Newsdesk – Military

RAAF Exchange Pilot Valour Cited in Raf Accident Report:

At dawn on the morning of 17th November 1980 an RAF MR2 Nimrod LRMP aircraft departed RAF Kinloss on a crew checking exercise Shortly after rotation at an altitude of around seven metres the Nimrod flew through a dense flock of sea birds suffering numerous bird strikes. Power was lost instantly on three of the four Speys resulting in the aircraft impacting a forest just over a kilometre past the runway fence. The RAF accident report pays particular attention to the extreme skill exhibited by the pilot, Flt Lt Noel Anthony, an RAAF pilot on exchange duty with the RAF, in bringing the aircraft to rest with a minimum of damage. The RAF accident report states, ‘It was the captain’s skill in keeping the stricken aircraft airborne long enough to make a very smooth and controlled crash at minimum speed into tree-tops that undoubtedly saved the lives of the 18 crew members. After the accident 77 dead sea birds were found on or near the runway, it is not known how many were ingested into the aircraft engines. The example of the captain, aided by the co-pilot, must not go without mention. Their professionalism and outstanding skill in handling the aircraft in the face of an impending catastrophe were in the finest tradition of both the RAAF and the RAF. It is a tragedy that both pilots died in the wreckage for there is no doubt that their exemplary airmanship and presence of mind saved the lives of their 18 crew members.’ Flt Lt Anthony has been posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross.

Did You See It?

Readers with a 20/20 vision would have seen an interesting aircraft, albeit in miniature, above the tail of the Army Cessna 180 on page 54 of our last issue. That’s right, it is an RAF Transport Command Comet en route to KSA. Sharp readers would have also spotted our Orion centerspread as a C model rather than a B and despite our numerous attempts to reorganise the geography of North America, Tucson definitely is in good ol’ Arizona.

Anti-satellite missile being tested Later This Year:

USAF will actively test its new anti-satellite missile by December this year. The missile (programme designation A-sat) consists of a first-stage Boeing SAAM booster with a second-stage Vought Altair rocket. Following second-stage burnout the anti-satellite vehicle homes in on its target, in this case an Avco-produced target launched by USAF Scout rocket. The A-sat missile will be launched from an F-15 which will either initiate launch subsonically in straight and level flight or opt for an afterburner supersonic climb that places the missile 1n the most advantageous release trajectory when intercept time is at a premium. All methods of launch will be thoroughly investigated through 1983 and 1984 while programme officials admit that the single biggest problem will be in integrating successfully the F-15 launch aircraft, the ground-based radar systems and the manoeuvring of the m1ss1leitself. A-sat will eventually give the USAF the ability to destroy hostile satellites economically by regular F-15 aircraft based throughout the world

India Builds a Stronger Air Force:

Following the announcement that India is to acquire some 150 Mirage 2000s, 11O of which will be built locally by Hindustan, it is clear that that country does not intend to be caught in a situation where it cannot adequately defend its own territory. Within a few short years the IAF will be made up of a force of 85 Anglo-French Sepecat Jaguars (replacing Hunters and Canberra),morethan60MiG-23Floggers and a small number ofreconnaissanceMiG-25 Foxbats. India also operates some 300 locally built MiG-21s, 80 Ajeet fighters (a derivative of the original single-seat Gnat) and four dozen SU-7 fighter bombers. The initial order for 150 Mirage 2000s, the first export order for this type, will probably be followed by a similar reorder later this decade

Another Hornet Win:

Spain has announced it will buy 84 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters. Deliveries are to start in 1986 and extend into the 1990s. Spain’s selection of the F/A-18 is the third consecutive win in a foreign competition for the team that builds the F/A-18. Canada contracted for 138 Hornets in 1980 and Australia ordered 75 last year. Together the US Navy and Marine Corps plan to buy 1377 Hornets. The F/A-18 production forecast now stands at 1674.

