Combat Aircraft Journal - November 2021

Prévia do material em texto

TOUGH MISSIONS NEED TOUGH 
TERRAIN FOR USAF HH-60G UNIT
AVIANO’S ANGELSNEW STING FOR 
AEGEAN VIPERS
STEALTH FIGHTER
STILL ON 
THE JOB
40 YEARS OF F-117 OPS
NORTH 
CALIFORNIA 
NORTH 
CALIFORNIA 
GOLDEN STATE'S 
NORTHERN GUARDIANS
GREECE UPGRADES F-16 FLEET
MALI ON
THEIR MINDS
FROM TEACHERS
TO TOUGH GUYS 
DUTCH 336 SQN 
C-130S PREP FOR 
DANGEROUS DUTY
ARGENTINA’S 
TUCANOS ON 
LIVE-FIRING 
CAMP
DESERT 
RESCUERESCUE
INTERNATIONAL 
COMBAT SEARCH 
AND RESCUE
DRILLS IN 
ARIZONA
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FUTURE
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3www.Key.Aero // November 2021
LOOK WHO’S 
BACK!
F
RESNO INTERNATIONAL 
AIRPORT in northern 
California, became a magnet 
for aviation enthusiasts 
all over the USA in mid 
September when two F-117A 
Nighthawk stealth fi ghters appeared. 
They were in town for a week, working 
with the Boeing F-15Cs of the California 
Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing 
for dissimilar aircraft combat training.
Their appearance comes more than 13 
years after the secret fi ghter was offi cially 
retired in 2008. While there have been 
several sightings in the USA’s southwest 
in recent years, this was the fi rst time the 
USAF actually acknowledged the black 
jet’s presence. The 144th Fighter Wing’s 
Commander, Colonel Troy Havener said, 
“We have the distinct honor of being the 
fi rst Air Force unit to host them for a full 
week of training.” 
But why? I hear you ask. Well, that’s 
simple – the 144th is among the fi rst air 
defense units to have its F-15C Eagles 
upgraded with the new Raytheon AN/
APG-63(V)3 airborne electronically 
scanned array (AESA) radar. 
Back in 2016, Boeing won a $558.5 
million contract that included the upgrade 
of 42 Air National Guard F-15C/Ds with the 
new radar. There is no need to modify the 
full F-15C/D fl eet, just a few jets in each 
squadron, just as it did during the (V)2 
upgrade. I remember being at Elmendorf 
AFB in Alaska in 2011, when the fi rst (V)2s 
were being fi elded on F-15C Eagles there, 
and that’s exactly what happened then. 
The radar leverages the (V)2 
improvements with the AN/APG-79 radar 
used in the upgraded F/A-18E/F Super 
Hornet. Much of their actual capabilities 
are classifi ed but, undoubtedly, these 
very capable radars are making the F-15Cs 
the most capable fourth-generation 
platforms, alongside enhanced F-15E 
Strike Eagles. They might not be in the 
same league as the F-22 Raptor’s AN/
APG-77(V)1 or F-35’s AN/APG-81, but 
will defi nitely foster more fourth/fi fth-
generation fi ghter integration, which is 
what the allies and bigger air forces want. 
Singapore and Saudi Arabia, who are 
known to be AN/APG-63(V)3 customers, 
too, will undoubtedly be looking on.
So that’s why the distinctive F-117s were 
at Fresno, to enable the 144th Eagles to 
test their new capabilities against low-
observable stealth fi ghters. It was great 
to see them back in the open again, let’s 
hope it isn’t for the last time.
To fi nd out more more about the F-117s 
at Fresno, turn to our news story on 
page 6-7. To learn more about the stealth 
fi ghter and its 40-year career, turn to our 
feature ‘Still On The Job’ on page 38-47. 
Alan Warnes
Group Editor at Large, Modern Military
Above: An F-117A on 
fi nal approach to land 
at the Fresno Yosemite 
International Airport 
on September 15, 
2021, after conducting 
dissimilar combat 
aircraft training with 
F-15Cs operated by 
the California Air 
National Guard’s 
144th Fighter Wing
Air National Guard/
Capt. Jason Sanchez
COMBAT EDGE // FIND US ON 
Visit our website at 
www.key.aero/combataircraftjournal
Contact the team at
editor@combataircraftjournal.com
http://www.Key.Aero
http://www.key.aero/combataircraftjournal
mailto:editor@combataircraftjournal.com
SEE PAGE 99 FOR 
FULL DETAILS
 F-117A Nighthawks come out of the 
shadows and into the California sunshine
 Lockheed Martin propose an A330-based 
MMXT strategic tanker for USAF requirement
 The fi rst Qatari F-15QA, named Ababil, is 
offi cially rolled out at St Louis, Missouri
 AFSOC is developing an amphibious 
fl oatplane version of MC-130J Commando II
IN THE NEWS
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64
Northern Skies Aviation
Igor Salinger
30
20 Desert Rescue
Joe Copalman reports on how the USAF is 
working alongside foreign partners in the very 
important combat search and rescue role 
28 Thunder in Wisconsin
Ivan Voukadinov caught some of the action at 
Exercise Northern Lightning, held once again 
 at Volk Air National Guard Base (ANGB) in 
Wisconsin from August 9-20
30 Mali On Their Minds
With an upcoming deployment to Mali, the Royal 
Netherlands Air Force’s 336 Sqn ‘Black Bulls’ and 
its C-130H Hercules were recently put through 
a redeployment exercise. Frank Visser and Ludo 
Mennes went along to see how they fared
38 Aircraft Profi le:
F-117 Nighthawk
For more than 40 years, the secretive F-117 
Nighthawk stealth fi ghter has fascinated aviation 
enthusiasts. Having supposedly been retired in 
2008, the jet is still fl ying, although the USAF will 
not acknowledge it. Tom Kaminski explores the 
mysterious fi ghters’ pedigree
50 State Report:
California Part One
Tom Kaminski studies the military facilities in 
 the northern part of California, home of West 
Coast military aviation
64 Serbia’s Chariots of Fire
Nearly two years ago, Serbia acquired a fl eet of 
Cover image: 
F-117A, serial 84-
0835, operated by 
Detachment 1, 53rd 
Test & Evaluation 
Group – also known 
as the Dragon Test 
Team – from Holloman 
AFB, New Mexico, over 
the nearby Chihuahua 
Desert in August 
2006. This Nighthawk 
was referred to as the ‘Gray Dragon’ after it received an 
experimental two-tone gray paint scheme Jim Haseltine
ON THE COVER
was referred to as the ‘Gray Dragon’ after it received an 
28
50
Ivan Voukadinov
USAF
new Mi-35P Hind gunships. Igor Salinger reports 
on what this new capability has brought 
72 Aviano’s Angels
Riccardo Niccoli reports on the 56th Rescue 
Squadron, which moved from RAF Lakenheath 
to Aviano in Italy just over three years ago.
78 From Teacher to Tough Guy
Argentine Air Force EMB-312A (T-27) Tucanos, 
once used for advanced fl ying training, were 
fi ring live weapons in early June, as Horacio J 
Clariá witnessed
82 Gallic AWACS
For 30 years, the E-3Fs of the 36th Airborne 
Command and Control Wing (EC2A) based in 
Avord have held an essential place in the French 
Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace. Frederic Lert 
explains why and how
88 New Sting For Aegean Vipers
Greece’s F-16 fl eet is undergoing a major 
upgrade. Babak Taghvaee gives a detailed 
overview of the program and what it will mean 
for Hellenic Air Force capability
94 Evacuating Kabul 
Dave Allport provides an overview of the US 
element of the mass evacuation from Kabul 
during an intense 18-day period in August
97 Cutting Edge
David Axe reports on maiden fl ight of the Kratos 
Air Wolf jet-powered drone
TWO US Air Force Lockheed F-117A 
Nighthawks arrived at Fresno 
Yosemite International Airport, 
California, on September 13, to 
perform dissimilar air combat 
training (DACT) operationswith 
Boeing F-15C/D Eagles assigned 
to the 144th Fighter Wing (FW). 
This was the fi rst time that F-117 
Nighthawks had landed in Fresno, 
where they arrived using callsign 
‘Knight 01’.
During this rare public 
deployment to the airport – which 
also serves as a California Air 
National Guard (ANG) base – the 
two stealth aircraft conducted a full 
week of training operations with 
F-15C/Ds assigned to the 144th 
FW's 194th Fighter Squadron (FS) 
'Griffi ns'. The F-117A's reduced 
radar cross-section (RCS) and black 
radar attenuating paint makes it 
a more than suitable platform to 
perform DACT operations with 
the 'Griffi ns', as the unit's primary 
mission is to perform air-to-air 
combat operations against possible 
adversary aircraft in defense of US 
territorial airspace.
USAF Col Troy Havener, 
commander of the 144th FW, 
said on their arrival: “We have 
the distinct honor of being 
the fi rst Air Force unit to host 
them for a full week of training, 
referencing the wing’s deliberate 
partnership-building eff orts and 
their demonstrated operational 
profi ciency as critical to securing 
the training opportunity. Over 
the next few days, the 144th FW’s 
F-15 pilots will conduct multiple 
dissimilar air combat training 
missions with the F-117 pilots. 
This week, we reap the benefi ts of 
[more than] two years of careful 
communication and determined 
co-ordination with agencies and 
leaders overseeing these unique 
USAF assets.”
Havener continued: “The training 
against integrated forces that 
include the F-117 will challenge 
and sharpen pilots, as well as build 
confi dence in tactics and systems 
needed to defend our nation.” 
