Combat Aircraft - March 2017

100 Pages·2017·14.1 MB·English

FAR EAST
T-X RAMPS UP
‘FOXHOUNDS’
Volume 18 • Number 3 AMERICA’S BEST-SELLING MILITARY AVIATION MAGAZINE
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30 YEARS
OF THE F-15E
‘GUNFIGHTERS’ OF
MOUNTAIN HOME
PLUS
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FALLON
‘HOGS’
RETURN BASE
FROM REPORT
COMBAT
ISRAEL’S F-16
SUPERSTARS
NETZ BOWS OUT OF SERVICE
MARCH 2017 UK £4.60
1 Cover C_UK.indd 1 20/01/2017 13:29
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055 CAM digi fp.indd 2 18/01/2017 11:46
March 2017 • Vol 18 • No 3
36In this issue we take a look at 30 years of F-15E Strike Eagle
operations with the US Air Force
IN THE NEWS 36 88 SOUTHERN GUARDIANS
30 YEARS OF STRIKE EAGLES
Jamie Hunter and Salvador Mafé
The US Air Force marked 30 years of the F-15E Huertas discover how the Spanish Air
6 HEADLINE NEWS in December. Jamie Hunter examines how the Force is taking an innovative approach
F-35 under the spotlight again, Navy Strike Eagle continues to be a niche type that to fi ghter modernization as it looks to
carriers on cruise and E-2D heads to Japan looks set for many more years of service the future
8 US NEWS 96 CUTTING EDGE
US Air Force launches T-X competition, Combat Aircraft’s monthly column
Marine F-35s head to Japan and F-4 reporting from the front line of
bows out aerospace technology, by David Axe
16 WORLD NEWS 42
GUNFIGHTER
News from Europe and around the globe
COUNTRY
including UK Crowsnest deal, plus all the
Mountain Home Air Force Base,
latest military losses
Idaho, is a precious asset for the US
Air Force. Jamie Hunter talks Strike
Eagle with the 366th Operations
24 FABULOUS FALLON
Group commander
Rich Cooper checks in from Naval
Air Station Fallon, Nevada, where US
Navy aviation develops and hones its
warfi ghting skills. It is also where carrier air
wings deploy as they work up and prepare
to go on cruise
52 BATTLE HOGS
Jake Melampy catches up with the Idaho 80
SEA MASTERS
Air National Guard’s A-10Cs as they return
With 44 years of service, the Breguet Atlantic was until recently the
home from Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’
only long-range maritime patrol aircraft in Italian Air Force service.
54 SPARTAN STANDS GUARD Giovanni Colla and Remo Guidi pay a visit to the 41° Stormo at
The US Coast Guard’s newest medium-range Sigonella to report on the last year of Atlantic operations
surveillance aircraft formally entered service
on June 30, 2016, when the Leonardo HC-27J
replaced the Lockheed HC-130H at Air
Station Sacramento, California. Tom Kaminski
reports
62 STAR WARRIORS
On December 28, the US Air Force released
the fi nal request for proposals for the
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar
System (Joint STARS) Recapitalization
development program to industry. Tom
Kaminski assesses the options on the table
for the USAF
68 NETZ BOWS OUT
Yissachar Ruas attends the Israeli Air
Force’s retirement ceremony for its F-16A/B
Netz fi ghters
70 ‘FFROOXNHTO LUINNEDS’ ON THE PLUS SSSSSSUUUBBBAAASSSCCCRRRVVVIIIBBBEEE AAAEEENNNDDD
Two regiments of Russian Naval Aviation
Our regular ‘Eye on the East’ column
fl y the mighty MiG-31 interceptor. Thomas
Newdick details how those based in the
Kamchatka region of the Russian Far East Subscribe to Combat
w‘wearret irmecee’ enxtleyr cpiuset through their paces in a ON THE COVER: Aircraft Monthly and
Strike Eagle turns 30 — in this issue make great savings on
74 TEXAN TIMES we feature an exclusive photo shoot cover price.
from Mountain Home AFB, featuring
In the fi rst of a two-part feature, Tom
the resident F-15Es. See pages
Kaminski looks at the Beechcraft T-6 Texan
Jim Haseltine
II, and its various US operators 34 and 61 for details.