Bears on the Increase:

Incursions into Japanese airspace by Soviet aircraft are on the increase with 939 scrambles recorded against Soviet intruders in 1981 as against 752 for 1980, an increase of 20%. The intruders are largely Tu-95 Bears though an increasing number of Vietnam-bound 11-62 Classics are being reported

Harriers Flew Six Sorties a Day:

BAe Sea Harriers and GR.3Harriers averaged six sorties a day during the Falklands campaign. This amounts to more than 2000 sorties during the campaign and upwards of nine hours of flying a day. The average mission duration was 90 minutes and in many cases Sea Harriers were using the larger destroyers as refuelling bases extending their CAPs and allowing greater air defence for radar pickets stationed west of the Falklands. Despite horrendous weather conditions, crew fatigue and a tenuous supply line the entire Sea Harrier/Harrier force averaged a better than 80% availability rate. In combat Sea Harriers are credited with destroying between 30 and 32 Argentinian aircraft, two-thirds of which were either Mirage, Dagger or Skyhawk jets, the remainder being Pucaras and a various assortment of helicopters operated from the Falklands. Of the aircraft destroyed, 24 were with the AIM-9L Sidewinder and six were with the Sea Harrier’s twin 30 mm cannons Support from British Aerospace facilities required round-the-clock seven-day-a-week production which saw a quadrupling of spares output and modification kits to keep the forces operational

Embraer Tucano Nearing Service Entry:

Embraer have given the designation T-27 Tucano (an Amazonian bird) to their new military turboprop trainer previously designated EMB-312. The T-27 commences Brazilian Air Force service next January when twelve aircraft are delivered simultaneously to the service. The T-27 is powered by a 750 hp Pratt & Whitney PT26 turboprop, features ejection seats and can carry a 1000 kg bombload in the light COIN role; flyaway price is quoted at Just over a million Australian dollars, In a recent African sales tour, Embraer flew a Tucano non-stop 2000 nm across the South Atlantic from Brazil to the Cape Verde Islands. The aircraft was configured with full internal fuel and two 235 litre drop tanks and arrived with standard diversion fuel after the 7 hr 15 min flight.

British Order Falkland Replacements:

Britain has moved quickly to order attrition stocks of equipment lost in the Falklands campaign On firm order are fourteen BAe Sea Harriers to replace the seven lost, eleven Sea King helos in addition to five ordered prior to the conflict, three CH-47D Chinook helicopters to replace those lost on the Atlantic Conveyor, three Westland Lynx and five Gazelle helicopters. The RAF will also receive six additional Handley Page Victor tankers from storage in addition to four C-130 Hercules modified specifically for in-flight refuelling.

F-111CS Get Paveway:

Rockwell International have won a $668,000 contract to provide engineering and test support for the integration of the Paveway GBU-15 PGM attack system aboard RAAF F-111C aircraft Integration of the system aboard Australian aircraft will require modification of the weapon pylons, the addition of a data link for terminal guidance between the F-111C launch aircraft and the Paveway glide bomb and installation of a cathode ray tube in the cockpit and associated controls. ARDU have already carried out in-depth trials with the Paveway family of PGMs on Mirage and F-111C aircraft over the past two years. By 1984, when the Rockwell contract 1s was finalised, the RAAF F-111C strike force will have a considerable stand-off attack capability using Pave Tack Paveway PGM bombs and Harpoon antishipping missiles in addition to four high capability long range reconnaissance aircraft unequalled in South East Asia.

Another Facelift for the Mirage III:

It seems the Mirage Ill will be around for some years yet. Dassault-Breguet have just released details of an improved version that features fly-by-wire flight controls, revised tailplane design and avionics updates to facilitate use of later-generation weapons. First flight is expected in December and the aircraft will be marketed internationally in conjunction with the Mirage 5 and 50 models.

Stillwell Learjets Replacing Canberras:

The RAAF has signed a twelve-month contract with Stillwell Aviation for the _lease of a camera-equipped Lear 35 to undertake photogrammetric work formerly carried out by a team of three Canberra bombers. Stillwells will be responsible for maintenance of the aircraft though the aircraft itself will be operated by RAAF crews home basing at Amberley. Stillwells are currently running around 3000 hours per annum of military support flying and hope to increase this greatly over the next few years.

Australia receives Attrition 111s:

The RAAF has taken delivery of three ex-USAF F-111s with the fourth delivered in November this year. The four A series aircraft will replace earlier C models lost in accidents during the past few years. Total cost of the programme will be $60 m which includes conversion of the four As to C specifications, a task that will be performed locally at the Amberley air base where the As will join Nos 1 and 6 strike squadrons Meanwhile the first F-111C has departed Amberley for the General Dynamics facility at Fort Worth, Texas for installation of the Ford Aerospace Pave Tack target designation unit. The entire 111 fleet will be Pave Tack equipped by 1984.