Commenting on the recent DACT 
mission with the 194th FS, Lt Col 
David Allamandola, an advanced 
programs offi cer with the 144th 
FW, added: “Our 'Griffi n' pilots, 
operations and maintainers, are 
thrilled to be able to participate in 
this unique opportunity. It is a very 
special privilege to do open-air 
training missions with the F-117 
Nighthawks. This training off ers 
incredible value for everyone 
involved, and presents new 
challenges to test diffi cult tactics 
One of the F-117As approaches 
to land at Fresno Yosemite 
International Airport on 
September 15 Air National 
Guard/Capt Jason Sanchez
FROM THE SHADOWS
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero6
http://www.Key.Aero
Above: Two F-117A Nighthawks, along with 
F-15 Eagles, in sun shelters on the fl ight 
line of the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air 
National Guard Base, September 15 
Air National Guard/Capt Jason Sanchez
Right: An F-117A Nighthawk pilot shows the 
aircraft’s cockpit to an F-15 Eagle pilot on the 
fl ight line of the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno 
Air National Guard Base, California
Air National Guard/Capt Jason Sanchez
Left: An F-117A Nighthawk, marked only with 
a red ‘TR’ tailcode, lands for the fi rst time 
at Fresno Yosemite International Airport on 
September 13, to conduct training missions 
with the local Air National Guard unit 
Air National Guard/Capt Jason Sanchez
FROM THE SHADOWS
F-117A 
NIGHTHAWKS 
RE-EMERGE
in a realistic environment. Not 
everyone gets to do this, so 
it’s been exciting creating the 
groundwork with our partners to 
make this a reality.
“The enthusiasm is contagious. 
We are incredibly thankful to our 
guests for their tireless eff orts 
over an extended period of time 
to make this a reality. It’s been 
fantastic to see this plan come 
together,” he added.
Although both the aircraft 
visiting Fresno wore Tonopah’s 
‘TR’ tailcode, one in white and one 
in red, neither of them carried 
any external serial number. After 
fi ve days of operations with 
the 194th FS, the two F-117As 
returned to their base at Tonopah, 
departing from Fresno at 0830hrs 
local time on September 17. 
The exact number of F-117As 
that are currently operational 
is unknown – the identity of 
the unit operating them is also 
unknown. “Unfortunately, most of 
these details are not releasable,” 
Capt Jason Sanchez, the 144th FW 
Chief of Public Aff airs, told Combat 
Aircraft Journal. One clue as to the 
unit did turn up in 2019, when 
one of the airworthy F-117As was 
photographed during a low-level 
fl ight in Panamint Valley, California. 
The aircraft wore a prominent 
tail band with the words ‘Dark 
Knights’ on it, which could well be 
a reference to the name of the unit, 
but nothing more is known.
The F-117A was offi cially retired 
from operations by the USAF on 
April 22, 2008, following 25 years 
of service. It had been secretly 
inducted into US military service 
in October 1983 and was not 
publicly unveiled until 1988. 
Although offi cially retired, many 
F-117s remain airworthy and are 
used to support limited research 
and training missions based on 
overall cost eff ectiveness and their 
ability to off er unique capabilities. 
However, since retirement, the 
continued Nighthawk operations 
have been very much in a secretive 
fashion, with aircraft having been 
sighted conducting operations 
across California and Nevada. As of 
January 2021, a total of 48 F-117As 
remain in long-term storage at the 
Tonopah Test Range (TTR) airfi eld, 
which is a part of the Nellis Test and 
Training Range (NTTR) in Nevada. 
Their appearance in Fresno was the 
fi rst time since retirement that the 
USAF has offi cially acknowledged 
their continued operation. 
In addition to this major public 
appearance at Fresno Yosemite 
International Airport, sightings 
of the F-117As have occurred in 
various locations over the last 
couple of years. Nighthawks have 
been witnessed operating out of 
Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, 
and were also seen forward 
deploying to Marine Corps Air 
Station (MCAS) Miramar in south 
California in late 2020.
The F-117 has always fascinated 
aircraft enthusiasts and its 
appearance in Fresno was most 
welcome, drawing much attention 
not only from aircraft buff s, but also 
the public and media.
Turn to p38 for more on the F-117.
REACTIVATION 
AT TONOPAH
The F-117As are being kept in 
a Type 1000 storage condition, 
meaning that they are being 
maintained in a way that would 
enable them to be returned to 
operational service, if required. 
The USAF states that aircraft 
in Type 1000 storage can be 
reactivated within 30 to 120 days. 
The timescale determined by how 
long the particular platform has 
been inactive. Type 1000 storage 
forbids the removal of parts from 
said aircraft, due to the potential 
of their return to service.
While the type is still being used 
by the USAF, the service is actively 
disposing of approximately four 
Nighthawks per year. The aircraft 
being disposed of are being 
off ered to museums through the 
USAF’s Strategic Basing program 
and the National Museum of the 
USAF. The remaining airworthy 
F-117As are being used to support 
limited research and training 
missions, depending on their 
overall cost eff ectiveness and the 
type’s unique capabilities.
7www.Key.Aero // November 2021
http://www.Key.Aero
LOCKHEED MARTIN UNVEILS 
NEW LMXT STRATEGIC TANKER
LOCKHEED MARTIN has revealed 
its new strategic tanker, the LMXT, 
which it plans to off er for the
US Air Force Bridge Tanker
(KC-Y) requirement. 
Unveiled by the company on 
September 17, the LMXT is based 
on the Airbus A330, which has 
already been proved operationally 
in both boom and hose-and-
drogue refueling operations as the 
A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport 
(MRTT), having been selected by 13 
operators worldwide. 
The Bridge Tanker Programme 
was launched by the USAF to 
source a new commercial derivative 
tanker aircraft from manufacturers 
to supplement its Boeing KC-46A 
Pegasus fl eet from 2029. 
Despite being a European design, 
Lockheed Martin is downplaying 
this fact and promoting the aircraft 
as “built in America by Americans 
forAmericans,” emphasising that it 
will be assembled in the USA with 
many US suppliers. 
Lockheed Martin says that the 
LXMT is designed to meet all USAF 
mission requirements, with an 
improved range and fuel offl oad 
capacity, plus a proven fl y-by-wire 
boom refueling system, already 
certifi ed and used by allies to refuel 
USAF receiver aircraft in operations 
around the world. 
The LMXT will boast the world’s 
fi rst fully automatic boom/air to air 
refueling (A3R) system, operational 
and combat proven advanced 
camera and vision system, an open 
system architecture joint 
air domain command and control 
(JADC2) system and a multi-domain 
operations node that connects the 
LMXT to the larger battlespace, 
increasing onboard situational 
awareness to provide resilient 
communications and datalink for 
assets across the force. 
The A330 is no stranger to US 
tanker competitions, having fi rst 
been proposed to the USAF by 
Airbus in the early 2000s, when 
Boeing won with the KC-767A, but 
the acquisition program ended in 
scandal and was abandoned. 
When the competition was 
restarted in the mid-2000s as the 
KC-X program, what was then EADS 
teamed with Northrop Grumman 
to off er the A330 MRTT as the KC-
30A, although the USAF allocated it 
the KC-45A designation. Although 
selected as the winner on February 
29, 2008, protests from Boeing 
eventually killed the competition 
for a second time, on September 
10, 2008. 
Finally, in a third competition,
on February 24, 2011, Boeing’s
KC-46A was ultimately announced 
as the winner in competition 
against a solo bid from EADS 
without a US partner, again off ering 
the KC-45A. 
Since then, the KC-46A has been 
plagued with problems, but with 
most of these being progressively 
ironed out, it could be in much 
better position to win the Bridge 
Tanker competition to provide 
between 140-160 interim tankers 
for the USAF.
Right: An impression of the Lockheed 
Martin LMXT proposal for the USAF 
Bridge Tanker programme refueling an 
F-22A Raptor Lockheed Martin
FIRST US ARMY 
UH-72B DELIVERY
Airbus Helicopters revealed on 
September 7 that it has delivered 
the fi rst of 18 UH-72B Lakota utility 
helicopters to the US Army National 
Guard from its production facility in 
Columbus, Mississippi.
It comes after the US Army 
awarded Airbus Helicopters a 
$73.9m contract modifi cation 
on July 23, 2020, to produce 15 
new-build UH-72Bs, with options 
on three more. The deal was 
part of a wider acquisition order 
for 35 Lakotas, comprising 16 
UH-72As and 18 UH-72Bs, which 
has a potential contract worth of 
$516.7m. At present, 34 of the 35 
aircraft from that deal have been 
ordered. As the 463rd and fi nal UH-
72A was delivered to the US Army in 
September 2020, the
outstanding order will be for an 
additional UH-72B. 
Based on Airbus Helicopters’ 
proven, commercial off -the-shelf 
(COTS) H145 family, the UH-72B is 
the second variant of the Lakota 
to be delivered to the US Army. It 
features various new technologies 
that include a fi ve-bladed main 
rotor and a Fenestron shrouded
tail rotor. 
Above: The fi rst US Army UH-72B, serial number 72464 (fi scal year unconfi rmed), which Airbus 
Helicopters announced delivery of on September 7 Airbus Helicopters
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero8
http://www.Key.Aero
RALLY HERALDS HISTORIC 
C-130J HIGHWAY LANDING
EXERCISE RALLY in the Rockies 2021 
(RITR21) began on September 13 
with the fi rst-ever landing of a US 
Air Force C-130J Super Hercules 
on a highway, which was used as 
an austere landing zone (LZ). The 
event was conceived by the 913th 
Airlift Group, an Air Force Reserve 
Command (AFRC) associate unit 
at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, and 
the lead planning element for the 
RITR21 exercise.