3 Contents C.indd 3 20/01/2017 14:22
COMBAT EDGE | FIND US ON
HEALTHY COMPETITION?
in uniform and we have to get it at the
lowest possible price. So I’m glad I had
the opportunity to tell him that we are
N
EW US PRESIDENT meddling with the wider F-35 program close to a deal that will bring the cost
Donald Trump isn’t could do great harm to the tri-service down signifi cantly from the previous lot
the only person project. Although the Super Hornet of aircraft to the next lot of aircraft, and
taking aim at the continues to provide sterling service moreover it’s going to bring a lot of jobs
Lockheed Martin F-35 to the US Navy, the Advanced Super to the US.’
program. Secretary of Hornet, with its enclosed weapons The unit cost of the F-35 may be
the Navy Ray Mabus spoke out on joint bay and conformal fuel tanks, is both coming down, but delays in fl ight-
military programs in January, criticizing immature and clearly no F-35 when it testing only serve to add to cost and
the F-35 as being slower, more costly, comes to low observability. a delay in capability for the end user.
and lacking accountability because of its The US Air Force and Navy are It’s an area that will likely come under
joint nature. obviously dissatisfi ed with certain tough scrutiny in the months ahead.
The then President-elect Trump took elements of the F-35 despite comments
Our planned T-X trainer competition
to his favorite medium of Twitter in early from senior leadership. The recent
supplement will now appear in the
December 2016 to voice his feelings that annual operational test report to
April issue.
the F-35 program is over-running in cost Congress slammed F-35 development
To keep track of the latest breaking
and time. He said that he’s asked Boeing schedules that face signifi cant slippage
news and analysis in the world of
‘to price a comparable Super Hornet’. in the start of formal initial operational
military air power you can visit our
In a January press call, Trump added testing. However, it is clear that the
social media sites and our website:
fuel to the fi re, stating: ‘I’m very much project is in a far healthier position than
www.combataircraft.net
involved with the generals and admirals it was two years ago.
You can also sign up for our free
on the airplane, the F-35’. He added: ‘It’s The Super Hornet is likely a stalking
e-mail newsletter by going to
way, way behind schedule and many, horse for the F-35 to help bring down
www.combataircraft.net to register.
many billions of dollars over budget. I costs. Indeed, Lockheed Martin chief
don’t like that... We’re going to do some executive offi cer Marillyn Hewson
big things on the F-35 program and met with Donald Trump in January.
perhaps the F-18 program. We’re going On leaving the meeting, Hewson said:
to get those costs way down.’ ‘We had the opportunity to talk to him
04
While on the outside this looks like about the F-35 program and I certainly Jamie Hunter,
potentially good news for the Boeing share his views that we need to get the Editor
Super Hornet, the reality is that best capability to our men and women E-mail: [email protected]
www.combataircraft.net March 2017
4-5 Combat Edge C.indd 4 20/01/2017 11:41
MARCH 2017 | COMBAT EDGE
05
CONTRIBUTOR PROFILE JIM HASELTINE
J
im was born and raised as a camera operator and
in the US Air Force, projectionist, producing
traveling around the and directing productions
world with his father. for concerts and TV shows.
The F/A-18E This upbringing fostered a Sixteen years ago Jim started
Super Hornet is
tremendous passion for the HIGH-G Productions for multi-
providing
Air Force and aviation, along media production, specializing
capability at a
with a great admiration for in aerial photography.
sensible cost
for US Navy. the men and women who risk His work has appeared in
Now President their lives for their country. numerous calendars, books
Trump is looking His other great passion is and magazine publications
to leverage this electronics. For the past 20 worldwide, not least gracing
for the F-35 years he has worked across the pages and covers of
program. Richard the electronics industry Combat Aircraft.
