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28 PAGES OF NEWS
- RAF 2003 OPS IN JORDAN
MAY 2015
ISSUE #326
FIGHTING IS
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F-22 RAPTORS OVER SYRIA
•
FRANCE'S MALI MISSION
•
COALITION OPERATIONS
•
UK 'AT THE FOREFRONT'
Officially the World's
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Authority on Military Aviation | www.airforcesmonthly.com
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363/15
CONTENTS
May Issue 326
News
All the world’s military
aviation news, by region.
4-5
Headlines
6-9
United Kingdom
10-12 Continental Europe
14-16 North America
18-23 Latin America
24-25 Africa
26
Middle East
27-33 Asia Pacific
34-35 Australasia
35
Contracts
Enter the
Hunter
36
the past, present and future
of the unit known as Heli-G.
64
Mission Mali
Frédéric Lert reports on the ALAT’s
Opération Barkhane mission
in Mali, which is fighting back
against jihadis in the region.
70
Mali’s Depleted
Air Force
36
Enter the Hunter
After spending three months in
Mali at the end of last year, Jan
Hendrikzijnzoon sheds some
light on the Mali Air Force.
Bob Archer details the F-22A
Raptor assault on Islamic State (IS)
from the skies above Syria how.
74
Rough Rider Rolls In…
AFM’s
Glenn Sands caught the
liberty boat from Portsmouth
dockyard in late March to board
the nuclear-powered carrier USS
Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71),
which was anchored in the Solent.
40
FORCE REPORT
Belgian Air Component
The Belgian Air Component is
set to go through yet another
round of cost-cutting measures,
but as Dirk Jan de Ridder
explains, it still manages to
pull its weight when it comes
to UN/EU or NATO missions.
80
Slicks and Domes
46
Generation Game
Jon Lake explains how RAF
Typhoons and F-35 Joint Strike
Fighters will work seamlessly
together in the combat zone,
despite the generation gap...
Mission
Mali
64
Tom Kaminski examines
America’s ‘drug-busting’ P-3
Orions of the US Customs and
Border Protection service.
86
BRIEFINGS
A Secret War
In March 2003 the RAF
spearheaded a drive on
Baghdad from Jordan. Tim
Ripley unveils the story.
54 Coalition against IS
Air attacks against Islamic State
(IS) forces in Iraq and Syria are
ongoing after nine months of
sustained operations by the
US-led coalition. Here, Gert
Kromhout outlines the activities of
a growing list of nations united in
their mission to rid the world of IS.
92 Attrition
AFM’s
Dave Allport reports on the
world’s latest military accidents.
96
Debrief
Reviews of recently published
military aviation books.
Cover:
Belgian F-16s have
played a prominent part in ISAF
missions since the mid-1990s.
This example is seen operating
over Afghanistan armed
with laser-guided Paveway
bombs. Ramon Wenink
USCBP
P-3 ORIONS
USCBP
P-3 ORIONS
60
Punching above
its Weight
Singapore’s Helicopter Group
celebrates 45 years of operations
this year. Chen Chuanren recounts
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Domes
Tom Kaminski
examines America’s
‘drug busting’ P-3
Orions of the US
Customs and Border
Protection service.
Slicks and
L
ockheed Aircraft delivered 650 P-3 Orion
maritime patrol aircraft between 1959 and
December 1995. A further 107 were built
under licence by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
in Japan. Today, more than 350 remain in
service with 20 international military air arms.
The maritime patrol aircraft has been adapted
for numerous non-traditional roles including
weather reconnaissance, electronic intelligence,
airlift and even as an airborne firefighting
platform. Modified Orions are also operated by
the world’s largest civilian aviation and maritime
law enforcement agency, the US Customs and
‘Although capable of operating alone, the
two variants often flew in tandem in a so-
called ‘Double Eagle’ team.’
Border Protection (CBP) service. It was created
in March 2003 and assumed control of the
former US Customs Service (USCS) and US
Border Patrol (USBP) aviation units in 2006. It
is one of several organisations comprising the
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The CBP’s Office of Air and Marine (OAM)
has a fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin P-3
Orions, in two distinct variants, operating
from home stations, as well as deployed
locations in Central and South America
and the Caribbean. The P-3B Long Range
Tracker (LRT) and Airborne Early Warning
(AEW) detection and monitoring aircraft,
respectively known as ‘slicks’ and ‘domes’, are
primarily used to detect and monitor aircraft
and vessels transporting illicit narcotics.
Although capable of operating alone, the
two variants often fly in tandem in a so-called
‘Double Eagle’ team. When paired, the ‘slick’
is used to intercept, visually identify and
track suspected airborne or surface targets
that had been detected by the ‘dome’.