After heavy overnight rain 
and with scattered showers, the 
C-130J-30, 05-8158 from AFRC’s 
403rd Wing/815th Airlift Squadron 
‘Flying Jennies’ at Keesler Air 
Force Base (AFB), Mississippi, 
touched down just after sunrise 
on an isolated stretch of four-lane 
highway, named Cowboy LZ, north 
of Rawlins, Wyoming. The crew 
then reverse-taxied the C-130 back 
to the landing box for a short hold 
before launching to continue the 
sortie. Two A-10C Thunderbolt 
II’s from the 355th Fighter Wing’s 
354th Fighter Squadron ‘Bulldogs’ 
at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 
provided escort and air cover while 
the C-130 was on the ground. 
The mission simulated personnel 
recovery in a remote and austere 
location and validated the highway 
landing zone concept for future 
operations which could include 
humanitarian assistance/disaster 
relief missions or non-combatant 
evacuation operations.
Planning and co-ordination by 
multiple entities including the 
Offi ce of the Governor, Wyoming 
Department of Transportation and 
Wyoming State Police ensured a 
safe LZ and a successful mission. 
The historic event was attended 
by Mark Gordon, Governor of 
Wyoming; Maj Gen Bret Larson, 
Commander 22nd Air Force; Chief 
Master Sgt Chin Cox, Command 
Chief Master Sergeant 22nd Air 
Force; Maj Gen Gregory Porter, 
Adjutant General – Wyoming, 
and Maj Gen (ret) Luke Reiner, 
Director - Wyoming Department of 
Transportation. Curt Jans
Below: The fi rst USAF C-130 to land on a highway, C-130J-30 05-8158 from the 815th Airlift Squadron ‘Flying Jennies,’ holds for 
take-off as an A-10C Thunderbolt II from the 354th Fighter Squadron orbits the LZ during a simulated personnel recovery on a 
remote stretch of highway north of Rawlins, Wyoming, on September 13 Curt Jans
SKYGUARDIAN BEGINS UK TRIALS 
GENERAL ATOMICS Aeronautical 
Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-
9B SkyGuardian registration 
number N190TC (c/n YBC-01) 
has been operating in the UK for 
demonstration and capability fl ights 
in preparation for delivery of a UK 
variant of the type, the Protector 
RG1, to the Royal Air Force.
The remotely piloted aircraft 
system was shipped by sea to the 
UK, then transported by road to 
RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, 
where it arrived on August 19. 
After performing ground runs on 
August 24, it made its fi rst fl ight 
from Waddington the following 
day. After numerous almost daily 
sorties from the base, including a 
fl ight to Leeuwarden Air Base in 
the Netherlands, the SkyGuardian 
left Waddington on September 
12. It fl ew north to Scotland along 
normal commercial airways and 
operated under National Air Traffi c 
Services controllers to land at RAF 
Lossiemouth, Moray. It then began 
fl ying missions from the Scottish 
base in preparation for participation 
in Exercise Joint Warrior 21-2, which 
runs from September 18-30.
The RAF is acquiring 16 Protector 
RG1s, which will be based at RAF 
Waddington, initially with 31 
Squadron ‘Goldstars,’ previously 
a Tornado GR4 unit. During the 
Defence and Security Equipment 
International (DSEI) conference at 
the ExCeL London Centre, Chief of 
the Air Staff ACM Sir Mike Wigston 
announced that the second 
Protector unit will be 13 Squadron, 
the ‘Stabbed Cats,’ which is already 
based at Waddington and currently 
fl ies the RAF’s MQ-9A Reapers.
Above: GA-ASI’s company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian, N190TC, landing at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, on September 8. Visible behind is one of 
the recently retired RAF Sentinel R1 airborne stand-off radar aircraft, all fi ve of which are stored at Waddington awaiting disposal. The RAF Protector 
RG1 variant of SkyGuardian is one of the assets that will replace the Sentinel MOD Crown Copyright/Sgt Nicholas Howe
9www.Key.Aero // November 2021
http://www.Key.Aero
SMART SOUTH DAKOTA ANG HERITAGE F-16 SCHEME
A US Air Force/South Dakota Air 
National Guard (SDANG) F-16CM 
Fighting Falcon from the 114th 
Fighter Wing’s 175th Fighter 
Squadron (FS) ‘Lobos’ has been 
painted in a stylish blue and white 
color scheme to commemorate 
the SDANG’s 75th anniversary.The 
aircraft, serial number 88-0485, was 
painted at the ANG Paint Facility in 
Sioux City, Iowa, and rolled out on 
September 9 before being returned 
to the unit at Joe Foss Field Air 
National Guard Station, Sioux Falls 
Regional Airport, South Dakota. 
The heritage scheme represents 
the World War Two era Grumman 
F4F Wildcat flown by South Dakota 
native, Medal of Honor recipient 
and former US Marine Corps ace 
pilot Joe Foss, who was instrumental 
in founding the SDANG post-war 
and establishing its 175th FS, which 
received federal recognition in 1946.
60TH FS 
REACTIVATED 
AS SECOND 
F-35A UNIT 
AT EGLIN AFB
THE US Air Force (USAF) officially 
reactivated the 60th Fighter 
Squadron (FS) 'Fighting Crows' at 
Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, 
under the 33rd Fighter Wing (FW) 
- a component of the 19th Air 
Force, Air Education and Training 
Command (AETC) - on August 20.
The squadron will plan and 
execute a training curriculum in 
support of US Air Force training 
requirements for the F-35A 
Lightning II. The unit becomes the 
second F-35A squadron under 
the 33rd FW, joining the 58th FS 
‘Mighty Gorillas.’ 
The incremental arrival of 
additional F-35As for the unit is 
expected to begin this autumn.
Reactivation happened on the 
75th anniversary of its previous 
activation, which took place 
for the first time after the end 
of World War Two on August 
20, 1946. The 60th FS originally 
formed on January 15, 1941, 
as the 60th Pursuit Squadron 
based at Mitchel Field, New York, 
operating the Bell P-39 Airacobra. 
Its most recent iteration had 
been as an F-15 Eagle unit at 
Eglin before being disbanded on 
January 1, 2009. 
SEVEN US STATE DEPT CH-46Es 
ABANDONED IN AFGHANISTAN
SEVEN CH-46E Sea Knights operated 
by the US Department of State 
Air Wing (DoSAW) have been 
abandoned in Afghanistan. A State 
Department official said: “We can 
confirm that the Department left 
seven CH-46 helicopters behind in 
Afghanistan which were rendered 
inoperable. These helicopters were 
already being phased out of the 
Department’s inventory and were 
slated for eventual destruction due 
to age and supportability issues. As 
of August 15, 2021, the Department 
no longer operates any aircraft in 
Afghanistan.” Their last mission was 
on August 15 to evacuate personnel 
from the US Embassy in Kabul to 
Hamid Karzai International Airport 
to board outbound flights.
They are all former US Marine 
Corps (USMC) examples, which 
were extensively refurbished before 
entering DoSAW service from 2012. 
At least 23 Sea Knights joined the 
DoSAW inventory, but by August 
this year, only 11 were still officially 
registered to the Department of 
State. It is not known whether any of 
the other CH-46s remain operational 
elsewhere. The same type was used 
by the USMC in Operation Frequent 
Wind to evacuate the US Embassy 
following the fall of Saigon in South 
Vietnam in 1975. Coincidentally, one 
of the last DoSAW CH-46Es used in 
the Kabul evacuation was N38TU, 
formerly BuAer 154038 with the 
USMC. It was one of the helicopters 
deployed on the USS Hancock 
(CV-19) in 1975 to support the 
evacuation of Saigon.
PALLAS AVIATION LM-100J PASSES 
THROUGH MALTA
Anonymous, all-white Lockheed Martin LM-100J N71KM (c/n 382-5854) landing at Luqa, Malta, on September 8. The aircraft is operated by 
the launch customer for this civil-certified variant of the Super Hercules, Pallas Aviation, based at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Texas. Although 
a commercial operator, the company regularly flies cargo on behalf of the US military. It routed through Malta for operations in the Middle East 
before routing back through Luqa from Jordan Ruben Zammit
Newly repainted South Dakota Air National Guard (SDANG) F-16CM 88-0485 after being rolled out 
on September 9 from the ANG Paint Facility in Sioux City, Iowa, in a special scheme to celebrate the 
SDANG’s 75th anniversary US ANG/Senior Master Sgt Vincent De Groot
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero10
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A FORMAL ceremony to inaugurate 
the first Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) 
F-15QA, serial QA500, was held at 
Boeing’s facility in St Louis, Missouri, 
on August 25. The event, held by 
Boeing in collaboration with the US 
Air Force and QEAF, also marked the 
official naming of the new fighter 
as the Ababil, after the legendary 
Ababil bird, known as Qatar’s 
‘guardian of the skies.’
Speaking at the ceremony, Lt Gen 
Greg Guillot, commander of the 
9th Air Force, said: “The rollout of 
the F-15QA is momentous, not just 
in terms of capability but also in 
terms of the enhanced partnership 
it represents. The relationship that 
the United States shares with Qatar 
is critical to the stability and security 
of the central command area of 
responsibility and we are grateful 
for our coalition partner’s continued 
focus on building interoperability 
and combined readiness.”
The initial batch of F-15QAs are 
scheduled to be ferried to Qatar 
later this year following completion 
of pre-delivery pilot training, which 
has been underway for some time. 
The QEAF F-15QAs have been 
operating out of Mid America 
Airport, Illinois, for this purpose. 
The first QEAF F-15QA had made 
its maiden flight from St Louis on 
April 13, 2020.
Boeing has also been providing 
maintenance and logistics support 
for the QEAF during pre-delivery 
pilot training, which began earlier 
this year. In addition, Boeing will 
establish and operate an aircrew 
and maintenance training center 
for the QEAF at Al Udeid Air Base in 
Qatar through to 2024, while also 
providing in-country spares and 
logistics support once the aircraft 
have been delivered.
