typhoons, which would now serve all the
and Prosperous United Kingdom). With out of favor and way through to 2040.
Stay of execution more funding being made available, many most have been
cuts were quietly reversed, and it was been scrapped – as Air Commodore Ian Duguid, the RAF
Despite the explanations and announced that the RAF would establish ZJ808 was in 2017 Typhoon Force Commander at the
justifications, there was a widespread an additional F35 Lightning squadron and Alan Warnes time (now Air Vice Marshal, Air Officer
feeling that the decision to retire Tranche two additional Typhoon squadrons as Commanding, 1 Group), explained that
1 Typhoons had been made more because part of Joint Force 2025. It promised that up until 2015, the plan had been to take
Tranche 1 aircraft out of service and
effectively replace them with Tranche 3
aircraft. But then he said the RAF planned
to keep Tranche 1 in service until 2035,
freeing up the more advanced Tranche
2 and Tranche 3 aircraft for multi-role
operations. It was explained that the
retention of Tranche 1 would enable
the establishment of two additional
squadrons, and it was hinted that these
were likely to be dedicated to air defense,
the quick reaction alert (QRA) mission, and
the Red-Air aggressor training role.

THE RAF HAS
PREVIOUS
FORM WHEN
IT COMES
TO THROWING
AWAY PERFECTLY
GOOD AIRCRAFT,
LONG BEFORE
THEIR AIRFRAME
LIVES HAVE
BEEN
CONSUMED

76 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

This Tranche 1 Typhoon wears the Top: Tranche 1 aircraft In the event, one of the extra squadrons of 200 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles to
markings of 1435 Flight, which is were used heavily by (No.IX Squadron) did concentrate mainly equip these aircraft and the RAF’s F-35Bs.
based at Mount Pleasant in the 29(R) Squadron, to on QRA and aggressor operations, but However, the latter will also be equipped
Falkland Islands, for the protection train Typhoon pilots the second new unit (No.12 Squadron) with Meteor in the future.
of this British overseas territory for the front line formed as a joint RAF/Qatari training
Alan Warnes unit, and the retained Tranche 1 aircraft Final nail in the coffin
were assigned mainly to No.IX Squadron,
Above: Another Trache No.1435 Flight in the Falklands, and No.29 Just five years after the Tranche 1 reprieve
1 dual-seater, ZJ805 Squadron, the Typhoon Operational was announced, the MOD changed
of 29(R) Sqn taxies Conversion Unit – though, several front- its mind again. The Integrated Review
out at RAF Coningsby line units kept a single Tranche 1 aircraft. of Security, Defence, Development
in September 2010, and Foreign Policy (Global Britain in
wearing Battle of It was acknowledged that keeping the a Competitive Age) and the Defence
Britain markings. Tranche 1 aircraft would require some Command Paper (published on March 19,
This aircraft has also obsolescence issues to be addressed 2021) ultimately put the final nail in the
been scrapped and for the aircraft to be upgraded to coffin of the Tranche 1 Typhoon.
Alan Warnes meet new mandatory requirements, but
this was not felt to be a ‘deal breaker’. It As it was revealed that the Tranche 1
was decided that the new MBDA Meteor aircraft will be withdrawn with an average
would not be incorporated onto Tranche of only 42.4% of their airframe fatigue life
1 aircraft – this led to a $650m purchase used up, it’s easy to see why some believe
they are being retired before their time.

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 77

USMC UH-1Y VENOM TRAINING

SINCE FIRST ENTERING Marine operating in Iraq and Afghanistan flew told Combat Aircraft: “We’re a light utility
Corps service in February with reduced fuel and ordnance loads just platform, kind of a jack of all trades when
1964, the Bell UH-1 Huey has to be able to get off the ground. it comes to supporting Marines on the
been the service’s multi-role ground.”While the Marine Corps primarily
utility helicopter, capable The introduction of the UH-1Y Venom, relies on the Bell MV-22 and Sikorsky
of hauling Marines to and more commonly called the‘Yankee’, in CH-53 for troop movement, the Yankee’s
from landing zones, providing aerial August 2008 gave the Marine Corps a ability to carry eight passengers makes it
fire support, serving as a command- Huey variant that could finally carry a ideal for insertion and extraction of small
and-control or Forward Air Controller meaningful weapons load, full fuel, and teams like reconnaissance Marines or
(Airborne), or FAC(A) platform, extracting multiple passengers at the same time. snipers. With a BRITE Star Block II sensor
wounded troops to field hospitals and “The Yankee will cube out before it powers
transporting gear and equipment. out,”one Marine UH-1Y pilot told the Pturret under the chin and a satellite
author, explaining that even at maximum
Starting with the single-engine UH-1E interior capacity and a full weapons load, communications ability, the UH-1Y
and continuing with the twin-engine the aircraft still has sufficient power to can serve in a command-and-control
UH-1N, which replaced it in the 1970s, fly. In the 13 years it has been in service, or reconnaissance capacity, providing
Marine Hueys were long hampered by the Marine Corps has taken advantage of command elements with video and
power limitations that restricted individual this additional capacity, expanding the information in near-real time over-the-
aircraft to performing one role at a time. A Yankee’s portfolio by adding precision horizon. While the Marines have used
Huey carrying infantry or reconnaissance attack and electronic warfare capabilities, the Huey as a FAC(A) platform since the
Marines could not, for example, carry making it an even more versatile aircraft to Vietnam era, the BRITE Star II allows
a full load of rockets or machine gun meet the needs of Marine Air-Ground Task FAC(A)-qualified pilots to resolve targets at
ammunition to clear a landing zone of Force (MAGTF) commanders. long range and designate them for laser-
any threats. By the early 2000s, the Marine guided weapons or generate a grid co-
Corps had added so much equipment, Describing what the Yankee brings to ordinate precise enough for engagement
such as a FLIR turret, defensive sensors the MAGTF, Capt Kyle Olsen, a UH-1Y with GPS-guided weapons. Unlike the
and dispenser systems, that UH-1N crews instructor with Marine Aviation Weapons UH-1N, the Yankee can self-designate for
and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) its own laser-guided munitions.