Falkland Missile Statistics:

Use of air defence missiles by the British in the Falklands campaign provides some interesting insights into how effective the latest generation of such weapons is in the combat theatre. The BAe Sea Dart for instance is credited with eight kills though the real benefit of this particular system is that it kept Argentinian aircraft at low levels thereby allowing Sea Harriers and other SAM systems to more easily attack incoming raids. Once at low altitude the attacking aircraft was well within the parameters of the BAe Rapier, which scored at least eight kills, and the ship-based BAe Seawolf which destroyed six aircraft and forced another two to crash while taking evasive action. A missile not even cleared for active firing, the helicopter-fired Sea Skua, was also responsible for the sinking of a patrol boat and inflicting heavy damage on another such vessel when fired by Westland Lynx helicopters prior to the invasion

No More C-141AS:

The 270-aircraft C1418 stretch modification program has wound down at the Lockheed-Georgia Company – the final aeroplane was delivered to the US Air Force on June 29.

he modification means that each of the C-141Bs – with 2171 additional cubic feet of volume – now will be able to airlift significantly heavier deployment payloads since they will not be volume-limited. And with mid-air refueling capability, the fleet will have a virtually worldwide range. According to former Defence Secretary Harold Brown, ‘this will add enormously to our capability to respond to a distant contingency when en-route basing and overflight rights may be limited.’

Air Force General William G. Moore Jr, a former Commander in Chief of the Military Airlift Command and since retired, has called the stretch modification ‘a bargain in anybody’s book’ because it gives the Air Force ‘the equivalent of 90 new aeroplanes at 1963 prices.

Two Navy Squadrons to Be Disbanded:

The two Fleet Air Arm front-line squadrons VF 805 and VS 816, which formed the Carrier Air Group aboard HMAS Melbourne, were disbanded at a parade held at the Naval Air Station, Nowra, on Friday, July 2.

As an interim measure until the future of fixed-wing aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm is decided, the two front-line squadrons, which have been in continuous service for 34 years, will be amalgamated with second-line training squadrons at NAS Nowra, but the number of aircraft to be retained in use will be reduced. There will be some reduction in the requirement for personnel which will be achieved through normal wastage.

VF 805 Squadron comprises Douglas A4G Skyhawk fighter bombers, and VS 816 Squadron is made up of Grumman S2G Tracker anti-submarine aircraft.

Fairchild Wins Massive USAF Jet Trainer Order:

Fairchild Republic has won the battle to build- the successor to the Cessna T-37 as USAFs primary Jet trainer The potential two billion dollar contract provides for 650 aircraft to be built at a rate of twelve per month from 1986 through to 1992. The Fairchild Next Generation Trainer (NGT) will burn 60% less fuel than the current T-37 on a typical training mission and will be able to reach altitude quicker and require substantially less maintenance man-hours than the current training fleet.

Super MiG-25 Becomes ‘Foxhound’:

The NATO standards committee have designated Russia’s new super Foxbat, complete with look-down radar and new AA-9 radar-guided AAMs, the Foxhound. Foxhound was first tested in 1978 and intelligence sources claim the aircraft has scored numerous kills against low-flying cruise missile-simulating drones. Foxhound is expected to be currently entering the Soviet Frontal Aviation squadron service

Short List Announced for New Ran Helicopters:

Four helicopter types – one from the United States and three from Europe – are to be evaluated for use on the RAN’s guided missile frigates and as Fleet utility aircraft.

The aircraft are: Sikorsky Seahawk (US); Aerospatiale Super Puma (France); Aerospatiale Dauphin (France); and Westland Lynx (UK).

The aircraft had been selected after consideration of the report made by a team of Navy, RAAF and civilian personnel from the Department of Defence which visited the United States and Europe last year.

The mission had reported that none of the aircraft evaluated was presently equipped with the type of weapon and sensor systems sought for the primary FFG helicopter roles of surveillance and Harpoon missile targeting.

To enable a selection to be made, 1t had been decided to invite all three manufacturers to participate in funded studies to define and cost-suitable weapon and sensor systems.

Manufacturers would also be asked to put forward proposals for participation by Australian industry involving, where feasible, the design and development of the sensor and weapon system integration and the manufacture and support of this system, and the airframe, engine and ship interface equipment.

Mr Sinclair said that while only a relatively small number of aircraft would be bought initially, both the Navy and the Air Force had proposals for similar size helicopters to perform other roles. Up to 100 aircraft could eventually be acquired, depending on priorities.