The number of F-15QAs ordered 
by Qatar has always been quoted 
by Boeing as being 36, whereas 
various official US Department of 
Defense documents repeatedly 
refer to 48 having been agreed 
upon. When the US Defense 
Security Cooperation Agency 
initially announced details of the 
deal on November 17, 2016, the 
total planned acquisition was 
quoted as 72 aircraft. 
FIRST QATAR F-15QA 
OFFICIALLY ROLLED OUT
The maiden Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) Ababil, QA500, during the formal unveiling in St Louis, Missouri, on August 25 Governor Mike Parson
A TÜRK HAVA KUVVETLERI 
(THK; Turkish Air Force) Boeing 
KC-135R Stratotanker has 
recently been returned to Turkey 
following a Block 45 upgrade. 
Completion of the work was 
announced by the US Air Force 
Life Cycle Management Center on 
September 14. 
The aircraft, serial number 
60-0325, is the first of the seven 
in THK service to be modernised. 
It received a major flight deck 
upgrade in the Field Aerospace 
facility at Will Rogers World 
Airport in Oklahoma City, 
Oklahoma. The Block 45 upgrade 
completely re-modelled the 
inside of the aircraft’s flight deck 
with new liquid crystal displays, 
a radio altimeter, computer 
module updates, autopilot and 
a digital flight director. These 
replaced approximately 63 older 
components, including analog 
instruments considered high-
maintenance or obsolete. 
James Conley, a Foreign Military 
Sales program manager at the 
Mobilityand Training Aircraft 
Directorate’s Legacy Tanker 
Division, which is upgrading the 
Turkish fleet, said: “Turkey is a key 
ally in a very strategically important 
part of the world. Block 45 makes 
it so much easier for pilots to 
operate the aircraft and notice 
malfunctions faster. It also helps 
with sustainment of the aircraft in 
the long run.”
John Wilson, the directorate’s 
Block 45 program manager, 
commented: “In fact, the US Air 
Force’s KC-135 fleet – which is also 
receiving the Block 45 modification 
– has seen an increase in aircraft 
availability due in part to the mod. 
Taking out old antiquated gauges 
and systems and bringing them up 
to date [with Block 45] has saved 
us thousands of [maintenance] 
hours a year. Prior to Block 45, our 
analog autopilot averaged 500 
flight hours between failures. Now, 
we’re averaging 49,000 flight hours 
between failures.”
Prior to completing the update on 
the aircraft, the directorate worked 
with the US Air Force Security 
Assistance and Training Squadron 
US COMPLETES TURKISH KC-135R UPGRADE
to co-ordinate Block 45 training 
for four THK pilots, so that they 
would be fully qualified to fly the 
newly modified aircraft back to 
Turkey. “With the ability to provide 
aerial refueling, aeromedical 
evacuations and carry up to 
83,000lbs of cargo, the KC-135 is 
a key asset, and we – in 
partnership with Field Aerospace 
– are working hard to complete 
the updates and return the 
aircraft to Turkey as quickly as 
possible,” said Conley. 
A second Turkish KC-135 is 
currently undergoing the same 
modification program, with the 
remaining aircraft in the fleet 
expected to receive the updates 
no later than 2023.
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero12
http://www.Key.Aero
THE FIRST of ten former US Navy TC-
12B/UC-12B Hurons for the Fuerza 
Aérea Argentina (FAA; Argentine 
Air Force) has been delivered. The 
aircraft, UC-12B TC-117, c/n BJ-59, 
ex BuAer 161511, arrived at El 
Palomar Air Base in Buenos Aires, 
home of I Brigada Aérea (BA), on 
the afternoon of August 25 after 
undergoing a major refurbishment 
at a facility in Alabama, where it had 
reflown on July 2.
The aircraft was in a largely white, 
civilian-style colour scheme, with 
blue and black trim. It already wore 
FAA roundels and markings, along 
with II Brigada Aérea titles. Over the 
following few days, it was scheduled 
to be repainted in the standard FAA 
overall low-visibility grey military 
scheme at the Area Material Río 
Cuarto facility in Córdoba. It was 
then due to be deployed to II BA 
at Paraná in Entre Rios, where it is 
going to be used for twin-engine 
conversion training. 
Over the coming months, it will 
be followed by nine TC-12Bs. All 
ten aircraft had previously been in 
storage with the 309th Aerospace 
Maintenance and Regeneration 
Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force 
Base in Arizona, where the nine 
TC-12Bs had arrived between March 
and May 2017, while the UC-12B 
joined them in July 2019. 
Four of the aircraft will be 
assigned to the new Curso de 
Estandarización de Procedimientos 
de Aviadores de Transporte (CEPAT; 
course on standardization of 
procedures for transport aircrew) 
squadron at II BA. Previously, this 
training was performed by the DHC-
6 Twin Otters of IX Brigada Aérea at 
Comodoro Rivadavia, but will begin 
at Paraná by mid-2022. 
The rest of the TC-12Bs will 
perform liaison tasks with other 
units. These will comprise III BA at 
Reconquista, V BA at Villa Reynolds 
and VI BA at Tandil, which will 
receive one each, as will the Escuela 
de Aviación Militar in Córdoba. The 
remaining two will be allocated to 
the Base Aérea de Morón Escuadrón 
Aéreo. Horacio J Clariá
TWO MORE 
EX-USAF 
C-130HS FOR 
COLOMBIA
A PAIR of ex-US Air Force 
C-130H Hercules have been 
delivered to the Fuerza Aérea 
Colombiana (FAC – Colombian 
Air Force), which officially 
received them on August 3. The 
aircraft, FAC1017 and FAC1018, 
were initially handed over to 
the FAC’s Comando Aéreo 
de Mantenimiento (CAMAN; 
air maintenance command), 
which will carry out a heavy 
maintenance program before 
the aircraft enter service. This 
work will be undertaken by 
the Corporácion de la Industria 
Aeronáutica de Colombia SA 
(CIAC) at El Dorado, Bogotà. 
On completion, they will join 
Grupo de Transporte Aéreo 81’s 
Escuadrón de Transporte 811 at El 
Dorado. This will enable the FAC 
to retire its sole C-130B, FAC1001.
This is the third FAC C-130H 
acquisition through the US 
Excess Defense Articles program. 
The first, FAC1016 (c/n 5014, ex 
USAF/83-0488), was delivered in 
September last year. 
MAURITIUS COAST GUARD RECEIVES 
DORNIER 228 ON LOAN FROM INDIA
AN OFFICIAL handover was 
conducted at the Maritime Air 
Squadron of the Mauritius National 
Coast Guard on September 13 for 
a Passenger Variant Dornier (PVD) 
on lease from the Indian Navy. 
The Dornier 228-201, wearing 
Mauritius Coast Guard titles and 
marked as MSN4059, representing 
its construction number, was 
previously operated by the Indian 
Navy with serial number IN231.
It has been presented on a free-
of-charge lease to the Mauritius 
Police Force by the Indian Navy to 
support an increased air operations 
requirement. With no real threats 
in the region, apart from pirates, 
Mauritius has no army or specific 
military force and the National 
Police Force undertakes all military 
and security functions, including 
overseeing coast guard operations. 
Next year, a brand-new PVD 
Dornier 228 will be delivered to 
Mauritius by Hindustan Aeronautic. 
This aircraft has been purchased 
through a line of credit between 
India and Mauritius under an 
agreement signed during the 
handover of the leased Dornier. In 
addition, at a meeting between 
Indian External Affairs minister S 
Jaishankar and Mauritian Prime 
Minister Pravin Jugnauth in 
February, a deal was signed on 
military procurement. As part of the 
agreement, India will loan a Dhruv 
helicopter to boost the coast guard’s 
surveillance capabilities.
Fuerza Aérea Argentina UC-12B Huron TC-117 arriving at El Palomar Air Base in Buenos Aires on the afternoon of August 25, following its delivery 
flight from the United States Gastón Hernández via Horacio J Clariá
INITIAL EX-US NAVY C-12B ARRIVES 
WITH ARGENTINE AIR FORCE
Above: The Mauritius Coast Guard HAL Dornier 228-201, MSN4059, previously operated by the Indian Navy, at the handover ceremony held on 
September 13. India has loaned the aircraft to Mauritius free of charge to help with maritime surveillance and security Indian MOD
13www.Key.Aero // November 2021
http://www.Key.Aero
AFSOC DEVELOPING MC-130J 
CAPABILITY FOR WATER LANDING
US AIR Force Special Operations 
Command (AFSOC) is moving 
forward with long-standing 
plans to develop an amphibious 
capability for the C-130J Hercules. 
On September 14, AFSOC reported 
that, in partnership with the Air 
Force Research Laboratory's 
Strategic Development Planning 
and Experimentation (AFRL-SDPE) 
directorate, it is developing an 
MC-130J Commando II Amphibious 
Capability (MAC) to improve the 
platform's support of seaborne 
special operations.
AFSOC noted that the C-130J is 
an incredibly versatile aircraft and, 
since its creation, it has landed on 
rough fi elds, in arctic locations 
and even an aircraft carrier. Yet, it 
cannot land on water, which covers 
about 71% of the planet. As US 
national strategic objectives shift 
focus to littoral regions, AFSOC 
is advancing new approaches 
to expand the multi-mission 
platform's runway independence 
and expeditionary capacity.
Lt Col Josh Trantham, AFSOC 
Science, Systems, Technology, & 
Innovation (SST&I) Deputy Division 
Chief, said: “The development 
of the MAC capability is the 
culmination of multiple lines of 
eff ort. This capability allows the air 
force to increase placement andaccess for infi ltration, exfi ltration, 
and personnel recovery, as well 
as providing enhanced logistical 
capabilities for future competition 
and confl ict.”