VanderMeulen
March 2017 www.combataircraft.net
4-5 Combat Edge C.indd 5 20/01/2017 11:41
[NEWS] HEADLINES
While the second JASDF F-35A
was being delivered to Luke
AFB, Japan’s fourth F-35A (AX-4,
69-8704) completed its maiden
fl ight from Fort Worth on the same
day, January 10. Carl Richards
F-35 UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
OPERATIONAL TEST REPORT CRITICIZES SCHEDULES
06
E-2D SET FOR JAPAN DEPLOYMENT
AS PART OF its ‘rebalance’ to California, this summer. Once
the Asia-Pacifi c, the US Navy in California, the unit will begin
has announced plans to deploy converting to the E-2D.
the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman
Japan. The Navy’s latest airborne completed the fi rst fl ight of an
early warning and control aircraft E-2D equipped with an aerial
will join the Forward-Deployed refueling capability on December
Naval Forces (FDNF) as part of 15. The contractor designed,
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 in Japan developed, manufactured, and
in February. The deployment will tested the upgrades required
see Carrier Airborne Early Warning to accommodate an aerial
Squadron (VAW) 125 ‘Tigertails’ refueling capability
forward-deploying from Naval on the Advanced
Station Norfolk, Virginia, to Marine Hawkeye under a
Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni. 2013 engineering,
VAW-125, the fi rst VAW squadron manufacturing and
to transition to the Advanced development (EMD)
Hawkeye, will replace VAW-115 at contract. The aerial
the Japanese base. The latter unit is refueling capability will
currently equipped with E-2Cs. allow the E-2D to remain
Meanwhile, the US Navy is on-station at greater ranges
scheduled to begin a phased and extend its ability to
relocation of CVW-5’s fi xed-wing support the fl eet.
aircraft from Naval Air Facility (NAF) Three modifi ed E-2Ds
Atsugi to MCAS Iwakuni. The move will initially be support testing
will start in the second half of 2017 that will run through 2018, when
and will include the departure production installations and retrofi t
of VAW-115 from Atsugi to Naval of the equipment to existing aircraft
Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, is also scheduled to commence.
www.combataircraft.net March 2017
6-7 Headlines C.indd 6 20/01/2017 17:27
HEADLINES [NEWS]
S
ECRETARY OF THE the planned date in JPO’s integrated would have the maturity necessary when attempting to engage moving
Navy Ray Mabus took master schedule. In an eff ort to stay to complete testing without the need targets with the GBU-12, resulting in
aim at joint military on schedule, JPO plans to reduce or for tweaks to address shortfalls in very limited eff ectiveness.’ It added
programs in January, truncate planned developmental capability. that pilots have fallen back on the
singling out the F-35 testing (DT) in an eff ort to minimize In reality, the report detailed tactic of two-ship ‘buddy lasing’ for
as being slower, more delays and close out SDD as soon how the tri-service test team has GBU-12 employment, requiring the
costly, and lacking accountability as possible. However, even with this designated 276 defi ciencies in US Air Force to look at adding the
because of its joint nature. He said risky, schedule-driven approach, combat performance as ‘critical to GBU-49 laser JDAM (Joint Direct
that the US Navy’s sixth-generation multiple problems and delays make correct’ in Block 3F. Attack Munition) for a ‘robust moving
fi ghter program, the F/A-XX, should it clear that the program will not be It tackled the popular topic of close target capability.’