78 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

A Yankee kicks up a dust cloud on approach to
a desert FARP site. While crew chiefs and ‘chin’
windows on the UH-1Y have been the traditional
means of guiding the aircraft down in reduced-
visibility landings, symbology in the TopOwl helmet
display provides further assistance in landing
safely in the raw desert All photos by the author

While the UH-1Y Venom is a fixture in the Marine Corps, its capabilities are evolving. Joe Copalman
reports on this impact this has on training of the next generation of Weapons and Tactics Instructors

YANKEE AIR

PIRATES
www.Key.Aero // February 2022 79

USMC UH-1Y VENOM TRAINING

TopOwl capability target handovers and keeps our heads platforms within their broader community, Above: A UH-1Y
outside for reduced-visibility landings. like assault support or TACAIR. The course from HMLA-169 on
A potent advantage the Yankee has over In low-light-level conditions, we want to culminates in a final exercise (FINEX) week loan to MAWTS-1
previous Huey variants is not so much keep our heads out as much as possible in which PWTIs from every platform work banking over the
aircraft-related as it is a headgear upgrade. when we're flying in formation. It's a really together on large-scale missions. California desert at
The Thales TopOwl helmet-mounted good capability.” the conclusion of an
sight gives Yankee pilots advantages As well as preparing graduates to train offensive air support
in situational awareness, weapons Held twice a year at MCAS Yuma, the their squadron mates on the latest TTPs, mission during a
employment and during reduced-visibility Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) the WTI course exposes the PWTIs to WTI course
landings. Capt Mike Harper, a former course is a seven-week curriculum the challenges they will face working
MAWTS-1 Yankee instructor explained: comprised of a 3½-week academic phase as their squadron’s senior advisor on Left: While the
“The TopOwl provides the helmet- and a 3½ week flying phase. During the their platform’s capabilities to a MAGTF UH-1Y’s Huey lineage
mounted sight display. It allows us to wear flight phase, students – Prospective WTIs commander, or even within a joint or is apparent, the
this monocle over our right eye that gives or PWTIs – begin by flying within their coalition command. Harper said:“The four-bladed main
us essentially a head-up display that we specific airframe community, meaning students are rarely exposed to something and tail rotors and
can just look around anywhere and have that Yankee PWTIs fly multi-ship missions they’ve never seen before, but they significantly higher
relevant information to us such as flight with other UH-1Ys, putting the tactics haven’t seen it in such large numbers of profile clearly set
instruments or target information. It's like learned in the academic phase to work flights, or the size of the objective area, or it apart from
having a HUD where you can look around on a small scale. From there, PWTIs work the number of assets that are supporting. previous variants
and carry with your field of view. It gives us through another stage, flying combined That is what provides us the opportunity
the ability to look heads-up and conduct missions with students from other to give them that exposure, so that when
they go back to the fleet, they’ve seen
what it should look like for a larger scale
MAGTF exercise or MAGTF mission, and
now they have a frame of reference with
how to co-ordinate with those different
agencies. It teaches them the different
considerations that they need to have
when they deploy in the role of a Weapons

80 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

MAWTS-1 – USMC AVIATION
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Located at Marine Corps Air Station during the twice yearly WTI course. Left: A 2.75in rocket
Yuma in southwestern Arizona, Instructor certifications for the UH-1Y streaks out of a
MAWTS-1 manages the integration of community currently include Night seven-shot launcher
each of the upgrades into the fleet, as Systems Instructor, FAC(A) Instructor on its way to a target
well as developing and updating the and Defensive Air Combat on the Chocolate
tactics, techniques and procedures Maneuvring Instructor ‘certs,’ which Mountain Aerial
(TTPs) to keep USMC aviation at the MAWTS-1 instructors train pilots for Gunnery Range.
cutting edge. Additionally, MAWTS-1 through fleet support detachments. Marines participating
administers instructor certificates These certificates allow squadron in the WTI course
for every flying and aviation ground pilots to instruct on certain tactics employ live ordnance
support community in the Marine and are prerequisites for those as much as possible
Corps and trains Weapons and selected by their command to attend to replicate combat
Tactics Instructors (WTIs) for the fleet the WTI course.
Below: Along with
the vast aerial
gunnery ranges in
both Arizona and
California utilized
during WTI, some
course missions
involve urban
landing zones, like
this soccer field at a
local school, where a
UH-1Y lifts off during
a humanitarian
assistance and
disaster relief
scenario

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 81

USMC UH-1Y VENOM TRAINING

THE
STUDENTS
ARE RARELY
EXPOSED TO
SOMETHING THEY’VE
NEVER SEEN
BEFORE, BUT THEY
HAVEN’T SEEN IT
IN SUCH LARGE
NUMBERS – CAPT
MIKE HARPER,
FORMER MAWTS-1
INSTRUCTOR

and Tactics Instructor, and really a MAGTF Above: Not your correlating on the right target, making all enlisted aircrew in the squadron and
planner at that point.” father’s Huey. sure that we know that they are looking at disseminating and tactical or procedural
Though the UH-1Y the right target and they know what we updates to keep the unit up to date.
Not Just Pilots retained the green are intending to shoot. A huge amount
‘eyebrow’ windows of trust goes with working front to back Digital Interoperability
Select Yankee enlisted crew chiefs also atop the forward and back to front with that. They're also
go through the WTI course. The Huey can cabin of previous the ones that have the greatest visibility One upgrade not specific to the
be flown with a crew of two, but it is a full Huey variants, the around the aircraft, so they can provide Yankee is the Marine Corps’ continued
crew of two pilots, at least one crew chief ‘glass’ digital cockpit nearly 360º lookout, very important in a development of digital interoperability
and an aerial observer (or a second crew displays are new higher-threat environment where a threat (DI) networks as well as tools with which
chief) that makes the UH-1Y a jack of all to the Yankee and could be anywhere.” to access them. The most widespread
trades. Harper said:“Our crew chiefs are provide considerably DI tool now is the Marine Air-Ground
incredibly savvy, they're familiar with all more information The UH-1Y division at MAWTS-1 employs Tablet, or MAGTab, a ruggedized
our procedures, they understand what's for navigation, both pilot and crew chief instructors handheld device that provides moving
going on at all times in the back. We have targeting, threat type to train prospective Yankee WTIs and map overlays showing ingress and
three radios, so being able to task-shed and location, and will fly missions throughout the course egress routes, threat areas, initial points,
in a very task-saturated environment, communications with mixed crews. For larger courses or targets and other points of interest to be
being able to shed listening to those individual training events, WTIs from fleet shared among aircrews all participating
radios, backing us up on those things squadrons will augment the MAWTS in the same missions. A chat function
and then obviously employing ordnance. instructors to ensure all students have opens another communication channel
The pilots are the ones employing the the required guidance and support. when radio nets might be saturated.
rockets, but they're the ones employing As with the pilots who graduate from
the crew-served weapons. There's a very the WTI course, crew chiefs return to With WTIs being responsible for
intense amount of communication and their squadrons as senior instructors, teaching their squadrons how to
co-ordination [needed] with regard to responsible for managing the training of utilize DI, students in the WTI course
are trained on the latest DI equipment