The development of a removable 
amphibious fl oat modifi cation for 
an MC-130J would enable ‘runway 
independent’ operations, which, 
according to Trantham, would 
extend the global reach and 
survivability of the aircraft and Air 
Commandos. “Seaborne operations 
off er nearly unlimited water 
landing zones providing signifi cant 
fl exibility for the Joint Force,” 
Trantham said.
Utilizing the MAC capability may 
provide unlimited operational 
access to waterways to 
distribute forces if land assets are 
compromised. Maj Kristen Cepak, 
AFSOC Technology Transition 
Branch Chief, said: “MAC is vital to 
future success because it will allow 
for the dispersal of assets within a 
Joint Operations Area. This diaspora 
complicates targeting of the aircraft 
by our adversaries and limits aircraft 
vulnerability at fi xed locations.”
A task force of industry partners 
is closely collaborating with AFSOC 
and AFRL-SDPE to bring the vision 
to life. AFSOC said a fi ve-phase 
rapid prototyping schedule will 
lead to an operational capability 
demonstration in only 17 months, 
while de-risking the concept for 
a future potential MAC program 
of record that could fi eld MAC for 
MC-130Js but also potentially fi eld 
a similar amphibious capability 
for other C-130 variants with only 
minor variations.
AFSOC and private sector 
counterparts are currently testing 
MAC prototypes through digital 
design, virtual reality modeling 
(VR) and computer-aided designs 
(CAD) in a virtual setting known as 
the Digital Proving Ground (DPG). 
This paves the way for digital 
simulation, testing, and the use of 
advanced manufacturing for rapid 
prototyping and physical prototype 
testing. According to Trantham and 
Cepak, the DPG can deliver mission 
review, aircraft system analysis, 
design ideation, engineering risk-
reduction, virtual reality, concept 
imagery, feasibility studies, and 
other deliverables. 
“Being able to experiment with 
existing technology to evaluate 
design trade-off s and test a new 
system before ever bending 
metal is a game-changer,” Cepak 
said. "AFSOC is evolving and 
experimenting in a smart way to 
reduce technical risk and deliver 
capability to the fi eld more rapidly 
and effi ciently than before."
According to Trantham, while the 
MAC project demonstrates rapid 
capability development for AFSOC, 
the Air Force and the Total Force 
will also benefi t. 
“We believe MAC will be able 
to be used by our sister services, 
allies and partners on various C-130 
platforms,” he said. 
“Further, expanding the 
operational use of an amphibious 
aircraft alongside other innovative 
tools will provide even more 
complex dilemmas in future 
battlespaces for our strategic 
competitors.”
Above: An impression of a twin fl oat amphibious modifi cation to an MC-130J Commando II. Air Force Special Operations Command and private sector counterparts are currently developing a 
Removable Amphibious Float Modifi cation (RAFM) for the MC-130J, allowing the aircraft to take off and land in bodies of water and conduct runway independent operations AFSOC
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero14
http://www.Key.Aero
DURING A ceremony attended by 
US State Department offi cials in 
Abuja, Nigeria, the fi rst six Nigerian 
Air Force (NAF) Embraer A-29B 
Super Tucanos were formally 
inducted into service on August 
31. They had arrived in Nigeria on 
July 22, after passing through the 
UK at Glasgow-Prestwick Airport, 
Scotland, on July 19 – see ‘Nigeria’s 
fi rst six A29Bs delivered’, September 
issue, page 7.
The aircraft were ordered from 
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) 
and manufactured on Embraer 
Defense and Security’s US 
production line in Jacksonville, 
Florida. They were then completed 
at SNC’s facility at Denver’s 
Centennial Airport in Colorado. 
Meanwhile, the remaining six of 
the 12 ordered by the NAF through 
a US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) 
contract are being prepared by SNC 
at Centennial for delivery before the 
end of September. While test fl ying, 
they have increasingly been seen 
visiting Tulsa International Airport, 
Oklahoma, where 19-2042 was 
noted on July 29, followed by 
19-2041 on August 20. The full 
batch of 12 comprises serials 
NAF845 to NAF856 inclusive, which 
were respectively allocated USAF 
FMS serials 90-2033 to 90-2044. The 
FMS deal includes spare parts for 
several years of operation, contract 
logistics support, munitions 
and a multi-year construction 
project to improve Kainji Air Base 
infrastructure. The total sale is 
valued at almost $500m, making 
it the largest FMS program in sub-
Saharan Africa. 
A total of 64 pilots and 
maintainers from the NAF trained 
to US standards with the US Air 
Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at 
Moody Air Base in Georgia. As part 
of the program, the US Army Corps 
of Engineers (USACE) is providing 
$36.1m in infrastructure support 
to the A-29s’ home base at Kainji, 
including earth-covered magazines 
and aircraft sunshades, a new 
airfi eld hot cargo pad, perimeter 
and security fencing, airfi eld lights, 
and various airfi eld apron, parking, 
hangar, and entry control point 
enhancements. The infrastructure 
package also includes a fl ight annex 
wing building for simulator training 
as well as munitions assembly and 
storage and small arms storage. 
USACE has also stationed a project 
engineer at Kainji to provide 
ongoing maintenance 
and assistance.
LUFTWAFFE COLORS FOR C-130J 
EGYPTIAN MI-17 
PARTICIPATES IN 
BRIGHT STAR 21
Left: Egyptian Air Force Mi-17V-5 serial 
number 3933 fl ies above an Egyptian Special 
Operations Forces convoy while fl ying from 
Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt, 
during Military Operations in Urban Terrain 
rehearsals at the joint Egyptian-US Exercise 
Bright Star 21 on September 11. Among a 
variety of modifi cations externally apparent 
are two ball turrets (one under port side cabin 
and another under the tail boom), engine 
intake and exhaust fi lters, plus chaff and 
fl are dispensers 
US Army/Staff Sgt Dean Gannon
FIRST SIX NIGERIAN A-29BS INDUCTED INTO SERVICE
The fi rst German Air Force C-130J-30 Super Hercules, 55+01 (c/n 5930), being towed out of the paint shop in Marietta, Georgia, in rather less than perfect weather on August 21. As previously 
reported, it had rolled off the production line and was towed to the paint shop on July 22 – see ‘First C-130J for the Luftwaffe’, October, page 17. It is one of three C-130J-30s and three KC-130J 
tankers that will be delivered to the joint French-German unit at Base Aérienne 105 Evreux-Fauville, France Lockheed Martin
Above: Nigerian Air Force Embraer A-29B Super Tucano, NAF854, wearing only US Air Force FMS 
serial 19-2042, visiting Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma, on July 29. The fl ight originated 
from Denver’s Centennial Airport in Colorado, where Sierra Nevada Corporation is preparing the 
aircraft for delivery Ralph Duenas
15www.Key.Aero // November 2021
http://www.Key.Aero
PRODUCTION STARTS ON 
INDONESIA’S C-130J-30s 
AFTER MUCH speculation over the 
last couple of years, it has fi nally 
been confi rmed that the Tentara 
Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara 
(TNI-AU – Indonesian Air Force) 
has ordered the Lockheed Martin 
C-130J Super Hercules. 
Pictures released by the TNI-AU 
on September 7 to coincide with 
a visit to the production line in 
Marietta, Georgia, by TNI-AU Chief 
of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, 
showed him signing the cockpit 
section of the fi rst TNI-AU aircraft, 
c/n 382-5951. 
The cockpit was only a basic 
frame at that time, indicating that 
the aircraft is still in the early stages 
of construction. Commenting on 
the acquisition, the TNI-AU chief 
said that the additionof C-130Js to 
the fl eet will enhance Indonesia's 
airlift capabilities, with the Hercules 
continuing to be the backbone of 
TNI-AU operations. The TNI-AU has 
selected the stretched C-130J-30 
variant, to meet its requirements 
and placed an order for fi ve at a 
cost of around $1.5 billion through 
a Direct Commercial Sale. The 
contract was signed in late 2019 but 
has never been made public. No 
delivery schedule for the aircraft has 
yet been announced, but the deal 
is likely to end any aspirations to 
acquire the A400M. 
The TNI-AU has been a long-
standing customer for the Hercules, 
having fi rst put the C-130B variant 
into service in January 1960. Three 
C-130Bs and one KC-130B tanker 
remain in TNI-AU service today, 
along with 11 C-130Hs, seven 
C-130H-30s and four commercial 
L-100-30 variants.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT is nearing 
completion of manufacture of the 
fi rst of two Qatar Emiri Air Force 
(QEAF) PC-24 Super Versatile Jets. 
The fi rst aircraft, construction 
number 247, appeared outside 
the factory at Stans Airfi eld, 
Switzerland, on September 1, 
incomplete but already fully 
painted in QEAF colours. It carried 
‘QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE’ titles 
in Arabic and English under the 
cockpit windows, with c/n 247 
taped on just behind the cockpit. 
 A QEAF fi n fl ash was also applied 
to the tail. 
The aircraft was towed into Hangar 
9 for fi nal assembly.
Pilatus had revealed the QEAF 
order on April 22 this year in 
its Annual Report 2020, which 
disclosed that the contract had 
been signed in November 2020, but 
not announced at the time.
Above: The fi rst Qatar Emiri Air Force Pilatus PC-24, c/n 247, being towed to Hangar 9 at Stans, Switzerland, on September 1 for fi nal assembly 
Stephan Widmer
Above: TNI-AU Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo in front of the cockpit frame of the 
fi rst C-130J-30 for Indonesia on the production line during his visit to Marietta on September 7
TNI-AU
THE UK's Chinook helicopters are 
to be enhanced with state-of-
the-art defensive systems, while 
the RAF's C-17A Globemaster III 
fl eet will receive a software and 
hardware upgrade in a £400m 
investment announced by UK 
Minister for Defence Procurement 
Jeremy Quin on September 12 .