not become a joint program for these able to start IOT&E with full combat air support (CAS), stating that the Remarkably, the 200th F-35 landed
reasons. capability until late CY18 or early current Block 3i confi guration has at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on
The US Navy has been less than CY19, at the soonest.’ numerous limitations that make the January 10, marking a new milestone
glowing about the F-35 on numerous The report singled out problems F-35 ‘less eff ective overall in the CAS for the program. The latest Lightning
occasions, and these comments with the ‘full warfi ghting’ Block 3F mission role than most currently II joined 46 other F-35As at the base
came as the annual report from Dr software that was expected later this fi elded fi ghter aircraft’. This, it said, that are used to train international
J. Michael Gilmore, the director of year. It said that the JPO estimated includes a limited weapons load of pilots. The 200th aircraft for Luke
operational test and evaluation, that mission systems fl ight-testing two bombs and the lack of clearance was the fi rst delivery of 2017 and
was released. In it, Dr Gilmore would be complete in October but for the aircraft’s gun — internal on the second jet built for the Japan
said that the F-35 Joint Program that this will likely extend into 2018. the F-35A and podded on the B and Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), AX-2
Offi ce (JPO) acknowledged in 2016 The original estimate was overly C variants. (69-8702). It arrived from Lockheed
that ‘schedule pressure exists for optimistic, according to Gilmore, and Criticized too was the type’s lack Martin’s Fort Worth production facility
completing system development the document went on to say that the of ability to strike moving targets in Texas. At the time of the delivery
and demonstration (SDD) and program offi ce had wrongly assumed with the GBU-12 laser-guided the program had logged 75,000 fl ight
starting initial operational test and the Block 3FR6 software, delivered bomb. The report said, ‘F-35 pilots hours while training more than 380
evaluation (IOT&E) by August 2017, to fl ight test in December 2016, can only use basic rules-of-thumb pilots and 3,700 maintainers.
An F/A-18F of VFA-2 07
‘Bounty Hunters’ as the
USS Carl Vinson sails a
WESTPAC cruise.
US Navy/MC2
Sean Castellano
VINSON AND BUSH DEPLOY has CVW-8 embarked with VFA-213
‘Black Lions’, VFA-31 ‘Tomcatters’,
THE US NAVY’S Carl Vinson Strike (VFA) 2 ‘Bounty Hunters’, VFA-34 ‘Blue VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’, VFA-37
Group (CVNSG) has begun a Blasters’, VFA-137 ‘Kestrels’, VFA-192 ‘Ragin Bulls’, VAQ-131 ‘Lancers’,
deployment to the Western Pacifi c. ‘Golden Dragons’, Carrier Airborne VAW-124 ‘Bear Aces’, HSM-70
Elements of the CVNSG began Early Warning Squadron (VAW) ‘Spartans’, HSC- 9 ‘Tridents’ and a
departing San Diego, California on 113 ‘Black Eagles’, Electronic Attack detachment from VRC-40 ‘Rawhides’.
January 5. Squadron (VAQ) 136 ‘Gauntlets’, Fleet We will have more on CVW-2 next
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 is Logistic Support Squadron (VRC) 30 month.
embarked for the deployment. ‘Providers’, Helicopter Sea Combat
According to the US Navy, the Squadron (HSC) 4 ‘Black Knights’, and ALSO THIS MONTH...
CVNSG ‘will focus on maritime Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron
security operations and theater (HSM 78) ‘Blue Hawks’. USAF launches T-X
security co-operation eff orts.’ The In addition, the George H.W. Bush Competition under way with issue
Northrop Grumman conducted strike group will also conduct Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) of RFP. See US News
the fi rst fl ight of an E-2D
bilateral exercises in the Indo-Asia- departed Norfolk and Mayport, BENELUX QRA
equipped with an aerial
refueling capability on Pacifi c region. Florida, on January 21, for a Belgian and Dutch F-16s take on
December 15. Embarked squadrons within CVW-2 regularly-scheduled deployment. joint mission.
Northrop Grumman include Strike Fighter Squadron The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) See World News
March 2017 www.combataircraft.net
6-7 Headlines C.indd 7 20/01/2017 17:27
[NEWS] UNITED STATES
T-X IS GO! Above: Boeing and Saab’s BTX-1 trainer prototype, which wears
the civil registration N381TX, fl ew for the fi rst time when it took
off from Lambert-St Louis International Airport, Missouri, on its
maiden fl ight on December 20. Boeing
planned procurement includes as and Raytheon are expected to
many as 350 new trainers and could respond to the RFP. Sierra Nevada and
US AIR FORCE LAUNCHES
be worth as much as $16.3 billion to Textron Aviation are other potential
TRAINER COMPETITION the winning team. bidders.