82 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

YANKEE
WEAPONS

A wide array of weapons and the ability
to carry full rocket and ammunition
loads give the Yankee an offensive
punch no previous Marine Huey variant
enjoyed. Forward-firing ordnance
consists primarily of seven-shot or
19-shot pods of 2.75in folding-fin
rockets capable of carrying a variety
of high-explosive warheads, as well
as flechette smoke and illumination
warheads, depending on the mission.
Entering service in 2012, the Advanced
Precision-Kill Weapons System (APKWS)
places a semi-active laser guidance
unit with steering fins between the
warhead and the rocket motor, giving
Yankee pilots a precision-guided,
low-collateral damage weapon. The
Yankee inherited the same crew-served
weapons utilized by UH-1N – the
M240D machine gun and the GAU-17
six-barrelled Gatling-type mini-gun
(both 7.62mm weapons) and the
GAU-21, an upgrade of the classic M2
.50-calibre machine gun with a much
higher rate of fire. Able to traverse
nearly full-forward and full-aft on
either side, the crew-served weapons
allow the enlisted aircrew to provide
suppressive fire on approach into and
egress from landing zones and during
rocket runs.

and practices. Explaining the exposure for the crew chiefs is also extremely Above top to bottom: enhancements, we still teach they need
students in the course get to DI, helpful. They essentially have a moving In addition to rooftop to stick to the basics and not become
Harper said: “We start at the beginning map for themselves, they can see – landings, UH-1Ys can reliant on the technology. Pen and paper
very basic, within the flight, just especially with two free hands if that insert infantrymen is still going to be the primary means
getting the students familiar with the third crew chief is in the back, he can via fastrope from to catalogue things. That's the way
communication capability that it can be operating that tablet, especially if it's a low hover we've been doing it for years and it's a
bring. Then, as the course progresses, networked using digital interoperability tried and trusted method. What we're
we start to connect our flight with other to be able to be the primary (crew A Yankee crew chief trying to do is teach them to use this
players – other flights, or personnel on member) to enter information and pass engages a ground technology to enhance their existing
the ground, or command and control that information to other members of target with a GAU-17 procedures, not replace them. We're not
nodes. It's sort of a crawl-walk-run the flight. That takes a lot of the burden mini-gun while the going to always be able to operate with
approach, so at least if they don't off the non-flying pilot who is already pilot lines up for digital interoperability and electronic
become proficient, they at least become working the sensor and looking at his a rocket run. Crew signals, and with battery life and things
familiar with what it can provide map and trying to make sense of the chiefs use crew- like that, there's just a host of things
because this capability is being pushed scenario and figure out the geometry. served weapons to where we can't become reliant on it. For
out to the fleet as we speak, so they'll at It's really nice to be able to spread that provide suppressive the crew chiefs, they're an extra brain, an
least have some exposure to it before across the whole crew. “ or defensive fire to the extra hand, an extra set of eyes, so they
they go back and lead those.” front, sides, and rear back us up on all that stuff.”
Though WTI students utilize DI tools of the aircraft
Yankee crew chiefs often take on throughout much of the flying phase Enter the Tiger
communications and navigational of the course, Harper emphasizes that
duties during task-saturated portions of they are also still immersed in the In 2016, the Marine Corps introduced an
flights and MAGTab usage has become fundamentals of navigating and fighting electronic warfare (EW) capability to the
part of a crew chief’s duties. As Harper without DI. “With regard to digital UH-1Y in the form of the Intrepid Tiger II
explained: “Having the tablet in the back interoperability and all the technological (V) 3 pod. Initially fielded by AV-8B Harrier

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 83

USMC UH-1Y VENOM TRAINING

Left:
A MAWTS-1 instructor
pilot wearing the Top
Owl helmet-mounted
targeting system

IIs in 2012, the IT-II pod gave MAGTF here are receiving pretty good training, Below left to right: With a smaller footprint and less
commanders and Radio Battalion Marines a good number of touches with the IT-II Ordnance Marines intense rotor wash, the UH-1Y can
the ability to listen in on and jam enemy pod, whether that's classroom instruction, reload the rocket get into smaller landing zones than
communications, giving the Marines a practical application kind of hands-on launchers on a UH-1Y any other assault support helicopter or
tactical advantage. training with it, as well as them going and at a desert FARP site tiltrotor in the Marine Corps inventory
flying with it in the course, then taking during a WTI training
The IT-II(V)3 is an adaptation of that back to their squadrons on the east mission. Without an
the original pod, optimized for use and west coast and Hawaii with it. It's very ability for air-to-air
aboard helicopters. The pod is a central much a capability that the Huey brings to refueling, UH-1Ys and
component of the Marine Corps’ the table and I would say that the students AH-1Zs rely heavily on
MAGTF-EW electronic warfare construct, walk away from the course having a pretty FARPs for long-range
implemented to move away from the solid understanding of its capabilities, operations. With
service’s reliance on the low-density, limitations, and how to operate it.” a new emphasis
high-demand Grumman EA-6B Prowler on maritime and
for its aerial EW needs and toward a more Training for the Peer Fight expeditionary
widely-distributed arrangement in which operations, FARPs
MAGTF commanders have direct control In July 2019, newly-appointed have become even
of organic EW assets. From the beginning Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen more important for
MAWTS-1 has been involved not just in David Berger, released his Commandant’s keeping the ‘skid’
developing the TTPs for IT-II employment, Planning Guidance, which represented community relevant
but has also trained fleet WTIs on using the most significant restructuring and in the long-range,
and training others how to use it. reorientation of the Marine Corps since peer-adversary fight
the end of the Cold War. After two decades and UH-1Y crew
Regarding MAWTS-1’s role in training of conflict against failed states and sub- going through the WTI
WTIs on the pod, Olsen said:“Students course are receiving
additional training

The UH-1Y's ability
to land in tight
areas and its
eight-passenger
capacity make it ideal
for extraction and
insertion missions

84 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

WITH REGARD state actors in landlocked nations such we've made recently have been in
TO DIGITAL as Afghanistan, Berger plans to refocus the application of the Commandant's
INTEROPERABILITY AND the Corps on its naval, amphibious roots, Planning Guidance and Force Design 2030
ALL THE TECHNOLOGICAL aimed at deterring China from controlling towards the course.
ENHANCEMENTS, WE STILL the South China Sea using an operational
TEACH THEY NEED TO STICK TO construct called Expeditionary Advanced ”In trying to incorporate the distributed
THE BASICS AND NOT BECOME Base Operations, or EABO. operations and EAB concept over here
RELIANT ON THE TECHNOLOGY Rather than continuing to rely on fixed into our training, I would say as far as
– CAPT MIKE HARPER, FORMER airfields and bases that can be easily Huey-specific [is concerned], the skillset
MAWTS-1 INSTRUCTOR targeted by modern long-range missiles, doesn't change, our METs [mission-
EABO involves utilizing distributed essential tasks] don't necessarily change
temporary operating locations, especially a whole lot. It's mostly a change in how
for refueling and re-arming Marine we plan and what we're planning toward
Corps aircraft. These sites are critical for air assault missions; those considerations
the UH-1Y (and its Marine Light Attack have changed.”
Helicopter Squadron stablemate, the
AH-1Z, the pair collectively called‘skids’in He continued:“Looking at our METs
reference to their fixed landing skids), as of being able to conduct expeditionary
‘skids’are the only rotorcraft within current shore and sea-based operations with
Marine Corps aviation that lack an in-flight things like FARPs (forward arming and
refueling capability. refueling points), we can still conduct
FARP operations that extend our range,
Long-range focus but at the end of the day, even with
auxiliary tanks, we're still fairly limited
While the Commandant’s Planning on our distance compared to the MV-22.
Guidance and the shift toward EABO What that turns into is just requiring
concepts has not fundamentally altered something like aviation-delivered fuel, off
how the WTI courses are planned and a -53 or an Osprey in order to extend our
run, they have brought about a stronger legs, we still require an ADGR (Aviation-
emphasis on the long-range fight. Delivered Ground Refueling) presence for
Explaining how this decision has impacted a FARP there, but we are still very capable
the UH-1Y WTI course, Olsen told Combat of conducting those missions.
Aircraft Journal:“The big changes that
”I don't think the EAB construct
necessarily changes that.”