The C-17A fl eet will receive 
£324m to upgrade software 
and hardware to improve airlift 
capability as part of a contract 
with the US Air Force. The 
enhancement of the Chinook 
HC5 and HC6 helicopters will 
make them harder for adversaries 
to detect and is part of a £64m 
contract with Boeing Defence UK.
The Defence Command Paper 
on March 22 this year confi rmed 
an operational obligation to 
both aircraft as part of the 
Integrated Force 2030 approach. 
This is further supported by the 
£24bn increase in UK defence 
spending over the next four years, 
announced in November 2020.
Negotiated by Defence 
Equipment and Support (DE&S), 
the fi ve-and-a-half-year C-17 
contract will continue the highly 
specialised support for the aircraft 
under the Virtual Fleet concept, to 
which all nine operating nations 
have access. Upgrades will 
include the Beyond Line-of-Sight 
satellite-enabled communication 
equipment, a wider fi eld of 
view via the Head-Up Display 
in the cockpit to help increase 
pilot situational awareness and 
widening the scope of the current 
free-fall parachuting capability.
The fi ve-year Chinook 
helicopter DE&S contract will 
see the installation of Infra-Red 
Suppression Systems (IRSS) 
across some of the fl eet, to better 
protect them when targeted 
by new missile systems. IRSS 
technology will counter threats 
with blanking plates on the 
helicopters, which mask the hot 
components and redirect airfl ow 
to cool the exhaust gases, making 
targeting more diffi cult.
RAF C-17As AND 
CHINOOKS IN 
£400M UPGRADE
INITIAL QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE 
PC-24 IN FINAL ASSEMBLY
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero16
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F-15E COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL MARITIME JDAM TEST
THREE US Air Force F-15E Strike 
Eagles from the 53rd Wing’s 85th 
Test and Evaluation Squadron 
(TES) ‘Skulls’ at Eglin Air Force Base, 
Florida, supported a test as part 
of the Quicksink Joint Capability 
Technology Demonstration (JCTD) 
on August 26. 
Partnering with the US Air 
Force Research Laboratory, the 
F-15E crews developed and 
demonstrated new tactics, 
techniques and procedures for 
employing modifi ed 2,000lb GBU-
31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions 
(JDAMs) on both moving and static 
maritime targets. 
The goal of this test was to 
validate a new way to employ 
air-delivered munitions against 
ships that will change the maritime 
target lethality paradigm. 
Maj Andrew Swanson, 85th TES 
F-15E weapons system offi cer, 
said: “For any large moving ship, 
the Air Force’s primary weapon is 
the 2,000lb laser guided GBU-
24. Not only is this weapon less 
than ideal, but it also reduces our 
survivability based on how it must 
be employed. This munition can 
change all of that.”
A US Navy submarine has the 
ability to launch and destroy a ship 
with a single torpedo at any time, 
but by launching that weapon 
it gives away the location of the 
vessel. The Quicksink JCTD aims 
to develop a low-cost method of 
achieving torpedo-like seaworthy 
kills from the air. 
This test builds on a previous
53rd Wing test that was conducted 
last year, where a B-52H 
Stratofortress from the 49th TES 
dropped JDAMs in order to assess 
the viability of specifi c maritime 
impact conditions.
PAKISTAN NAVY INDUCTS FIRST LINEAGE 1000 MPA
AN INDUCTION ceremony has 
been held at Pakistan Naval Station 
Mehran, Karachi, for the Pakistan 
Navy’s fi rst modern long-range 
maritime patrol twin-jet aircraft, an 
Embraer ERJ-190ECJ Lineage 1000. 
The chief guest at the ceremony 
on September 2 was Chief of the 
Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad 
Amjad Khan Niazi, who was greeted 
on arrival by Commander Pakistan 
Fleet Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf. 
The aircraft is the fi rst of three on 
order. In Pakistan Navy service it will 
be known as the Sea Sultan. This 
fi rst aircraft, a 2012-built example 
acquired second-hand from a 
Chinese commercial operator, 
does not yet appear to have been 
modifi ed with its maritime patrol 
equipment and still retains its 
previous civilian colour scheme. 
This Lineage 1000, formerly 
registered B-3203 (c/n 19000453) 
with China Southern Airlines 
General Aviation, had arrived in 
Pakistan on December 10, 2020. 
It was fi rst noted fl ying with basic 
Pakistan Navy markings (roundel 
behind the forward cabin door and 
Pakistan fi n fl ash, but no serial) on 
May 27 this year at Lahore Allama 
Iqbal International Airport.
The Pakistan Navy said the 
aircraft will be equipped with latest 
weapons and sensors to undertake 
maritime air operations but gave 
no details as to precisely what 
equipment is to be installed. It has 
also yet to be confi rmed which 
company will undertake 
the modifi cations. 
Ultimately, through follow-on 
deals, the Pakistan Navy hopes to 
acquire up to ten Sea Sultans. 
The type will replace the Pakistan 
Navy’s six Lockheed P-3C Orions, 
which are operated by 28 Squadron 
at PNS Mehran. The offi cial aircraft 
documents were handed over 
to the commanding offi cer of 28 
Squadron by Chief of the Naval 
Staff Amjad Khan Niazi during the 
induction ceremony.
Above: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi with Commander Pakistan Fleet, Naval Aviation offi cers and other offi cials 
pose in front of the new Lineage 1000 at its induction ceremony on September 2 Pakistan Navy
US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle 98-0132’ET’ taxies out at Eglin AFB, Florida, carrying modifi ed 2,000lb GBU-31 JDAMs to participate in the Quicksink Joint Capability Technology Demonstration 
USAF/1st Lt Lindsey Hefl in
17www.Key.Aero // November 2021
http://www.Key.AeroJAPANESE KC-46A COMPLETES 
MAIDEN REFUELLING SORTIE
A BOEING KC-46A Pegasus tanker 
destined for the Japan Air Self-
Defense Force (JASDF) successfully 
refuelled another aircraft in-flight 
for the first time during a recent 
test sortie over Washington 
state. Boeing announced this 
milestone on August 16, saying 
that the JASDF tanker successfully 
transferred fuel to another KC-46A 
and was itself refuelled during the 
test flight. Japan is scheduled to 
receive its first of four aircraft on 
order before the end of this year.
Japan became the first export 
customer for the KC-46 on 
December 22, 2017, when the US 
Air Force (USAF) awarded Boeing 
a $279m contract to produce and 
deliver the initial aircraft to the 
JASDF. This order was placed after 
the Japanese Ministry of Defence 
(MOD) selected the type as the 
eventual winner of its KC-X aerial 
refuelling competition. 
A second aircraft for Japan was 
placed on order on December 
6, 2018 and is currently being 
manufactured at Boeing’s KC-46 
production facility in Everett, 
Washington. On October 29, 2020, 
Boeing was awarded a further 
contract by the USAF to produce 
an additional two aircraft for the 
Japanese air force, bringing the 
order total to four. 
LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED 
FIVE-YEAR INDIAN C-130J 
SUPPORT CONTRACT 
LOCKHEED MARTIN announced 
on August 24 that it had been 
awarded a five-year contract 
worth $328.8 million from the 
Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide 
dedicated and comprehensive 
support for the IAF’s fleet of 
12 C-130J-30 Super Hercules. 
Through this Follow On Support 
(FOS) II contract, Lockheed 
Martin teams will be responsible 
for managing the program, 
logistics and engineering support 
elements necessary to sustain the 
IAF’s C-130J fleet.
The Direct Commercial Sale 
contract is a continuation of an 
earlier five-year FOS I contract 
between India and Lockheed 
Martin. It will include sustainment 
efforts for the IAF’s entire 
Super Hercules fleet, as well as 
extended options including 
support for the C-130J airframe, 
contractor furnished equipment 
(CFE), peculiar and common 
spareable items, engines, 
propellers, software, publication 
services, ground handling and 
ground support equipment (GHE) 
and test systems. 
Additionally through the 
FOS II contract, five C-130Js 
will undergo 12-year servicing 
(depot maintenance) at a 
Lockheed Martin-approved 
heavy maintenance center (HMC) 
beginning in 2022.
FRENCH REAPERS FIRE GBU-12 
IN NIGER DURING OP BARKHANE
THE FRENCH Armée de l’Air et 
de l’Espace (AAE; French Air 
and Space Force) announced 
on August 24 that it has for the 
first time launched a GBU-12 
laser-guided munition from an 
MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 during an 
operational mission. The launch 
took place on August 17 during an 
Operation Barkhane sortie in Niger, 
marking a further step towards 
full operational capability with the 
Block 5 UAV.
The Block 5 system offers more 
powerful intelligence, surveillance 
and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors 
and paves the way for improved 
kinetic capabilities. Reaper Block 
5 now has a new operational 
capability following its GBU 12 
ammunition firing qualification. 
An initial experimental campaign 
had been carried out from March 
to May 2021 from France’s Base 
Aérienne Projetée (BAP; forward 
operating base) at Niamey in Niger 
to test it in an operational context. 
A second campaign took place at 
the end of July to test the carriage 
and firing capacity of the GBU-12 
on the Block 5 MQ-9A. With testing 
completed, the armed Reaper 
is being employed in the Bande 
Sahélo-Saharienne (BSS; Sahelo-
Saharan strip). 
The next milestones will validate 
the Reaper Block 5’s carriage of the 
GBU-49 and Hellfire missile. 
Above: Japan Air Self-Defense Force Boeing KC-46A Pegasus 14-3611 refuelling US Air Force 
KC-46A 19-46059 on July 20 over Washington state Boeing/Kevin Flynn
Left: French Air Force MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper serial number 542 taxies out at Niamey, Niger, armed 
with GBU-12 laser-guided munitions État-Major des Armées
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19www.Key.Aero // November 2021
RAAF F-35As MAKE THEIR DEBUT 
AT RED FLAG ALASKA 21-3
EXERCISE RED Flag Alaska 
(RFA) 21-3 has become the first 
overseas deployment for the Royal 
Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A 
Lightning II. The drills focused on 
strengthening engagement with 
the USAF’s Pacific Air Force through 
realistic warfighting and large 
force employment training in an 
unfamiliar airspace. 