Consequently the opportunity would be taken during the configuration definition studies to explore the potential of the four aircraft to meet these other tasks, and to assess the scope for future development of the proposed weapon and sensor systems,

Airship AEW:

Amidst the mountain of lessons learnt in the Falklands campaign, one of paramount importance was the need for a sophisticated Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system. Airship Industries, who are presently displaying their SK500 airship demonstrator at the Farnborough air show, have come up with a novel and practical solution to the requirement of convoys and naval task forces to have AEW. Airship Industries are marketing a new version of their basic airship, equipped with long-range radar and passive sensors and providing sufficient rest space to offer a two-crew-the-clock capability unequalled by fixed-wing AEW aircraft. The airship can even transfer goods and crew while hovering just above a destroyer or oiler and can also refuel in this manner enabling the airship to remain on station days at a time. Typical applications would be in providing an AEW capability for convoys crossing the North Atlantic in the absence of a large US aircraft carrier. The airship can also be equipped with its own air-to-air missiles to provide self-protection against hostile long range reconnaissance bombers The concept being studied further.

Israelis Perfect the Electronic Battlefield:

At about the same time that the Argentinian flag was coming down in Port Stanley the Israeli flag was going up in southern Lebanon. The lightning advance to Beirut and the overwhelming superiority of the Israeli Air Force and the ease at which the formidable Syrian SAM belt in the Bakaa Valley was eliminated highlight the advances in electronic warfare capabilities employed by the Israeli Defence Force.

Prior to the invasion, there was great apprehension in the Israeli Air Force regarding the effectiveness of the Soviet-supplied SAM-6 and ZSU-23/4 radar-directed anti-aircraft cannons lining the strategic Bakaa Valley. Elimination of these defences was vital if air support was to effectively range as far north as Beirut. In achieving their objectives of destroying the missile and gun belt the IDF employed a new range of weapons and tactics that place a new emphasis on the need for state-of-the-art electronic warfare equipment in the modern air battle.

To destroy the Bakaa Valley SAM belt the IAF flew dozens of Scout remotely piloted vehicles (RPV or drone) over the area electronically simulating larger attack aircraft at varying speeds and altitudes. When the Syrian radars were activated to track the apparent targets the IAF launched a salvo of New Zeev (Wolf) surface-to-surface radar homing missiles from Northern Israel to zero in on the active Syrian radars. With the bulk of the radars eliminated in a matter of minutes the IAF was then free to launch K-4, Kfir and A-4 aircraft into the area to complete the mission. Time taken from initial launch of the Scout drones to the completion of the aircraft attack missions is said to be less than one hour. All SAM and ZSU installations, both fixed and mobile were destroyed in the raid.

Upon the entry of a large number of Israeli attack aircraft into Southern Lebanon the Syrian Air Force was forced to respond en masse. At this time the IAF had one of their two EW configured Boeing 707s flying high over northern Israel providing instantaneous tactical jamming of the Syrian voice and radar communications. US Intelligence sources indicate that the level of aural jamming was so great that taxying pilots even lost contact with their tower. Being trained to the regimented standard of the Soviet Air Force, the Syrian pilots found themselves without ground-controlled intercept (GCI) information and could not even work their own tracking radars due to the quantity of electron emissions emanating from the EW 707s. In this situation, the IAF had stationed at altitude F-15 and F-16 aircraft being vectored into virtual ambush positions by Grumman E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft. The Syrians were lured into the most favourable positions and attacked accordingly. In the 48 hours Syria lost 81 aircraft, largely split fifty- fifty between MiG-218 and MiG-23s, while the IAF, according to US Intelligence, lost two A-4s, one F-4 and two helicopters with another seven aircraft damaged. All Israeli losses were at the hands of man-portable SAM-7 missiles which the Palestinians use to reasonable effect.

Use of the Scout and Tadiran Mastiff RPVs poses the obvious question of their relevance in a possible European or Asian environment. The IAF employ drones for a wide range of missions from Elint operations to direct TV data link visual surveillance of Syrian military installations. As the drones have an endurance of up to six hours and have practically no radar signature or IR emission they are difficult to detect let alone intercept. The Scout for instance is twelve feet in length and span and is largely made from wood and fibreglass. A powerplant is a single ultralight type low noise, low IR emission engine turning a large and slow wooden propeller. At their normal operating altitude of 3000/4000 ft they are not only invisible to the eye but just as invisible to most radars.

An aircraft of direct interest to Australia employed in the air war was the E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft. Israeli Hawkeyes were able to use their unique passive detection systems to locate the Syrian SAM radars. While they were transmitting, triangulation fixes were fed into the aircraft computer to obtain accurate targeting of the sites for the first wave of New Zeev ground-launched anti-radar missiles and subsequent air strikes from manned aircraft. The passive detection system aboard the Hawkeye allows it to see without being seen, to operate surveillance missions without having to turn on its primary radar and emit radio energy. This capability allows the E-2C to often remain well outside the defence zones of a hostile area and is the exact capability the British desperately needed in the Falklands campaign.