The initial EMD phase will include fi ve Boeing carried out the fi rst fl ight of
test aircraft, and optional production its ‘clean-sheet’ BTX-1 trainer — jointly
T
HE USAF FORMALLY ultimately replace the service’s fl eet lots provide for the procurement of developed with Saab — at its St Louis,
launched its hotly of T-38C Talons that are used by the 350 trainers in 11 annual batches. Two Missouri, facility on December 20.
anticipated T-X specialized undergraduate pilot low-rate initial lots will be followed by The second prototype is undergoing
trainer competition training (SUPT) phases. nine full-rate lots and production could ground testing and is expected to fl y
on December 30, The RFP includes the engineering reach 37 aircraft annually. The aircraft is soon. BTX-1’s initial 55-minute fl ight
when it released and manufacturing development expected to enter service no later than validated key aspects of the single-
08
the fi nal request for proposals for (EMD), low-rate initial production FY 2024. engine trainer.
the Advanced Pilot Training (APT) (LRIP), full-rate production (FRP) and Contractor teams led by Boeing, Lockheed Martin is teamed with
requirement. The new trainer will support phases of the program. The Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Korea Aerospace Industries and will
F-35 LATEST Meanwhile, the recent operational
MARVELLOUS ‘MAKO’
test report fl agged up a signifi cant
THE US MARINE Corps followed problem with the F-35C’s nose
Air Force Reserve Command’s 482nd Fighter Wing, 93rd Fighter
through on a November 2012 promise landing gear strut, brought to light as
Squadron ‘Florida Makos’ has painted F-16C serial 88-0404/FM in
to bring the F-35B to Japan on January a result of the aircraft’s DT-III sea trials a stunning ‘Blue Mako’ shark scheme. The jet is pictured visiting
9 when 10 Lightning IIs of VMFA-121 aboard the aircraft carrier USS George NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas, in December from its home station at
Homestead ARB. Carl Richards
‘Green Knights’ departed from MCAS Washington (CVN 73) last August. A
Yuma, Arizona, en route to their new severe oscillation that is experienced
home at MCAS Iwakuni. The ‘Green by the pilot during catapult launches
Knights’ became the Marine Corps’ could result in further delays for the
fi rst operational F-35B squadron when F-35C, which is scheduled to initial
VMFA(AW)-121 was redesignated on operational capability between August
November 20, 2012 . It achieved initial 2018 and February 2019.
operating capability on July 31, 2015. According to reports, if a fi x for the
The squadron will make its maiden oscillation cannot be developed, a
deployment aboard the amphibious redesign of the nose gear may be
assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) in 2018. required.
NEW SYSTEMS FOR SEAHAWKS ASM detection and response detection system (ALMDS) has
capabilities. The pod can be achieved initial operational
LOCKHEED MARTIN WILL provide Developed by Lockheed Martin, deployed by both the MH-60R and capability (IOC). The mine warfare
the US Navy’s Seahawk helicopters the AN/ALQ-248 advanced off - MH-60S helicopters. It is expected to pod, which is carried aboard the
with enhanced electronic warfare board electronic warfare (AOEW) achieve initial operational capability MH-60S on the carriage, stream,
surveillance and countermeasure active mission payload (AMP) in 2021. tow and recovery system, provides
capabilities designed to combat system is a self-contained electronic Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman’s rapid wide-area reconnaissance and
anti-ship missile (ASM) threats. warfare pod that provides advanced AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine assessment of mine threats.