The exercise was held from 
August 12-27 and other RAAF 
assets involved included the E-7A 
Wedgetail and EA-18G Growler. 
Aircrew and support personnel 
deployed to Joint Base Elmendorf 
Richardson and Eielson Air Force 
Base in Alaska. On completion of 
RFA 21-3, an additional four of the 
RAAF’s newest F-35As were due to 
be transitioned to Australia as part 
of Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-3, 
bringing Australia’s fleet from 37 
to 41 of 72 planned aircraft. 
RECENT LOSSES
• Brazilian Army HM-1A Pantera 
K2 (AS565AA Panther) serial 
number EB-2021, operated by 
the 4th BAVEx, ditched into a lake 
near Careiro da Várzea on August 
13 after loss of control en route 
from Ponta Pelada Aerodrome in 
Manaus to Itaituba. One of the six 
soldiers on board was killed, but 
the other five were rescued.
• Russian Navy Beriev Be-200ChS 
serial number RF-88450/‘20 
Yellow’, operated by the 859th 
TsBPiPLS, crashed into a mountain 
in Turkey while engaged in 
firefighting operations on August 
14. All eight on board were killed. 
• An Afghan Air Force A-29B 
Super Tucano crashed on August 
15 at Surxondaryo as it crossed 
the Uzbekistan border while 
fleeing from Afghanistan. Both 
crew members ejected but were 
injured. There are conflicting 
reports about the cause, with 
some suggesting it collided with 
an escorting Uzbekistan Air Force 
MiG-29, which also crashed after 
the crew ejected.
• Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-112V 
prototype serial number ‘01 Yellow’/
RF-41400 was destroyed when 
it crashed near Kubinka Air Base 
on August 17, killing all three 
crew members. Control had been 
lost following a major fire in the 
starboard (No 2) engine.
• A Russian Air Force MiG-29SMT 
Fulcrum operated by 116th TsBPIA 
crashed on August 18 near the 
Ashchuluk training ground. The 
pilot was killed.
• A US Navy TH-57 Sea Ranger 
from Training Air Wing 5 crashed 
on August 19, just west of Naval 
Outlying Landing Field Santa Rosa, 
Florida. Both crew members were 
seriously injured and the helicopter 
was extensively damaged.
• A Russian Air Force MiG-29SMT 
was destroyed on August 23 when 
it caught fire while undergoing 
routine scheduled maintenance 
at Astrakan Air Base. No one was 
injured in the mishap. 
• Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison 
serial number CU2266 crashed on 
August 25 at Bhurtiya, Rajasthan, 
following a technical malfunction. 
The pilot ejected safely. 
• Mexican Navy Mi-17-1V serial 
number ANX-2218 crashed on 
August 25 while preparing to land 
at Agua Blanca, Hidalgo state. There 
were four minor injuries among the 
20 people on board.
• A Russian Air Force Su-24 was 
destroyed close to the city of 
Vereshchagino, eastern Russia, 
following a technical failure on 
August 27. Both pilots managed 
to eject safely.
• A US Navy MH-60S from HSC-8 
experienced side-to-side vibrations 
after touching down on USS 
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on 
August 31, just off the coast of San 
Diego, California. The main rotors 
hit the flight deck and the aircraft 
tipped over the side into the 
Pacific Ocean. One crew member 
was rescued, but the other five 
remain missing.
• A Sudanese Air Force Mi-24 Hind 
crashed into the White Nile on 
September 8. Two bodies were 
recovered, but the other crew 
members arre missing. 
• An Ivory Coast Air Force Mi-24DHind-D crashed on September 10 
near Togolokaye. All five crew 
members on board were killed. 
• Sécurité Civile EC145 F-ZBQG 
crashed on September 12 in 
Villard-de-Lans, Isères. One crew 
member was killed and the other 
four were injured.
• Brazilian Air Force A-29A Super 
Tucano serial number 5715 
operated by 3°/3° GAv crashed 
on September 13 near Campo 
Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state, 
following a technical malfunction. 
The pilot ejected safely.
• Peruvian Naval Aviation Mi-8TB 
serial number HT-452 operated 
by Escuadrón Aeronaval 32 
was extensively damaged 
in an emergency landing on 
September 14, following a bird 
strike 30 miles north of Pucallpa. 
The crew were uninjured.
• A US Air Force B-2A Spirit 
operated by the 509th Bomb 
Wing was damaged on 
September 14 after it made an 
emergency landing at Whiteman 
Air Force Base, Missouri, following 
an in-flight malfunction. It veered 
off the runway, coming to rest 
with the port wing dug into the 
grass. There were no injuries.
Above: Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II A35-018 from No 3 Squadron taxis in at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on August 20 during Red Flag Alaska 21-3 Commonwealth of Australia/ 
Flg Off Bronwyn Marchant
http://www.Key.Aero
November 2021 // www.Key.Aero20
EXERCISE // RED FLAG RESCUE 21-1
Joe Copalman reports on how the USAF are working alongside foreign
partners in the very important combat search and rescue role
T
WICE A YEAR, combat search 
and rescue forces from 
throughout the US military, 
often joined by foreign 
rescue units, converge on 
Davis-Monthan Air Force 
Base (DMAFB) for Red Flag-Rescue, a 
challenging and immersive combat 
rescue exercise. First run in May 2018, 
Red Flag-Rescue replaced Angel 
Thunder, a rescue exercise developed 
and run by the 563rd Rescue Group 
(RQG) at DMAFB starting in 2006. Angel 
Thunder grew in size and complexity, 
becoming a whole-of-government 
personnel recovery exercise involving 
joint, international, and even civilian 
government participation. The eff ort 
required to plan and execute an exercise 
of that magnitude eventually exceeded 
what the 563rd RQG could or should be 
expected to devote to it, and in 2018 
the 414th Combat Training Squadron 
– the unit responsible for running the 
Red Flag exercises out of Nellis AFB – 
established a detachment (Det 1, 414th 
CTS) at DMAFB to run a new rescue 
exercise to replace Angel Thunder.
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21www.Key.Aero // November 2021
A team of rescue commandos from CPA 
30 provide landing zone security during a 
rescue mission at the Playas Training Center 
in New Mexico during Red Flag Rescue 21-1 
USAF/Airman William Turnbull
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November 2021 // www.Key.Aero22 November 2021 // www.Key.Aero22
High-Threat Combat Rescue 
In contrast to the whole-of-government 
personnel recovery focus of Angel 
Thunder, Red Flag-Rescue focuses 
exclusively on combat search and rescue 
(CSAR) in contested and degraded 
operational environments. Explaining 
what makes Red Flag-Rescue different 
from the standard Red Flag, Det 1 officer-
in-charge Lt Col Robert Allen told Combat 
Aircraft: “The Nellis exercises do employ 
combat search and rescue as part of their 
exercises, but their focus is on a much 
bigger combat structure than just search 
and rescue. We train here to a much higher 
standard for just the combat search and 
rescue piece. Part of this is because we 
feel that the mission requires a higher 
focus, a more dedicated focus. We have 
a large number of rescue assets across 
the Air Force and in the joint community 
that need dedicated training for it so they 
can do their job right. It's one of those 
few missions that if you don't do it right, 
people don't come home. The penalty 
for failure is too high, and that's why this 
exercise exists.”
Red Flag-Rescue 21-1, which ran from 
May 7 through 21, included participants 
from the US Air Force, US Army, US Marine 
Corps, Republic of Singapore Air Force, 
French Air Force, Colombian Air Force, and 
Italian military. 
Explaining the importance of including 
joint and international participants in the 
exercise, Lt Col Allen said: “The Air Force 
doesn't fight alone, and I don't think in 
the future we'll see ourselves fighting 
alone either. We find it very important 
to, number one, get our joint partners in 
there with us. Personal experience and 
history shows that we need to be capable 
of operating together. And we can't live 
on theory alone, which means I need to 
provide both the joint and the Air Force 
a practical opportunity to go practice 
working together and integrating. 
“Our allies and multinational partners 
are huge in this too, and they provide 
the Air Force and the joint partners the 
opportunity to train and we provide them 
an opportunity to get ready to go employ 
with us as well downrange. That involves 
dealing with language barriers, dealing 
with significantly different systems, 
things that we're not used to – different 
helicopter types, different fighter aircraft 
types. We need that experience in live, 
real time play, otherwise it's hard to really 
know how to integrate with them, and we 
don't want to do it for the first time out on 
the battlefield.”
The ‘sandbox’ for Red Flag-Rescue 
consisted primarily of the eastern portions 
of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, the 
Tombstone Military Operating Area 
southeast of Tucson, and a tactical training 
facility in Playas, New Mexico. This area 
proved not only manageable for Lt 
Col Allen and his team, it also aligned 
with the exercise’s focus on contested 
CSAR operations in high-threat areas. 
“Because we're focused heavily on the 
combat rescue scene right now, those 
are the prime areas that we can do that 
in. It allows me to really put a lot of effort 
and manpower and stock into the CSAR 
piece. We provide a live, thinking red 
force, which is not unlike many other 
exercises, but because we focus on the 
terminal area, the area where the survivor 
is located, we provide a lot of ground 
force capability that is live and often times 
doesn't have the whole picture so that 
they can react to the blue players as if they 
were real enemy forces.”
The presence of a “live, thinking red 
force” provided even those based at Davis-
Monthan something different to deal 
with in an otherwise familiar ‘sandbox’. 