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 85

EXERCISE REPORT // GIOIA FALCON

FALCONS
For two weeks in November,
Royal Netherlands Air Force

FLOCK TO ITALY(RNLAF)F-16AMsdeployed
to Gioia del Colle Air Base in

southern Italy to train with THE DRILLS THAT took place F-2000As of 10º-12º Gruppo worked
the Italian Air Force. Giovanni at Gioia del Colle airbase in alongside 11 F-16AM /BM (MLU)
Colla and Remo Guidi caught southern Italy from November Fighting Falcons from 312 Squadron
15-26 were dubbed Gioia of the RNLAF. The F-16s had arrived on
some of the action Falcon. The Italian Air Force’s November 12 from Volkel Air Base with a
36° Stormo Eurofighter contingent of 150 crew, including pilots,
maintenance and associated personnel
needed to support the deployment.

Initially this exercise should have taken
place in 2020 at Trapani Air Base in Sicily
but, as one of the RNLAF pilots, call sign
‘Speed’, explained:“Due to the restrictions
caused by COVID-19, we ended up at
Gioia del Colle, not Trapani as was
originally envisaged.”

To prepare for the arrival of the RNLAF,
the 36th Wing made an immense effort
to offer maximum support to the partner
nation, at a time when it was also busy
leading the NATO Baltic Air Policing
mission at Amari AB, Lithuania.

Above: Two RNLAF F-16AMs taxi out from their spot on the apron for a composite air operation (COMAO) sortie
Below: A Dutch F-16AM taxies out at the start of a night mission All photos author unless stated

86 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

The flying activity was designed to Above: An Italian Air relation to the training needs and the in favor of the ground forces, led by the
meet the needs of 312 Squadron, which Force 36° Stormo results the pilots wanted to achieve. Both JTACs.” The airspace used throughout the
has many young pilots but, due to the F-2000A flies in air forces alternated roles operating in exercise was the area above Calabria and
restrictions caused by the coronavirus formation with two Blue Air and Red Air positions, without the Ionian Sea, flying from sea level up to
pandemic, had been unable to RNLAF F-16AM (MLU) a predetermined pattern for training to flight level 600.
participate in exercises abroad, such as Fighting Falcons for attack and defend equally.
Red Flag at Nellis AFB in the US. Gioia Falcon RNLAF The COMAO missions also benefited
The COMAO included an Offensive from the participation of fifth-generation
As‘Speed’noted: "We have practically Right: One of the Counter Air (OCA) mission, which ’Speed’ F-35As of the 13º Gruppo at Amendola Air
remained stationary in the last two years, 11 312 Squadron said "prepared the attack path for the Base in Foggia, which helped to increase
therefore have been unable to gain F-16AMs departs in bombers who we escorted to the target. the training return for all participants. In
experience on different scenarios other full afterburner from We also acted as bombers and carried addition, a CAEW (Conformal Airborne
than domestic ones. We are obliged to Gioia del Colle for a out a CAS (Close Air Support) mission Early Warning and Control) Gulfstream
go abroad to understand the differences shadow wave mission 550 from the 71º Gruppo at Pratica di
and train with local partners, learn and Mare was also involved.
exchange mutual experiences."
“Basically, we were able to take
The main mission of each day was advantage of the information coming
a Composite Air Operation (COMAO), from the F-35s which, through their
which was planned in the morning sensors, was made available to us —
and involved Italian and Dutch assets quality data that we could not obtain
operating together. The difficulty of from our own equipment,” said Paolo F,
the mission was decided via results of a 12º Gruppo pilot.
the operations performed the previous
day, meaning the level of difficulty In total, the F-16s from the Netherlands
could be increased or decreased in carried out approximately 150 missions
during the12 days of the Gioia Falcon
exercise and accumulated approximately
250 total flight hours.

Below: A 36° Stormo
F-2000 Typhoon
prepares to leave
its shelter

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 87

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE… E-10A

JACK

OF ALL

TRADES

The Northrop Grumman E-10A Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A) was an ambitious
program to replace several types with a single model. As David Willis reveals, it proved to be too
ambitious and was quickly dropped when the USAF needed funds for higher priority projects

General John Jumper, then Three components MP-RTIP also had an air moving target Above: The Northrop
commander of Air Combat indicator (AMTI) to detect and track small, Grumman E-10A
Command, initiated the MC2A had three main components, low-flying objects for the cruise missile Multi-Sensor
MC2A program in 2001, comprising an active electronically defence (CMD) role. It was also speculated Command and Control
to replace not only the scanned array (AESA) radar developed that WAS would be able to jam the Aircraft was an
Northrop Grumman E-8C under the Multi-Platform Radar missile’s electronics at long ranges using a ambitious attempt to
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP), narrowly focused beam. modernise the US Air
System (J-STARS), but also the E-3 Sentry along with the aerial platform and a Force’s intelligence,
Airborne Warning and Control System Battle Management Command and Fierce competitors surveillance and
(AWACS) and RC-135 Rivet Joint with a Control (BMC2) suite. reconnaissance
single widebody platform. Advanced Northrop Grumman and Raytheon assets. Development
radars and communications would First came the radar, which built upon Electronic Systems were fierce was cancelled
allow it to generate precision targeting the earlier Radar Technology Insertion competitors in the AESA radar field. In because the
against air and ground targets, including Program (RTIP) project to replace the late 2000, a sole-source contract was service had higher
mobile targets and cruise missiles, and original AN/APY-3 in the E-8. Although awarded that forced the two to team up, priorities to fund
shorten the sensor-to-shooter chain approved to proceed RTIP to engineering each becoming responsible for specific Northrop Grumman
by facilitating rapid decision-making, and manufacturing development (EMD) MP-RTIP sub-systems under a 50/50 target
as well as serving as a theatre-wide was granted in January 2000, the program workshare agreement. The arrangement Top: In addition to
combat control centre. From April 2002, was restructured to create scaleable, was not a happy one, because neither being part of the
operational requirements and concepts modular units suitable for different company wished to share proprietary teams for the MP-RTIP
for MC2A were explored using the Multi- platforms as MP-RTIP. An 8-10GHz information with their erstwhile and Weapon System
Sensor Command and Control Aircraft X-band system with a 21ft long by 4ft competitor, forcing the USAF to arbitrate Integration contract,
Experimental (MC2A-X), a Boeing 707 high antenna, known as the Wide Area between the team members. Northrop Grumman
(N404PA, named Paul Revere) modified Surveillance (WAS), was scheduled to be became responsible
as an airborne communications and installed in the MC2A. For the platform itself, the USAF wanted for the Battlefield
command post. a modern, twin turbofan-powered Management
In addition to providing higher definition platform, big enough to carry WAS Command and Control
for ground moving target indicator (GMTI) under the fuselage and to accommodate suite. This mock-up
and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes, shows a potential
layout for the part
of the E-10A’s cabin
Northrop Grumman