The eight ‘domes’, the world’s only law
enforcement AEW aircraft, have assumed in
recent years a significant role in Homeland
Security. The P-3 crews have cleared domestic
airspace for the President and Vice-President,
monitored the skies during National Security
Special Events (NSSE), including the Olympics
Above:
P-3B Airborne Early Warning and
Long Range Tracker aircraft assigned to
the National Air Security Operations Center
(NASOC) Corpus Christi, conduct joint
operations during a local training mission
over the Gulf of Mexico on December 14,
2010. The centre is located aboard Naval Air
Station Corpus Christi, Texas. CBP’s Orion
fleet, which currently includes eight Domes
and four Slicks provides regular support for
Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)
counter drug smuggling efforts as part of
Operation Martillo.
Lockheed Martin/John Rossino
Right:
Originally operated as demonstra-
tor by Lockheed wearing the registration
N91LC, the first P-3B AEW variant was
later delivered to US Customs Service and
currently carries the registration N145CS.
Lockheed Martin
80
MAY 2015 #326
www.airforcesmonthly.com
www.airforcesdaily.com
#326 MAY 2015
81
Rough Rider Rolls In...
70
Glenn Sands
AFM
Brand Editor
www.airforcesdaily.com
#326 MAY 2015
3
NEWS
HEADLINES
UK Government hits back at Commons Defence Select Committee
UK ‘AT THE FOREFRONT’
OF IS OPERATIONS
Above:
Two Sentinel R1s are being deployed to the Middle-East to support anti-IS operations. RAF/5 (AC) Squadron Sentinel R1 ZJ690 is seen here at RAFO Base
Al Musana'a, Oman, on March 12, 2014, while deployed with the 902nd Expeditionary Air Wing, providing support to ISAF and coalition forces in Afghanistan and
elsewhere in the region.
MOD Crown Copyright/Sgt Ross Tilly
ONE OF the last acts of the UK
Ministry of Defence (MOD) before
the dissolution of parliament for
the general election campaign to
start was a response to criticism
in a report by the Commons
Defence Select Committee. The
report titled ‘The situation in
Iraq and Syria and the response
to al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq
al-Sham (DAESH)’, which
was published on February 5,
claimed the UK’s contribution
to tackling Islamic State (IS)
was “surprisingly modest”.
A robust rebuff from the
MOD on March 25, rejected
the Committee’s conclusions
as “out-of-date or inaccurate
information and do not
recognise the major role the UK
Government has played since
the beginning of operations.”
It dismissed the suggestion
that the UK’s contribution
was “strikingly modest” by
stating it was “at the forefront
of the efforts to defeat IS”.
Defence Secretary Michael
Fallon said: “We have played
a major role in the military
campaign from the start and
have conducted 194 air strikes
in Iraq, second only to the US.
“Throughout the campaign
we have focused our military
contribution where it can have
the most impact – supporting
Iraqi forces from the air, providing
vital intelligence, surveillance and
air-to-air refuelling capabilities.
“The RAF has contributed
assets that few coalition
partners can match and the
US and other partners have
acknowledged the impact these
are having on the campaign.”
The MOD press release noted:
“…the Committee also stated
the UK has only conducted 6%
of air strikes – this is inaccurate.
It is based on figures for Iraq
and Syria and we only have
parliamentary permission to
conduct strikes over Iraq.”
On March 25 the MOD
announced that two 5 (AC)
Squadron Sentinel R1 surveillance
aircraft were being sent to the
Middle East. Their deployment
from RAF Cranwell, Lincs where
they are temporarily stationed due
to runway repairs at their home
base at RAF Waddington, will allow
the allies to use the intelligence
gathered by the aircraft over Iraq.
The Sentinels will provide wide
area surveillance while monitoring
terrorists and track IED-laying
activity, as it did with insurgents
during 2011 in Libya. They
will join eight Tornados, several
Reapers, one C-130, one RC-135
and one Voyager supporting the
UK’s contribution to defeat IS,
Operation Shader.
Alan Warnes
Situation in Ukraine
CLAIMS THAT pro-Russian rebels
in Ukraine possess an operational
ex-Ukrainian Air Force Su-25
Frogfoot
ground attack aircraft
(see
Lughansk People’s Republic
Forming an Air Force,
April, p26)
have proved to be a propaganda
stunt. The aircraft shown to the
media in late January was the
repainted Su-25 ‘01 blue’ (c/n
25508101037) – a demilitarized
and non-airworthy exhibit from
the museum based at the Hostra
Mohyla Airport near Luhans’k.
This would also dispel claims that
the aircraft was subsequently
used in combat in the Debal’tseve
area. Similarly, the two-seat L-29
trainer ‘36 red’ that was shown
along with it is a privately-owned
aircraft (c/n 792519, Ukrainian
civilian registration LA0893)
based at the same airport. Even
if airworthy, it has no combat
capabilities whatsoever.