Captain Jonathan Ford, an HC-130J 
EXERCISE // RED FLAG RESCUE 21-1
Showing the international partnership of Red Flag-
Rescue, an HH-60G from the 41st RQS takes fuel from 
a French Air and Space Force KC-130J Hercules from 
ET 2/61 French Air and Space Force/Morgane Vallé
Below left: 
A Colombian A-29 
taxis out to escort 
French EC725 
Caracals for a long-
range rescue mission 
in south New Mexico
Below right: The 47th 
Rescue Squadron 
contributed two 
A-10Cs to the drills, 
largely to work with 
the Colombian A-29s 
on rescue escort and 
close air support 
tactics. Several A-10 
pilots from the 47th 
travelled to Colombia 
earlier this year to 
train with crews 
from Escuadrón 
de Combate 211 
who would be 
participating in Red 
Flag Rescue
All photos, 
Joe Copalman 
unless stated
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23www.Key.Aero // November 2021 23www.Key.Aero // November 2021
pilot from the DMAFB-based 79th RQS 
observed: “For Red Flag-Rescue, we have 
many more assets we’ve got to play with. 
We have similar threats and the same 
objectives – rescue and attack – but the 
way we were able to simulate all of that 
stuff was definitely more in-depth. We 
had not only more blue assets, but we had 
more red assets there to paint us that red 
picture. We had actual players out there as 
opposed to imaginary threats. It creates 
that fog of war, which is something we 
actually have to contend with.”
Red Flag-Rescue is as much about 
planning CSAR missions as it is aboutexecuting them. The exercise encourages 
free play, with participants able to plan 
each mission as they see fit. The scenarios 
have remained similar from one exercise 
to the next, using the same objective 
areas and threats, but for as long as he has 
been running the exercise, Lt Col Allen has 
never seen the same scenario handled 
in the same manner twice. Though real-
world rescue missions rarely afford such 
time, the exercise alternated planning and 
execution days, allowing participants to 
spend an entire day before each mission 
to focus intensely on planning rescue 
missions in high-threat environments. 
As the exercise progressed, the level of 
intensity ratcheted up considerably. As Lt 
Col Allen explained: “We go from a difficult 
scenario on the first day, but not too 
difficult, to give them a good baseline of 
‘here's how the perfect CSAR could look’, 
with some challenges, to the worst-case 
scenario that we can throw at them on the 
final day of the exercise. That gives a very 
wide array of scenario challenges.” 
Foreign Participation
For Red Flag-Rescue 21-1, the Colombian 
Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, or 
FAC) sent a contingent of 71 pilots, aircrew 
and maintainers to support six Embraer 
A-29B Super Tucanos from Escuadrón 
de Combate 211 ‘Grifos’ and the unique 
CASA ECN-235 ‘Phobos’ electronic warfare 
aircraft from Escuadrón de Defensa Aérea 
114. Red Flag-Rescue 21-1 is the first 
exercise outside of Colombia that the 
ECN-235 has participated in. Given the 
WE FIND IT VERY IMPORTANT TO… GET OUR JOINT PARTNERS IN THERE WITH 
US. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND HISTORY SHOWS THAT WE NEED TO BE 
CAPABLE OF OPERATING TOGETHER... WE CAN’T LIVE ON THEORY ALONE 
LT COL ALLEN, RED FLAG, DET 1 OFFICER-IN-CHARGE
Right: Colombia sent 
a substantial number 
of junior A-29 pilots to 
Arizona for Red Flag 
Rescue 21-1
Right: A Caracal from 
EH 1/67 prepares to 
depart on a rescue 
mission during the 
first week of Red Flag 
Rescue 21-1. The 
French brought two 
Caracals and a team 
of rescue commandos 
to Davis-Monthan for 
the two-week exercise
Right: A Caracal 
crew chief from EH 
1/67 scans the area 
around the aircraft 
just prior to the pilot 
taxiing out. Like the 
Colombian A-29s, 
French Caracals 
had previously 
participated in 
Angel Thunder, the 
predecessor of Red 
Flag Rescue
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November 2021 // www.Key.Aero24 November 2021 // www.Key.Aero24
Below: Colombia’s 
ECN-235 prepares for 
an orientation fl ight 
at Davis-Monthan 
on May 10, 2021. 
The ‘Phobos’ crew 
utilized the type’s 
direction-fi nding 
gear to geolocate 
survivors. Its receivers 
built an electronic 
order of battle for 
rescue planning, 
while jamming of 
active threat emitters 
suppressed OPFOR
air defences USAF/
TSgt Angela Ruiz
WE PROVIDE A LIVE, THINKING
RED FORCE, WHICH IS NOT UNLIKE 
MANY OTHER EXERCISES, BUT BECAUSE WE 
FOCUS ON THE TERMINAL AREA, THE AREA 
WHERE THE SURVIVOR IS LOCATED, WE 
PROVIDE A LOT OF GROUND FORCE
CAPABILITY THAT IS LIVE AND OFTEN TIMES 
DOESN’T HAVE THE WHOLE PICTURE SO THAT 
THEY CAN REACT TO THE BLUE PLAYERS AS IF 
THEY WERE REAL ENEMY FORCES 
LT COL ALLEN, RED FLAG, DET 1 OFFICER-IN-CHARGE
EXERCISE // RED FLAG RESCUE 21-1
exercise’s focus on CSAR in high-threat 
environments, the ECN-235 brought 
relevant capabilities to the table. As ‘Till,’ a 
mission director aboard ‘Phobos’ explained 
in an interview with FAC public aff airs: 
“The plane has many capabilities, but 
focused on Combat Search and Rescue, 
it contributes to the search for isolated 
personnel with its direction-fi nding 
capability, which allows us to obtain the 
Left: France’s 
Caracals arrived 
at Davis-Monthan 
via a pair of A400M 
transports, with one 
from the French Air 
Force and the other 
from the Spanish Air 
Force, each carrying 
one EC725 internally. 
This movement 
validated France’s 
‘Rapid Rescue’ 
capability, which 
requires a pair of 
Caracals to be moved 
anywhere in the world 
within 96 hours FASF
co-ordinates of the person we are looking 
for, and we are going to facilitate the 
search and rescue of that personnel.” 
The ECN-235 crews can also use the 
aircraft’s passive receivers to collect 
and analyse signals to create an enemy 
electronic order of battle, necessary for 
planning penetrative rescue missions into 
high-threat environments. Along with the 
aircraft’s passive EW collection capabilities, 
‘Phobos’ also possesses a jamming 
capability, which ‘Till’ explained can be put 
to good use during CSAR missions: “Within 
the capabilities we have to prevent them 
(the enemy) from making use of the 
electromagnetic spectrum against friendly 
assets that are rescuing the person we are 
looking for,” adding: “We can locate and 
suppress anti-air threats that are in the 
airspace where we are fl ying.” 
During Red Flag-Rescue, the Colombian 
A-29 crews worked closely with A-10 
pilots on attached rescue escort 
(RESCORT) tactics and close air support 
skills. Speaking with FAC public aff airs, 
Maj ‘Habu,’ an instructor pilot with the 
DMAFB-based 47th Fighter Squadron 
(which also participated in the exercise) 
said: “In February, we started sending 
A-10 pilots down to Colombia as Mobile 
Training Teams to start working the 
Combat Search and Rescue and close air 
support training in our partnership with 
the Colombians... Right off the bat we 
noticed that the Colombian pilots were 
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Right: General 
Ramses Rueda, 
commander of 
the Colombian Air 
Force (L) receives 
an overview of the 
operating areas for 
Red Flag-Rescue 
21-1 from Lt Col 
Robert Allen, Offi cer in 
Charge of Detachment 
1, 414th Combat 
Training Squadron, 
which runs the 
exercise USAF/SSgt 
Kenneth New
Right: The HC-130J 
Combat King II 
provides transport 
for rescue teams, 
aerial refueling of 
rescue helicopters 
and airborne rescue 
command and control. 
This example from the 
79th RQS was one of 
two HC-130Js that 
participated in Red 
Flag-Rescue 21-1
All lumps and bumps. A rare sight outside Colombia, the FAC 
brought its sole remaining CASA ECN-235 ‘Phobos’ electronic 
warfare aircraft to Davis-Monthan for Red Flag Rescue 21-1. 
Given the exercise’s focus on combat rescue in high-threat 
environments, the ECN-235’s capabilities were put to good use
really experts at what they did and they 
were really interested in improving. So 
they took every bit of instruction with full 
seriousness, they worked really hard in 
mission preparation, they worked really 
hard day and night to improve because 
they really wanted to succeed in the 
mission and be ready for this exercise.” 
The ‘Grifos’ brought several new pilots 
to Davis-Monthan for Red Flag-Rescue. 
Speaking about the rationale behind 
bringing younger pilots, Brig Gen Kerly 
Sanchez, FAC Detachment Commander 
for Red Flag-Rescue, explained: “We come 
to face this new challenge with young 
pilots recently graduated from our combat 
schools who will have a big responsibility 
in building the future of our beloved 
Colombian Air Force and to build the 
doctrine that our forces will project
in the future.” 
The Colombian detachment included 
highly experienced pilots who not 
only led the younger pilots, but took 
on important roles during the exercise. 
One veteran A-29B pilot, Major Miguel 
‘Cyclope’ Sepulveda, served as rescue 
mission commander (RMC) during one 
of the training events. The RMC has 
ultimate responsibility for the planning 
and execution of a CSAR mission. ‘Cyclope’ 
spoke of the gravity of this task to FAC 
public aff airs, saying: “Being a rescue 
mission commander in the Red Flag-
Rescue exercise was a challenging task 
for me as an air force offi cer and an A-29 
pilot. Although I have the experience of 
having carried out diff erent missions of 
public order [in Colombia], leading