88 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Above: By mid-2004 the BMC2 suite with its large mission Hitting snags primarily as a sensor platform, whereas
the E-10A had gained crew. In February 2002, the 767-400ER for Air Combat Command it was the
large strakes under was selected and the Mission Design It was planned that the MC2A’s central node in a planned command and
the rear fuselage to Series designation E-10A was allocated capabilities would evolve incrementally control constellation. The Command’s
counteract the canoe in January 2003. A single 767-4FS(ER) in three phases known as ‘spirals’. Spiral 1 procurement plans also remained
for the MP-RTIP (N526BA, c/n 34205) was ordered from was the baseline E-10A with the MP-RTIP nebulous, with anything up to 55 E-10s,
radar under the front. Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems on and BMC2 for ground surveillance and but such large numbers were difficult to
The swept wingtips August 15, 2003, to serve as a testbed. CMD roles. Spiral 2 added airborne early justify in the short term. While the E-8C
of the baseline The airframe was delivered and stored at warning systems, probably including a fleet – based on secondhand 707s –
767-400ER are also Paine Field near Seattle in Washington variant of the multi-role electronically suffered from poor serviceability, the E-3s
evident on this model state, but when the program ended scanned array of the Boeing 737 AEW&C were expected to remain in service until
displayed by Northrop prematurely it was sold in January 2009, to replace the E-3. Signals- and electronic- 2035. Defense Planning Guidance released
Grumman at the 2004 becoming a VIP transport with the intelligence gathering capabilities would in July 2002 stated that the USAF should
Farnborough air show Bahrain Amiri Flight as A9C-HMH. be added in Spiral 3. initially deploy four E-10As by FY10. This
Dave Willis was delayed to FY13 by April 2003.
It was announced on September 14, However, operating powerful air-to-
Below: The MP-RTIP 2004, that Northrop Grumman had ground and air-to-air radars simultaneously By 2004, the USAF needed additional
radar was designed beaten Boeing and Lockheed Martin to on the same platform had never funds for its Joint Strike Fighter and KC-X
as a modular and win the BMC2 contract. It comprised all been demonstrated. It would require programs and $600m was removed in
scaleable system of the non-aircraft or radar sub-systems, considerable internal power generation, FY06 and 07 funding from the E-10 and
for several different including the computing architecture, while the electromagnetic interference the service was told to restructure the
platforms. A smaller networks, communications, data links of one radar could degrade the other. By project. In December 2005, E-10 System
variant than the WAS and data manipulation and exploitation November 2002, it was concluded that Development and Demonstration and
variant planned for systems, with modular, reconfigurable having both on a single airframe was simply production funding was eliminated
the E-10A began workstations for a mission crew of around too challenging. Instead, different versions completely and it was planned to use the
flight testing under 25. Installation of the systems on the of the aircraft, tailored to each mission, 767-400ER as a technology demonstrator
the Scale Composites E-10A testbed was covered by a Weapon would be produced and Spiral 2 aircraft for MP-RTIP in the CMD role. This project
Proteus in mid-2006 System Integration contract awarded to became the ‘E-10B’. also failed to come to fruition and, by May
Northrop Grumman the Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and 2007, all work on the E-10A had ended.
Boeing team on May 14, 2003. As the programme progressed it became Around $1.2bn had been spent on MC2A
increasingly clear that it lacked focus. The over six years.
Office of the Secretary of Defense saw it
Cancellation

Studies to define the USAF’s future
persistence surveillance and command
and control platforms had been
underway for several years by the time
the E-10 was cancelled. They highlighted
the vulnerability of the E-3 and E-8 in
contested airspace, which would have
been equally applicable to the E-10 had it
ever entered service.

Soon after work ended on the E-10,
Northrop Grumman revealed that it
was to develop a low observable, high-
altitude, loitering, unmanned air vehicle
for the intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance roles. That program still
remains classified.

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 89

REPORT // DUTCH CHINOOK MODERNIZATION

‘NOTHING IS

Ludo Mennes and Frank Visser recently visited the Royal
Netherlands Air Force 298 Squadron at Gilze Rijen to
see how the new CH-47F Chinook fleet is gaining more
traction with the Defence Helicopter Command

90 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

S TOO MUCH’
Left: The Chinooks Last year, 298 Squadron and provided challenges, which we had to
of the 298 Squadron ’Grizzlies’ of the Royal encounter.”
’Grizzlies’ can often Netherlands Air Force
train at the low level really lived up to its New workhorse
training areas in the creed: ’Nihil nobis
Netherlands. This nimium’ (Nothing is In May 2012, the Dutch
example carries the too much for us!). ”2020 was to parliament was briefed on the
75 years anniversary be a special year for us, not only Chinook fleet, highlighting its
sticker, which all because of the 75th anniversary of intensive use and the age of the
helicopters received the squadron and 25 years of Chinook airframes. A decision was made
in 2020 All images: operations, but because we were set to to buy new aircraft because of
Northern Skies receive the first of 14 new CH-47F MYII the extended lifespan and lower
Aviation CAAS aircraft,” explained the squadron maintenance costs. This led to 14 CH-
commander, Lt Col Niels van den Berg. 47F MYII CAASs (Multiyear II Upgrade,
Right: One of the “However, COVID-19 changed our plans Common Avionics Architecture System)
many signs that being ordered from Boeing in 2015.
298 Squadron
ground crews DUTCH CHINOOK ACQUISITIONS
placed in their work
environment during
their deployment to
Afghanistan

