Page 16 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

NEWS North America

Congress delays transfer RCAF’s

of aggressor F-35As first
CC-295
formally

accepted

ROYAL CANADIAN Air
Force (RCAF) officials
have formally accepted
its first Fixed-Wing
Search and Rescue
(FWSAR) CC-295.
The transfer of the
aircraft, 295501 (c/n
183), took place during a
ceremony in the factory at
Seville-San Pablo Airport,
Spain, on December 18.
Following this delivery,
the RCAF will initiate
Above: F-35A 15-5195 ‘HL’ assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron on the flight line during Red Flag 19-1, Nelllis more testing, training
Air Force Base, Nevada, in February last year. This was the wing’s second Red Flag with the Lightning II. USAF/R Nial Bradshaw and initial operational
LANGUAGE INCORPORATED force prior to United States have sufficient capacity and 64th Aggressor Squadron test and evaluation
into the draft US National adversaries fielding a fifth- availability of range space; are (AGRS) with F-16Cs as part (IOT&E) operations in
Defense Authorization Act generation operational capable of hosting advanced- of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Spain. The aircraft is
(NDAA) for Fiscal Year capability.” It added that “the threat training exercises; Force Base, Nevada, and the scheduled to be ferried
2020 will delay previously air force’s plan to use low- and meet or require minimal 18th AGRS with F-16C/Ds home to Canadian Forces
announced plans to transfer rate initial production F-35As addition to the environmental as part of the 354th Fighter Base Comox, British
low-rate initial production as aggressor aircraft reflects requirements associated with Wing at Eielson AFB, Alaska. Colombia, by mid-2020.
F-35As to the aggressor a recognition of the need to the basing action.” Finally, it However, last May 9, the As previously reported,
role. The details were first field a modernised aggressor added that the report should USAF announced that it was the aircraft had made
made public in the NDAA fleet.” However, it noted that also include “an analysis of to reactivate the 65th AGRS its maiden flight from
conference report published “the Secretary of the Air Force the potential cost and benefits at Nellis AFB and transfer Seville last July 4 (see
on December 9. The draft may not transfer any low- of expanding aggressor nine non-combat-capable Maiden flight for Canada’s
NDAA was approved by the rate initial production F-35 squadrons currently operating F-35As to the unit from Eglin CC-295, August, p18). At
House of Representatives aircraft for use as aggressor 18 primary assigned aircraft AFB, Florida, to improve that time, it was still only
two days later, followed by aircraft until the Chief of Staff (PAA) to a level of 24 PAA training for fifth-generation painted in primer and
the Senate on December of the Air Force submits to each [and] an analysis of the fighter pilots (see USAF to used test registration
17 and then signed into the congressional defence cost and timelines associated reactivate the 65th AGRS with EC-005. Since then it
law by President Donald committees a comprehensive with modernising the current F-35As, July 2019, p7). As part has been fully painted in
Trump on December 20. plan and report on the air force aggressor squadrons of the plan, two more F-35As the RCAF’s bright yellow
The bill acknowledges strategy for modernising its to include upgrading aircraft at Edwards AFB, California, SAR colour scheme.
that “it is critical that the air organic aggressor fleet.” radar, infrared search-and- would also be moved to Canada is procuring 16
force has the capability to The bill states that the track systems, radar warning Nellis for the 24th Tactical Air CC-295s to take over SAR
train against an advanced required report must include receiver, tactical data Support Squadron to provide duties currently being
air adversary in order to “potential locations for link, threat-representative additional close air support undertaken by six RCAF
be prepared for conflicts F-35A aggressor aircraft, jamming pods, and other training. The 65th AGRS had CC-115 Buffalos and 12
against a modern enemy including an analysis of upgrades necessary to previously undertaken the CC-130H aircraft. Initial
force, and that in order to installations that have the size provide a realistic advanced same role with F-15s, but was operational capability is
have this capability, the air and availability of airspace adversary threat.” deactivated on September scheduled for 2020 with
force must have access necessary to meet flying Currently, the USAF has 26, 2014, as a cost-saving full capability following
to an advanced adversary operations requirements; two aggressor units, the measure. Dave Allport in 2022. Dave Allport
Wisconsin ANG F-16s return from Bagram

US AIR Force/Wisconsin The unit had departed Scott Jobe, the 455th AEW
Air National Guard F-16s Truax Field to begin the commander, saying: “The
have completed an almost deployment last July 25. While 176th EFS is the finest F-16
four-month deployment to at Bagram, the unit operated unit I have encountered.” In
Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, as the 176th Expeditionary addition, Brig Gen Michael
in support of Operations Fighter Squadron under E Martin, the deputy
Freedom’s Sentinel and the control of the 455th Air commanding general for
Resolute Support. The Expeditionary Wing (AEW). NATO Special Operations
aircraft, along with more Col Erik Peterson, 115th FW Component Command and
than 200 airmen assigned to commander, reported that the Special Operations Joint Task
the 115th Fighter Wing/176th unit had executed 100% of Force-Afghanistan, sent the
Fighter Squadron ‘Badger its air tasking order missions USAF Chief of Staff, Gen
Air Militia’ and active-duty during the deployment David L Goldfein, a letter that
associate unit the 495th and the maintenance team concluded with praise that the
Fighter Group/378th Fighter performed their role flawlessly 176th EFS had been directly
Squadron, were welcomed to maximise sortie generation. responsible for changing the
Above: USAF/Wisconsin ANG/115th FW/176th FS ‘Badger Air home during a ceremony at The unit received numerous tide of the war in the Train
Militia’ F-16C 87-0298 ‘WI’ arrives back at Truax Field, Madison- Truax Field, Madison-Dane accolades for their exceptional Advise Assist Command –
Dane County Regional Airport, Wisconsin, after its deployment to County Regional Airport, performance, with a personal North (TAAC – North) region
Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. USAF/115th FW/Tech Sgt Andrea F Rhode Wisconsin, on November 9. note from Brig Gen R of Afghanistan. Dave Allport

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

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