www.combataircraft.net March 2017
8-12 US News C.indd 8 20/01/2017 14:33
UNITED STATES [NEWS]
Above left to right: Flight crew aboard Boeing and Saab’s BTX-1 prototype and an accompanying T-38A prepare for the new trainer‘s maiden flight at
Lambert-St Louis International Airport, Missouri, on December 20. The prototype carries the civil registration N381TX. The Talon is one of two owned
by Boeing. Mark Nankivil • Textron AirLand carried out the first flight of a production-representative version of its Scorpion at McConnell AFB,
Kansas, on December 22. Textron AirLand
submit a proposal based on the T-50A. prototype, which also has a single F404 Aerospace Industries (TAI). It is under of the twin-engine aircraft that
Two of the modified single-engine turbofan, reportedly flew for the first construction at SNC’s Centennial, features 4°-swept wings carried out
T-50As are already flying as part of the time at Mojave in August. Colorado, plant. Development of the its first flight from McConnell AFB,
contractor team’s efforts. Lockheed Raytheon’s team, which includes ‘Freedom Trainer’ by Freedom Aircraft Kansas, on December 22. The initial
Martin recently announced plans for Leonardo, Honeywell and CAE, is Ventures was revealed in December. prototype of the Scorpion took to the
a final assembly and check-out facility offering a reconfigured version of the The lightweight composite trainer air in December 2013. Changes made
(FACO) in Greenville, South Carolina, if M-346 Master dubbed the T-100. Two will be powered by two Williams to the production-representative
its design is selected. specially configured T-X examples are International FJ44-4M engines. version include improvements to
Northrop Grumman will offer its under construction in Italy. If selected, Although it has not committed to the horizontal stabilizer to increase
single-engine ‘clean-sheet’ Model local assembly will take place in respond to the RFP, Textron Aviation performance at high speeds, a
400. A prototype, built by its Scaled Meridian, Mississippi. may offer a variant of the company’s simplified landing gear, a new head-
Composites subsidiary, was first In addition, a prototype of self-funded Textron AirLand Model up display and ‘hands on throttle and
09
spotted while conducting ground an all-composite, twin-engine 530 Scorpion lightweight strike stick’ controls.
taxi tests at the Mojave Air and Space aircraft is being jointly developed and reconnaissance aircraft. A The USAF expects to select a winner
Port in California during August. The by Sierra Nevada and Turkish production-representative version of the T-X competition in 2017.
SUPER HERCULES DELIVERED Once it is accepted the aircraft
will be flown to Waco where
installation of Minotaur mission
THE COAST GUARD accepted Division will retrofit the Minotaur L-3 Communications facility in system software and integrated
its eighth missionized HC-130J Mission System Suite (MSS+) to the Waco on July 20, 2016. The FIT radar, sensor and communications
long-range surveillance aircraft at aircraft. will oversee the installation of the systems will be undertaken. The
Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South The Hercules is the third HC-130J MMS+ architecture on as many as effort is expected to take about a
Carolina, facility on December 12. to enter the Minotaur mission five baseline HC-130Js and seven year to complete.
Although the aircraft was accepted system production program but examples that were outfitted with The Coast Guard has eight
in March 2015, it was flown from is the first of seven ‘legacy’ aircraft the older mission system package. HC-130Js that are equipped with
the manufacturer’s Marietta, that will be upgraded in Waco. HC-130J tail number 2003 was the previous MSS system. Whereas
Georgia, plant to Greenville where The Coast Guard awarded L-3 a retrofitted as the prototype for the six are operated by Air Station
the missionization was carried out. $93-million contract to incorporate Minotaur MSS+ and it is currently Elizabeth City, North Carolina,
That process installed Coast Guard- the Minotaur MSS+ on two supporting performance testing, HC-130J 2003 is at Patuxent River
specific integrated radar, sensor baseline-configuration HC-130Js which began at NAS Patuxent River, undergoing Minotaur MSS+
and communications systems. on September 21, 2015. Work Maryland, in January 2017. performance testing. 
Tail number 2008, which was to add a mission system to tail On December 16, the Coast The Coast Guard’s 10th HC-130J
the last HC-130J to receive the number 2009 began in April 2016 Guard awarded a $14.6-million is also in production and is due to
Mission System Suite (MSS) and will be completed by the end contract option to L-3 be delivered in the baseline airlift
system installed on seven earlier of September 2017. It is serving as Communications for Minotaur configuration early in 2017. It will
HC-130Js, was flown to Texas State the validation/verification aircraft missionization of the service’s undergo Minotaur mods prior to
Technical College Airport in Waco, for the Minotaur system. 11th HC-130J. The Super Hercules entering service. The 12th and
Texas, on December 13. There, The Coast Guard established is currently in production and is 13th aircraft are scheduled for
L-3 Communications’ Integrated a fleet integration team for the scheduled for delivery in baseline delivery in airlift configuration in
Systems Platform Integration HC-130J missionization at the airlift standard during early 2018. 2019.