Below: Old and new On July 2, 1993, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MOD) signed a the Royal Netherlands Air Force, such as stronger engines and a
Chinook models pose contract to buy seven secondhand CH-47C Chinooks from the different cockpit layout.
on the platform of Canadian Armed Forces. They were subsequently upgraded by
298 Squadron at Boeing. Then, in December 1993, another contract was signed Due to the limited number of RNLAF Chinooks, they all fly both
their home base at with Boeing for the purchase of an additional six brand-new CH- regular transport missions and specials operations. Difficulties
Gilze-Rijen airbase. 47D Chinooks. The first aircraft arrived in December 1995 and all with software and hardware meant the helicopters were delivered
Currently, two CH-47F 13 helicopters were assigned to 298 Squadron. three years later than planned, with the first two not arriving in
MSII CAAS helicopters the Netherlands until October 8, 2012. The other four remained
have been delivered In 2007, the Dutch MOD ordered six further new CH-47F in the US and were delivered to the RNLAF’s 302 Squadron at Fort
to the squadron, Chinook helicopters from Boeing, to replace two that had been Hood, Texas. Until recently, the unit operated eight Apaches and
which will receive 15 lost and add extra capability to the fleet. This resulted in the four CH-47F Chinooks and was responsible for the Initial Military
airframes by the end RNLAF becoming the first international F-model user. Qualification Training (IMQT) of the Dutch crews and organising
of the third quarter the integrated air assault training — known as American Falcon —
of 2022 The CH-47F (NL) is a customized variant of the US Army’s CH- with the 11th Air Mobility Brigade five times a year.
47F, with specific modifications and additional requirements for

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 91

REPORT // DUTCH CHINOOK MODERNIZATION

The CH-47F MYII CAAS is the standard two loadmasters. On paper there is a fifth However, due to COVID-19, we cancelled Far left: Lt Col Van
model for the US Army and will again flight, but due to the continuing shortage the reunion.” den Berg, squadron
receive a number of specific additional of personnel only four flights can be commander, proudly
Dutch requirements such as an ice operated at the moment. On the technical Implementation team poses in full flight
detector, a pitot heat system, a fast-roping side we have a staff per flight of 20, for gear in front of the
system for SOF missions and crashworthy maintenance and flight preparation of the The planned rollout ceremony was not latest edition to
seats for the crew. The Dutch will receive aircraft, which is an almost 100% score. the beginning of the implementation his squadron. 298
the Multi R2 block 1 version of the process for the 298 Squadron, which had Squadron will receive
Chinook and 9.4 version software for the “As 2020 was a special year for us, we already started in 2018. Responsible for 15 CH-47F MSII CAAS
CAAS cockpit, becoming the first foreign had activities planned to celebrate our the implementation at squadron level helicopters, while the
air force to fly this version. The 14th new 75th anniversary of the squadron. One was Capt Marco of the Project Team other five airframes
build CH-47F MYII CAAS was delivered by of the highlights would be a live stream CAAS. Previously an exchange pilot and will operate from
Boeing to the RNLAF on December, 10, during a reunion with the Boeing factory instructor at Fort Rucker, Alabama, for Robert Gray AAF,
2020; they are serialled D-472 up to D-485. for the rollout of the first Dutch helicopter. almost four years until June 2018, he has Texas, USA

Meanwhile the current six CH-47F (NL) Left: All new aircraft
aircraft are being upgraded by Summit destined for 298
Aviation, the subcontractor operating Squadron will receive
under the renewal contract with Boeing the official badge of a
and the Dutch MOD. The airframes are dragonfly on the tail,
completely stripped and overhauled despite the grizzly
and upgraded to the same layout and bear being considered
configuration as the new aircraft. The the mascot of the
helicopters will re-enter service during the squadron
roll out period of the newer CH-47Fs and
are serialled D-601 to D-606. Below: A CH-47F MYII
CAAS of 298 Squadron
The total cost of CH-47F MYII CAAS practices landings
purchase, upgrading of the current in confined areas at
F-models, simulator facilities and spare the low level training
parts is around €1bn. area near Gilze-Rijen
airbase for crew
training

Squadron activities

“The squadron has been awaiting the new
Chinook. We had around 220 full time
equivalents working and expanded to 235
with the arrival of the new helicopter,”
explains Van den Berg. The commander
has had a long career flying helicopters.
He flew the AS532U2 Cougar from 2002
until 2011 and has been flying the CH-47D
and F Chinook since 2011 as a qualified
weapons instructor.

”The operations team consists of around
100 pilots and loadmasters. They are
distributed over four flights of five crews.
A Chinook crew consists of two pilots and

92 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

Above: A Dutch CH- around 1,000 flight hours on the CH-47F one pilot with CAAS flying experience, the SURPLUS
47F Chinook delivering MYII CAAS model. Today, Marco is back project team has been doing simulation AIRFRAMES
cargo by sling loads at Fort Rucker as an Eurocopter UH-72 training on a quarterly basis with different
in 2014 during Lakota instructor pilot. US Army units in Germany and Alabama, The possible sale of the surplus
Operation Daytona, gaining the necessary knowledge to write airframes is up to a special project
an integrated air Until the summer of 2021, he was the new manuals. group. One airframe, D-661, is going to
assault training head of the implementation team be handed over to the Dutch National
exercis, executed by running within the 299 Tactical Training, Mind shift Military Museum. The Chinook with the
302 Squadron and Evaluation and Standardisation (TACTES) special markings, D-666, will serve as
the Dutch 11th Air Squadron at Gilze-Rijen airbase. This A major change for the crews is the new a gate guard in front of the squadron
Mobility Brigade small group consists of flight instructors, cockpit layout. Unlike previous occasions building. Two aircraft, D-663 and D-664,
operational pilots, weapons instructors when the Honeywell ACMS cockpit was will be used for technical training as
Below: A CH-47D with and test pilots who are responsible for preferred, this time the RNLAF selected instructional airframes.
UN markings takes off the writing of the flight training manuals, the US Army CAAS cockpit. By using the In the summer of 2020, the possible
from Gao in Mali for a operational training manuals and the ‘common’ principle, the compatibility sale of four airframes to the US company
medevac mission in tactical standard operating procedures increases and future software updates are Unical Aviation was announced by
2016. Three Chinooks (SOPs) for the new model. His experience easier to implement. the Dutch Secretary of Defence. This
and four Apaches as an instructor in the US means he was company is specialized in firefighting
operated under the ideal candidate for the unit. With only “The implementation at squadron from the air and operates a dozen CH-
the United Nations level really means a radical mind shift for 47s and around 30 UH-60 Blackhawks.
Multidimensional everyone”, said Van den Berg. “We will go Details of the possible sale, such as
Integrated from flying by hand to an almost all digital delivery dates, are so far unknown.
Stabilization Mission way of working, which means we move
(MINUSMA) in Mali from being pilots to becoming operators. June 2020 to Fort Hood, Texas, they
Of course, we still keep our flying skills were hardly flown in the second half of
current. However, we do not fly this new 2020 except for maintenance checks.
helicopter the old way anymore.” The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in
a six-month delay in crew training.
For the Dutch crews that flew with Nevertheless, Boeing still delivered all 14
the ACMS cockpit during their Chinook aircraft with a delay of only three weeks.
career and were experienced with this
system, the new CAAS cockpit lay out The first two airframes for the
will require a major shift in mindset. As Netherlands were shipped out in
Marco explained: “Crews will have to let December 2020 from Baltimore, Maryland,
their current way of flying go and adapt and arrived by truck during January
to a totally new system, which offers 2021 at Woensdrecht airbase in the
many options. Where the ACMS cockpit Netherlands, where they then received
is like a Swiss Army knife, with dedicated Dutch modifications.
equipment, the CAAS cockpit is like a
snap-on toolbox with the necessary tools After being upgraded, the Functional
and equipment to successfully complete Test Flights (FTF) started from week 13
a mission. We need to teach our crews onwards, while the necessary FTF pilots
to use the right tool and let the system started their conversion flight training
work for them. The main advantage of the on January 4 in the US. The first aircraft
CAAS cockpit is a much more balanced officially landed at its new home base on
workload during a mission.” April 14, 2021, and was handed over to
DHC and 298 Squadron. Marco was the
Dutch delivery pilot to deliver the keys of the helicopter
to the commander of the DHC.
Although the first four new CH-47F MY
II CAAS helicopters were delivered from All new aircraft are planned to be
delivered to the RNLAF by the end of the

