Page 13 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

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Final Spanish Air Force Typhoon In Brief

First strike for
French Reaper
A French Air Force MQ-9
Reaper Block 1 remotely
piloted aircraft undertook
a first strike mission
on December 21, when
an example operating
from Niamey air base in
Niger dropped a GBU-
12 laser-guided bomb on
a terrorist target in Mali.
The attack came just two
days after the French
military announced it
had completed testing
of the armed version
of the Reaper.
US and Czech Republic
agree 12-helicopter deal
Seen at Getafe on December 5 during its second test flight is C.16-78/10235 ‘14-36’, the last Spanish Typhoon currently under Defence officials from the
US and Czech Republic
contract for the EdA. It will be handed over to Ala 14 soon, completing the initial Spanish order for 73 aircraft. Roberto Yáñez agreed a government-
THE LAST Typhoon for C.16-77/10234 ‘14-35’, arrived older second-hand Hornets video and voice recorder, to-government deal
the Ejército del Aire (EdA, at Albacete on delivery from still in service with 462 laser designator pods covering eight UH-1Y utility
Spanish Air Force) began Getafe on December 3. Escuadrón at Gando in the and maintenance data helicopters and four AH-1Z
flight testing at the Airbus Spain’s initial order for 87 Canary Islands. Until the panel. The retrofitted attack helicopters. Bell has
plant in Getafe, near Eurofighters was reduced to Spanish government makes jets also feature the yet to receive the Foreign
Madrid, on November 73 (15 two-seaters and 58 a decision, the Airbus plant new Operational Flight Military Sales contract to
27. Serial C.16-78/10235 single-seaters) in 2013, due at Getafe will continue Program 02 (OFP-02) build the aircraft, worth
‘14-36’ will be operated to budgetary constraints, to retrofit the 17 Tranche software developed around US$650m. The
by Ala 14 from Albacete but now that the EF-18 1 Typhoons in service by the EdA’s Centro manufacturer anticipates
(southeast of the Spanish Hornet fleet is approaching with the EdA. This work Logístico de Armamento y delivery of a first H-1 to
capital), bringing the unit’s the end of its operational involves integrating new Experimentación (CLAEX, the Czech Republic in
inventory to full strength – life, a second Eurofighter equipment from Tranche 2 Spain’s Armament and 2023 with final deliveries
the penultimate aircraft for order is expected, at least and 3, including a computer Experimental Logistics the following year.
the Ejército del Aire, serial to cover the withdrawal of symbol generator, digital Centre). Roberto Yáñez France receives
16th Atlas
The French Air Force took
Turkey deploys Bayraktar TB2 UAVs to Cyprus delivery of its 16th A400M
transport at Orléans-Bricy
air base on December
TURKEY HAS deployed a the eastern coastal city of last October in order clear how the UAV will 4. The airlifter is the
Bayraktar TB2 medium- Magusa (Famagusta), in the to accommodate both be used, Cyprus’ defence service’s first capable of
altitude, long-endurance Turkish Republic of Northern armed and unarmed UAV minister Savvas Angelides paradropping single loads
surveillance and Cyprus, on December 15. operations. It’s not yet clear stated that its arrival weighing up to 16 tonnes
reconnaissance UAV to Although capable of being whether the arrival of the was “an additional factor and of refuelling other
Northern Cyprus after armed, the UAV did not first TB2 is the precursor contributing to instability” aircraft. France’s 2019-25
preparation of a local air carry any weapons when to a larger deployment in the region and would military programme law
base for drone operations. it arrived and will continue or if the Türk Deniz Hava further thwart efforts to provides for the delivery
The Turkish Navy Bayraktar to operate unarmed, Komutanlığı (Turkish Navy reunite the divided island of 11 A400Ms, for a total
TB2S Silahlı İnsansız Hava according to Kudret Aviation Command) plans to nation. Only the previous of 25 aircraft in service
Aracı (SİHA, unmanned Özersay, foreign minister maintain just a single UAV week, Turkey’s foreign by the end of 2025.
combat aircraft system), for the self-declared on detachment at the base. minister, Mevlüt Çavu oğlu, Two more C295s
serial TCB-807 from 312 Turkish-Cypriot state. The detachment comes had said that Turkey “has for Czech Air Force
Filo, was flown from its Turkey’s armed forces at a time of high tensions the right” to stop any drilling The Czech Republic has
base at Dalaman on the had begun refurbishment over offshore oil and gas in the 44% of the waters ordered another two C295
Turkish mainland to land at work at Geçitkale exploration in the eastern of the Cypriot exclusive transports. The aircraft,
Geçitkale air base (known (formerly known as Ercan Mediterranean. Although economic zone that it claims equipped with winglets
as Lefkoniko in Greek), near International Airport) it is not immediately as its own. Dave Allport and ordered in transport
configuration, are due to
Turkish Navy/312 Filo Bayraktar TB2S TCB-807 landing at Geçitkale in Northern Cyprus on be delivered in the first
December 15. half of 2021. The deal will
bring the Czech Air Force’s
C295 fleet up to six aircraft.
C295s to replace Irish
Air Corps CN235s
The Irish Department of
Defence has ordered two
C295 aircraft in a maritime
surveillance configuration
to replace its current pair of
CN235s. The new aircraft
will be equipped with the
Airbus Fully Integrated
Tactical System (FITS)
and mission sensors as
well as Collins Aerospace
Pro Line Fusion avionics.

www.Key.Aero #383 February 2020 // 13

06/01/2020 14:19:47
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