March 2017 www.combataircraft.net
8-12 US News C.indd 9 20/01/2017 14:33
[NEWS] UNITED STATES
Boeing delivered
the 50th P-8A
Poseidon to the US
Navy when BuNo
169008 arrived at
NAS Jacksonvile,
Florida, in January.
Boeing
NEW LOCATIONS FOR REAPERS, Missouri, as reasonable alternatives the 305th and 22nd Air Mobility
LIGHTNING IIS AND PEGASUS NAMED during the environmental analysis Wings at the two bases.
10
process, which must be completed The USAF will consider Fairchild
THE USAF HAS selected Shaw AFB, MCE, a maintenance group and before a final basing decision can AFB, Washington, and Grand
South Carolina, as the preferred support personnel. Shaw remains be made. It is evaluating five Air Forks AFB, North Dakota, as
location for basing a new MQ-9 under consideration for that mission National Guard facilities as part of a reasonable alternatives during the
group that will be formed in Fiscal along with Eglin AFB and Tyndall plan to determine the next two units environmental impact analysis
2018. The group will include mission AFB in Florida and Vandenberg AFB, that will receive the F-35A. process. The first KC-46As are
control elements (MCE), but Reapers California. Selection of that location The service will announce expected to arrive at the new
will neither be stationed at, nor will be announced this summer. its preferred and reasonable locations in 2019. Once the fleet size
flown from, Shaw. The service Naval Air Station Fort Worth alternatives for the ANG bases this is increased to 479 tankers, the USAF
chose Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona; Joint Reserve Base, Texas, has summer. F-35As are expected to will begin phasing out its existing
Moody AFB, Georgia; Mountain been named by the USAF as the begin arriving at the second and tanker aircraft.
Home AFB, Idaho; and Offutt AFB, preferred location for the first Air third ANG locations in the early to Altus AFB, Oklahoma; McConnell
Nebraska, as reasonable alternatives Force Reserve Command-led F-35A mid-2020s.  AFB, Kansas; Pease Air National
and the bases will be considered as unit. The command’s 301st Fighter USAF officials chose Joint Base Guard Station, New Hampshire;
part of the environmental impact Wing, which currently operates the McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and Seymour Johnson AFB, North
analysis process. The Air Force is F-16C, is expected to receive its first and Travis AFB, California, as the Carolina; were previously named
still considering locations to host Lightning IIs in the mid-2020s. The preferred locations for the next two as future KC-46 basing locations.
a complete Reaper wing that will service will consider Davis-Monthan active duty-led KC-46A tanker units. Delivery of the first of 33 KC-46As to
include as many as 24 MQ-9s, launch AFB, Arizona; Homestead Air Reserve A total of 48 KC-46As will replace McConnell and Altus is expected to
and recovery elements (LRE), an Base, Florida; and Whiteman AFB, the fleet of KC-10As assigned to begin in fall 2017. 
SIGINT SYSTEM TRANSITIONED
Squadron flew the last combat and the RQ-4B. Flight-testing of the
THE USAF HAS completed the which equips both the U-2S and mission with the ‘Senior Glass’ ASIP aboard the U-2S began in 2008
transition of the signals intelligence unmanned RQ-4B, is now the sensor. The Dragon Lady was first and it achieved initial operational
(SIGINT) mission from the Raytheon service’s primary communications equipped with a communications capability (IOC) in March 2010. It
‘Senior Glass’ Remote Airborne and electronic intelligence intelligence payload and datalink in subsequently reached IOC with the
Sensor (RAS-1R) to the Northrop collection system. 1971, and the ‘Senior Glass’ system Global Hawk in November 2012.
Grumman AN/ASQ-230 Airborne A U-2S forward-deployed to the was fielded in 2001. Development of Under current plans, the U-2S will be
Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP). 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s the ASIP began in 2003. It was then retired at the end of Fiscal Year 2020
As a result the latter system, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance intended to equip both the U-2S in favor of the Global Hawk.
www.combataircraft.net March 2017
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