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 93

REPORT // DUTCH CHINOOK MODERNIZATION

third quarter of 2022, when 15 aircraft cockpit system. Two weeks are organised the other participants as we are an old Left: Mission planning
will be stationed at Gilze-Rijen and five at by the Dutch project team, which will party with a new aircraft to the stage. We during Operation
Fort Hood, Texas. The Initial Operational involve the flying part and use of the had to reschedule the start of our training Daytona. Members
Capability (IOC) phase will start right after aircraft. After five weeks, the pilots will program from June to November 2020 of 302 Squadron,
delivery of the new aircraft, while the Full go to Fort Hood, Texas, for flight training, due to the COVID situation. Luckily, we stationed at Robert
Operational Capability status is planned spending two weeks with the NETT and had built in some extra time so we did Gray AAF, work closely
for the end of 2022. This automatically two weeks with the Dutch project team. not have to change our overall planning. with visiting troops
means the squadron is ready to deploy, However, as all training classes need to of the Dutch 11th Air
but Van den Berg noted: “Theoretically, After the nine-week course is completed, connect to the planned American Falcon mobility Brigade and
the squadron can be sent out by our the crews will be capable of flying the exercises, there is hardly any room left for AH-64D Apache crews
government. However, we still need extra aircraft and understand the basic skills of another delay. For example, one of the from 301 Squadron,
time to work on our training to regain operating the new system. However, they new things we have to take into account so a real time air
the old level of combat readiness. The will lack agility. The final four weeks of the is the necessary two weeks of quarantine assault can be trained
hardware capabilities and crew proficiency program are therefore integrated with time when we travel to and from the US.” at Fort Hood, Texas
will be a relevant factor in the possible regular American Falcon flight training.
decision-making.” Flight Zero started training in November Below: A CH-47D
This training is normally organised on a 2020 in the Netherlands. Unlike the Chinook performs a
With the delivery of the new aircraft at quarterly basis for integration between the following flights, the group of 22 men brown out landing at
Gilze-Rijen, the old D models will be taken Apache and Chinook community and the used the third and fourth week to the low level training
out of service at an equal pace until the Air Mobility Brigade. All Chinook crews in review current procedures and define area near Eindhoven,
final CH-47F crews have been trained. each flight undergo an annual four weeks the new way of operating. This time was the Netherlands. The
At the time of writing, six airframes of American Falcon training to practise considered as extremely useful as all key helicopters of the
have been delivered to the RNLAF in mission profiles and remain current. players with the necessary knowledge Defence Helicopter
the Netherlands, comprising four new “A regular American Falcon offers the were present. After the Christmas break Command often
helicopters (D-472, D-473, D480 and D481) newly trained Chinook crews a wonderful and necessary quarantine period, the practise these
and two overhauled helicopters (D-601 opportunity to train and sharpen their group started their flight training at Fort manoeuvres to train
and D-602). newly acquired skills,”said Marco.“Of Hood in January 2021. crews dealing with
course it requires a bit of patience with the loss of visibility
Flight Zero did not participate in an
American Falcon exercise, but instead
used this time for operational test and
evaluation. During the four weeks, all
procedures were tested and validated, the
syllabus was checked over and all flights
were then used to determine the optimal
mix of operations and interaction between
crew members.

Despite some setbacks, including
some very rare harsh winter conditions
in Texas and the necessary self-isolation
of a number of team members due to
the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the
training period went according to plans.
Early February 2021 saw an important

CAAS II training

All crews will undergo a 13-week training
course covering six flights (Flight Zero to
5). Flight Zero involves instructor pilots
and loadmasters from both Fort Hood and
Gilze-Rijen. Flight One to Four consists
of the crews from the different squadron
flights. The final flight will be for host
pilots and pilots working at the RNLAF
headquarters. According to the current
planning, Flight Five will start in January/
February 2022.

The first five weeks of training are
carried out in the Netherlands and are
made up of academic work and simulator
training. Three weeks are organised by
an American New Equipment Training
(NET) team. The NETT focuses on the
functionalities and procedures of the new

94 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

SIMULATORS

Another major shift for the squadron is the purchase of two
Transportable Flight Proficiency Simulators (TFPS), of which one
was delivered in 2020 at Gilze-Rijen airbase. It offers the crews
easy access to train on a daily basis. Until recently, crews were
trained in the UK by a contractor. With the departure of the last
D-models, this sim contract will expire.

Aside from the cockpit simulators, the RNLAF also purchased
two rear crew trainers for the loadmaster training. The end state
in the simulator training is an all crew training scenario, where
both front and rear are connected and the two sims practise
together. In future, the Chinook sims will be linked to the sims
of the other types in the RNLAF, such as the Apache helicopters.
This so-called multi-ship, multi-type simulator configuration still
requires a number of years to set up with the necessary software
modifications, but the funds are available to establish one large
simulator training centre.

