Page 15 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

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IOC for Italian Caesars going grey In Brief
Rafale the temporary British L-159T1 overhauled
Final Czech Air Force
F3-R military serial ZR362. One Aero Vodochody has
of 15 examples ordered
delivered the last of
THE ARMÉE de l’Air for the AM, the aircraft five overhauled two-
(French Air Force) and will be operated by the 15° seat L-159T1 advanced
Marine Nationale (French Stormo based at Cervia. trainers to the Czech Air
Navy) have both announced While the Caesars were Force, which now has a
initial operating capability originally delivered in a fleet of eight two-seat
(IOC) for the latest Rafale distinctive black scheme, L-159s: five L-159T1+ and
F3-R operational standard. Ian Harding this latest aircraft is three L-159T2 aircraft.
The Marine Nationale painted grey overall. The L-159s undergo a regular
declared IOC for the F3-R CAPTURED DEPARTING Aeronautica Militare (AM, change was reportedly maintenance check
standard on its Rafale the Leonardo Helicopters Italian Air Force) HH-101A made to reduce heat (PP2000) after 2,000
Ms on November 29. The manufacturing facility Caesar (AgustaWestland absorption encountered flight hours or eight years
announcement followed at Yeovil in Somerset AW101 Mk611), coded ‘15- with the previous black- after the last scheduled
several months of training on December 11 was 13’. The helicopter wears painted aircraft. maintenance. The first of
for aircrews and technical five L-159T1 to undergo

personnel from Flottille PP2000 work was
11F, the first of three navy MQ-9 Guardian demo flights in Greece redelivered in 2017, two
fighter squadrons to adopt more were completed
the new standard. The F3-R GENERAL ATOMICS and handed over in 2018,
standard allows the navy Aeronautical Systems and the last two were
to upgrade its Rafale M Inc (GA-ASI) began overhauled in 2019.
and acquire more modern demonstration flights of its Upgrade for Greek
capabilities leading up to MQ-9 Guardian remotely Mirage 2000s
integration of the Meteor piloted aircraft (RPA) in The Greek defence
beyond-visual-range air- Greece on December 10. ministry has announced
to-air missile (BVRAAM) The trials allowed potential maintenance contracts
and Talios laser designator European customers to with Dassault Aviation,
pod. The F3-R standard assess the drone’s maritime GA-ASI’s MQ-9 N308HK outside a hangar at Larissa air Safran Military Engines
also includes an automatic surveillance and detect-and- base. GA-ASI and Thales to upgrade
ground collision avoidance avoid capabilities. The flights the Hellenic Air Force’s
system (AGCAS) and were hosted by the Hellenic Guardian could provide (TCAS II) and automatic Mirage 2000-5 fleet.
various improvements to Air Force (HAF) and staged maritime patrol and dependent surveillance- These contracts extend
the RBE2 radar, Spectra out of Larissa air base. exclusive economic zone broadcast (ADS-B). The over seven years and
electronic warfare system, Although the flights (EEZ) monitoring, border MQ-9 also demonstrated include upgrade and
Reco NG pod and inertial were performed for surveillance, support for a Raytheon SeaVue multi- sustainment of electronics
navigation system. The representatives of different search and rescue efforts, mode maritime surface- and engines at a cost
F3-R standard Rafale European counties, and overwatch of forest search radar with inverse of around €260m.
M will also be equipped GA-ASI confirmed that fire response efforts. synthetic aperture radar S-70i enters Polish
with a new-generation the “HAF looks forward The company-owned (ISAR) mode, an automatic Army service
in-flight refuelling pod. to seeing the results of MQ-9 involved in the trials, identification system (AIS) Four S-70i Black Hawks
The air force was next this demonstration”. An N308HK, is equipped with receiver, and high-definition/ produced by PZL Mielec
to declare the milestone, unnamed HAF official an air-to-air radar integrated full-motion video sensor were officially handed
on December 6. The noted that, in addition to with a traffic alert and equipped with optical over to the Polish Armed
announcement followed defence capabilities, the collision avoidance system and infrared cameras. Forces on December
a period of training for 20. The helicopters will
aircrews and technical H145M SAR handed over to German Army be used by the army in
staff from the Air Force support of Polish special
Command and the Strategic AFTER ALMOST 50 Equipment, Information also responsible for forces. The contract for
Air Force Command, after years of German search Technology and logistics support, repair the four machines was
the F3-R standard was and rescue (SAR) units In-Service Support) by and maintenance of signed in January last year.
officially accepted last operating the UH-1D, the Airbus Helicopters at its the helicopters. Romania adds
July. Declaration of IOC for Bundeswehr (German Donauwörth, Germany, Among other features, the five more F-16s
the Armée de l’Air will be Armed Forces) has taken facility – ahead of schedule helicopters are equipped The Romanian
followed by integration of delivery of its successor, – on December 10. with high-performance government has passed
the Meteor BVRAAM and the H145M SAR. The first The H145M SAR aircraft cameras, searchlights, a draft law outlining
Talios pod by the end of of seven examples on will be stationed at emergency beacon locator procurement of another
the first half of 2020. Until order was delivered to the Niederstetten, Holzdorf systems, a full suite of five F-16s from Portuguese
then, the F3-R standard Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, and Nörvenich. The last medical equipment, stocks. The jets will
will be available for the air Informationstechnik und example is scheduled to be rescue winches and load have the same M.5.2R
force’s enduring missions of Nutzung der Bundeswehr delivered in early 2021, once hooks that can be used software configuration
nuclear deterrence, foreign (BAAINBw, the Federal training has been completed. for fire-extinguishing as Romania’s existing
operations and protection Office of Bundeswehr Airbus Helicopters is tanks, for example. 12 F-16s. Eventually,
of French airspace, known all 17 fighters will be
as Posture Permanente upgraded to a new
de Sûreté (Permanent standard called M.6.X.
Security Posture). Polish pilots
graduate on M-346
Right: H145M SAR 77+07 (c/n The Polish Air Force has
20274, D-HADL) at Manching, completed a first training
Bavaria, for a pre-delivery course on its M-346
training sortie last November. Bielik jets. The initial four
The first example will be pilot cadets underwent
delivered to the Niederstetten an eight-month training
main operational base in 2020, syllabus on the advanced
followed by detachments jet trainer at the Air Force
established at Nörvenich and Academy in Dęblin.
Holzdorf. Dietmar Fenners

www.Key.Aero #383 February 2020 // 15

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