Skyhawks for Malaysia:

Malaysia will finally purchase a large number of refurbished McDonnell Douglas A-4L Skyhawks. Negotiations have been proceeding on the sale for several years and at one time were threatened when it was revealed that the prospective units were ex-Israeli Defence Force aircraft, hardly a fitting gesture for a Muslim nation. The 88 Skyhawks in question are ex-USN A-4As and will be completely refurbished and upgraded to A-4L standard before deliveries commence in 1984. Delivery of the aircraft to the RMAF will greatly enhance the strike capability of that air arm which is also considering an additional purchase of new Northrop F-5E Tiger II air defence fighters. Malaysia has also recently selected the Aermacchi MB.339 trainer to replace the CL-41 Tebuan (Tutor) which is the current primary jet trainer in the RMAF inventory. The order covers twelve aircraft which will be delivered through 1983.

New Soviet Bomber Named:

The NATO designation committee has accorded the name Blackjack to the Soviet Union’s latest strategic bomber. Formerly known as the Ram P, the Blackjack has been under test for several years, and is expected to attain operational status in 1986/87. Blackjack is larger than the present Backfire bomber and is largely comparable to the USAF 8-1B.

Container Ship ‘Aircraft Carrier’ Study Resumes:

Following events in the Falklands War, the US Navy has reactivated the Arapaho programme which was specifically tasked with analysing the feasibility of modifying existing container-type ships as aircraft carriers in the convoy protection role. The earlier Arapaho study, stalled In 1979 through lack of funds, envisaged a 1200-ton facility using existing freight containers suitably modified as aircraft maintenance workshops, command and control centres, accommodation facilities and spares were also arranged in standard freight containers. The entire facility including a hangar and fuel farm could be loaded by regular waterside workers using existing cranes and gantries in twelve to fourteen hours; within twenty hours aircraft could be operating from the ship. The US services envisaged operating aircraft from AV-8A through to SH-53 Sea Stallions from the Arapaho-modified ships. Modern container ships are relatively fast cruising vessels by traditional convoy standards and two or three modified ships, still carrying the bulk of their assigned cargo load, could provide a limited but useful air defence capability against subsonic long-range maritime patrol aircraft while helicopters could provide a necessary ASW search and strike capability not otherwise available. Australia, along with Canada, Great Britain and West Germany are participating with the US Navy in the studies, Stage II has been voted funding and an active demonstration of the concept is planned for 1983/84.

Fast Packs for F-15:

USAF have ordered 150 conformal fuel and sensor packs (FAST packs) for F-15C and D aircraft The FAST packs hold 9750 lb of fuel and allow the Eagle an unrefuelled range in excess of 3000 miles while still carrying a full Sparrow and Sidewinder missile complement. Along with a 600-gallon centreline fuel tank the FAST packs provide an additional 12,000 lb of fuel or almost double the internal capacity of the later model F-15s which have a maximum fuel uplift capacity 68% greater than the first A models which entered Tactical Air Command service in late 1974.

HARPOON TRIALS FOR F111s:

The RAAF has taken delivery of 20 Harpoon missile casings as the first step toward equipping the F111C strike force with the missile. The Harpoon casings will be modified to match exactly the weight and aerodynamics of the operational missile. Harpoon, a sea-skimming, anti-shipping missile, is already in service with the RAAF’s P3C Orions and the RAN’s guided missile frigates. Flight carriage and release trials to prove Harpoons’ aerodynamic compatibility with the F111 will be conducted by the RAAF’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit, at RAAF base, Edinburgh, SA. The RAAF proving program is necessary because UnitedStatesF111s are not equipped with Harpoon. The United States and Australia are the only countries which operate F111s. A United States Navy instrumented Harpoon missile will also be test flown on an RAAF F111C over a USN test facility to measure temperature and vibration during flight before a live firing from an RAAF 111C of the missile.

Upgraded Lynx:

The Westland Lynx, which performed so capably in the Falklands War and Is a candidate for the RAN FFG helo requirement, is to be offered in an immensely upgraded form. The new version will be powered by Gem 60 turboshafts and will feature a tail rotor adapted from the WG30 in addition to composite material rotors and a revised landing gear. In the army version, the Lynx will be equipped with a mast-mounted laser designation system, advanced anti-armour missiles and a new infrared suppression system. More power will particularly affect the naval Lynx which will ultimately have greater endurance and lifting ability than the present version.