Above right: A CH-47 milestone being reached as an all-Dutch bought the standard CAAS II model, with 2025. This means an increase for the
weapons instructor crew took off in the new helicopter for the the standard US self-protection system, crews from 180 to 250 flying hours per
of 302 Squadron very first time. which is on a similar level as the old year. In order to reach this number, the
briefs Chinook crew D-models. Therefore, research is being administrative burden for the crews
members on an Initial Wish list done by the RNLAF into the different has to decrease and the flight planning
Military Qualification options, such as expanding the American should be digitalized.
Training mission. Even though the arrival of the new aircraft offer, self-development or buying the
is an enormous step, Van den Berg said equipment from other foreign suppliers. Additionally, one of the key issues has
Below: A CH-47D that he does not consider this to be a fifth- been the necessary influx of new pilots
Chinook of the 298 generation aircraft just yet. Future outlook and loadmasters.
Squadron flies low
over the Afghan As he explained: “Fifth-generation Although there are still hurdles to On the question what made him the
desert. Three Chinooks platforms require access to a data surmount, the future outlook for the most proud during his assignment as
operated from network, like our current and new jets. It squadron with 15 state-of-the-art commander, Van den Berg is crystal
Kandahar Airfield for is all about data sharing and networking helicopters is bright. The morale of the clear. “Without a doubt it is my team and
Operation Enduring capability for a complete mission overview squadron, which is already high, has the flexibility they have shown in these
Freedom in 2006 picture. Although the helicopters have received an additional boost from Van difficult times. The team knows all the ins
the communication system to send data den Berg and his senior staff, who have and outs of the squadron and is capable
in the air and between air and ground, worked on a new mission/vision strategy of running the show independently of my
we have not yet unlocked its potential. document, including a roadmap for presence, which makes me really proud.
Furthermore, we will not receive the Link the next five years. The commander left
16 system, unlike the new updated Dutch 298 Squadron for his next assignment “Despite the high workload, the
AH-64E Apaches. It is something that in October 2021, leaving this document transition to a new helicopter and the
remains high on my wish list for the years ready for implementation by his successor. difficulties in remaining combat-ready,
to come.” the spirit and ownership of the members
One of the key points is an increase in is tremendous. The motivation and drive
One other item high on the wish list is flight hours to 4,000 actual flight hours is just crazy. People really live up to our
the upgrade of the self-protection system and 2,500 simulator hours per year by motto — we get things done one way
for the new helicopters. The RNLAF has or another.”

www.Key.Aero // February 2022 95

STRETCHING
ITS LEGS
Dispatches from the front line of It’s unclear how much fuel a ‘three-point’ Y-20U the air force’s fighters might not. In wartime,
– with its twin hose-and-drogue pods and single Y-20Us could extend the range of J-11, J-16 and
aerospace technology by David Axe boom – can give away, but the figure is surely J-20 fighters, enabling them to escort the H-6s for
closer to 100 tons than it is to 20 tons. the duration of their flights.
Twenty-seven Chinese warplanes skirted
Taiwan on November 28, 2021 – they China’s vast infrastructure of mainland air bases This is exactly what happened on November 28.
cut across the island nation’s south- – not to mention its dozen or so major island For the first time, five H-6s looping around Taiwan
western air defense identification outposts – mitigates the range penalty resulting from the south had protection in the form of four
zone (ADIZ) without crossing into its from the PLAAF’s lack of large tanker aircraft, J-10s, which were refueled by a single Y-20U. For
national airspace. especially for any operations China might all its potential to boost the PLAAF’s long-range
The sortie itself wasn’t unusual, as the People’s conduct along its periphery, such as an attack capabilities, the Y-20U is actually just the interim
Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and People’s across the Taiwan Strait. version of the tanker.
Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF)
routinely send fighters, bombers and patrol However, to project airpower deeper into the The early model Y-20U flies with the same
aircraft on missions around Taiwan for training Pacific Ocean, the PLAAF needs tankers. The Russian-made D-30 low-bypass turbofan engines
and as demonstrations of force. Y-20U – a conversion of the four-engine Y-20A that power the basic Y-20A, but the powerplant
heavy-lift strategic transport – first flew in 2018 and its 21,000lbf is “obsolete 1960s technology,”
However, this mission was special in at least one and apparently entered squadron service in 2021. according to aviation expert, Bill Sweetman. That
regard: it marked the first time the PLAAF had has some bearing on the Y-20U’s capabilities.
sent one of its new Y-20U tankers – which It’s unclear what a Y-20U costs or how many of
are critical to the PLAAF’s war plans – along on them the PLAAF intends to acquire. Commercial For years, the Chinese defense industry has
an ADIZ probe. satellite imagery – shot by Planet Labs in been trying to perfect the WS-20, a copy of the
December 2020 – of the factory airfield at Xi’an American-made F101 moderate-bypass engine.
The US military has approximately 500 strategic Yanliang showed four Y-20s with refueling pods. Testing is already underway on a B-model of the
tankers – most of which are KC-135s. They help to Y-20, which is fitted with WS-20s. “The Y-20 now
extend the endurance of fighters, bombers and The type’s importance is obvious. If China ever has Chinese hearts,” Tang Changhong, the type’s
other aircraft, enabling them to range over the makes good on decades of threats and posturing chief designer, said last September.
vast expanse of the western Pacific Ocean from and invades Taiwan, experts predict that a bold
bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam. maneuver – a wide encirclement of Taiwan – The F101 is hardly new. It has powered the
could be part of China’s strategy for softening up B-1 Lancer supersonic strategic bomber since
By contrast, until recently, the PLAAF possessed the island nation’s defenses, by attacking them the 1970s, but it produces more than 27,000lbf,
just three Russian-made Il-78 tankers, as well as from several directions. making it much more powerful than the D-30.
a couple dozen tanker-conversions of the H-6
bomber. The Il-78s can each offload up to 100 That’s not just a theory. The PLAAF has The WS-20 could transform the Y-20 into a truly
tons of fuel per mission – making them roughly repeatedly practiced the move with patrol aircraft modern strategic airlifter. This same engine could
equivalent to a KC-135 – while a H-6U offloads and, more critically, H-6s. While the bombers make the Y-20U a truly modern strategic tanker,
fewer than 20 tons of gas. already possess the range to fly around Taiwan enabling it to fly even farther, more efficiently and
and into the open expanse of the Philippine Sea, offload more fuel than it can presently.

The PLAAF is turning its Xian Y-20A heavy-lift transporter into
a tanker, which could be a big step to any strategic aspirations
in the western Pacific, particularly if a new engine is found.
A transport version comes into land at Dyagilevo Air Base in
Russia’s Ryazan Oblast during the Aviadarts competition in 2021
Russian MOD

96 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

US AIR FORCES IN EUROPE: THE 1980S

The US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) rapidly
expanded its presence in the 1980s, as it became
the most dangerous decade of the Cold War. Most
controversially, a new generation of intermediate-
range nuclear weapons was deployed by both
sides. Illustrated with over 180 images, this book
examines the aircraft and bases of the USAFE.

It also describes the vital support provided by J£U1S5T.99 96 PAGES, PAPERBACK.
Military Airlift Command’s transport and tanker
fleet. The part played by Strategic Air Command’s
iconic SR-71s, U-2s, and giant B-52 bombers is
outlined, as is the role of Tactical Air Command,
which would have rapidly reinforced USAFE in
time of war.

ORDER DIRECT

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MARCH 2022
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FEBRUARY 3, 2022

(ON SALE DATE MAY VARY BY REGION)

TRANSITION
TIMEFOR THE
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First USMC F-35C carrier squadron

#10 THE PERSIAN CHINA’S CARRIER MV-22 OSPREY Above: A pair
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STATE AIR WING COMES OF AGE Corps F-35C
Iran’s F-7s still soldiering on Lightning IIs
FLORIDA REPORT Beijing’s latest show of might New missions, new tactics from VMFA-314
STATE REPORT James DeBoer

Part 2: The Panhandlers

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98 February 2022 // www.Key.Aero

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