Despite claims by the rebels to
the contrary, Ukrainian manned
aircraft have not been directly
involved in combat. The only
aviation assets deployed over
enemy-held territory were Tu-143
UAVs, one of which was shot down
on February 3 near Irmino. It is
believed the pro-Russian rebels
now possess more sophisticated
mobile SAM systems (in addition
to MANPADS) that will enable
them to engage a high-speed
target, such as the Tu-143. This
would also explain why Ukraine’s
military aircraft were used only
for MEDEVAC and resupply
sorties behind the front line.
Vladimir Trendafilovski
Above:
This L-29 Delfin, purportedly
operated by the Luhans’k People’s
Republic Air Force, was shown off as a
publicity stunt and is a privately owned
aircraft with no combat capability.
Left:
The rocket-assisted launch of the
Tu-143 UAV is a breath-taking sight,
even when viewed from a far. The
high-speed Soviet-era UAV operated by
the 383 opDKLA from Khmel’nyts’kyy
was the only PS ZSU asset deployed
directly over enemy-held territory
during the recent fighting in eastern
Ukraine.
Ukrainian Ministry of Defence via
Vladimir Trendafilovski
4
MAY 2015 #326
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Saudi-Led Air Strikes on Yemen
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SAUDI ARABIA began a series
of air strikes, along with its Arab
coalition partners, against Houthi
insurgents in Yemen overnight
on March 25-26 under Operation
Decisive Storm. The raids
focused on attacking Houthi rebel
positions, including air bases, air
defence sites, command-and-
control locations and army camps.
The Royal Saudi Air Force
committed 100 aircraft to the
missions, including F-15C, F-15S
and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters,
plus support from E-3 AWACS,
AS532 Cougar CSAR helicopters
and other unconfirmed types,
which are believed to have included
AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Other participants included: the
UAE Air Force and Air Defence
with 30 F-16E/Fs and Mirage
2000s; the Kuwaiti Air Force with
15 F/A-18C/D Hornets (some of
which operated by King Khalid Air
Base in Saudi Arabia); the Royal
Bahraini Air Force with 15 F-16Cs
and F-5s; the Qatar Emiri Air Force
with ten Mirage 2000-5s (some at
King Khalid); the Royal Jordanian
Air Force with six F-16A/Bs; the
Royal Moroccan Air Force with
six F-16C/Ds and the Sudanese
Air Force with three-to-six Su-24s
(some at King Khalid). The
Egyptian Air Force is also making
an undisclosed contribution.
Houthi rebels had
commandeered numerous
Yemen Air Force aircraft after
Above:
The air strikes on Sana’a-al-Dailami Air Base on March 26 put these two
Yemen helicopters, an AB212 and UH-1H-II Huey II, out of action.
Below:
The gutted hulk of the Yemen Air Force and Air Defence’s only
CN235M-300, 2211 (c/n 188), at Sana’a-al-Dailami Air Base after being
destroyed during air strikes on March 26.
overrunning the main air bases,
but on March 28, Saudi Arabia
said that after three days of air
strikes they “no longer possess
jet fighters.” In the statement
published the same day by the
Saudi Press Agency, Brigadier
General Ahmed bin Hasan Asiri
also said the Arab coalition air
strikes had destroyed most of
the Shi’ite insurgent group’s
weapons arsenals, including
Scud
missiles, air defences,
communications lines and
command-and-control centres.
Precise details of the aircraft
destroyed are unconfirmed, but
the Houthis acknowledged that at
least four Su-22s and one or two
Mi-8s had been lost. In addition,
photographs of Sana’a-al-Dailami
Air Base show a wrecked hangar
with the burnt-out shell of Yemen’s
sole CN235M-300 which had
only been delivered in 2014 and
the wreckage of an Agusta-Bell
212 and a UH-1H Huey II.
On the first day of operations,
air strikes were also carried out
on Al Anad Air Base, which was
seized by the Houthis earlier in the
week. Additionally the rebels had
taken over Taiz Ganed Air Base
and Aden International Airport.
On March 29 Arab leaders said
the air strikes would continue
until the Houthis withdrew and
surrender their weapons.
Kenyan Air Strikes in Somalia
KENYAN AIR Force (KAF)
fighter aircraft conducted air
strikes on April 5 on two camps
of the al-Shabaab militant
Islamist group in Somalia.
The raids were in response to
the terrorist attack carried out
by al-Shabaab on the Garissa
University College in Kenya on
April 2, which killed at least 148
people and injured 79 others.
The KAF struck camps at
Gondodowe and Ismail, both in
the Gedo region bordering Kenya,
which are used by al-Shabaab
to cross into Kenya. The
missions followed a statement
by Kenyan President Uhuru
Kenyatta, who said he would
respond to the Garissa attack
“in the fiercest way possible.”
www.airforcesdaily.com
#326 MAY 2015
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