Page 38 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

10 mabr at Kul’bakino

Above: One of the unit’s new Mi-8MSB-Vs, ‘43
Yellow’, parked on the 10 mabr apron at Kul’bakino
in mid-September last year after a series of training
flights. So far, the serials have not been painted on
the fuselages of the unit’s two new Mi-8s, but are
carried on a piece of paper (just as ‘43’ in this case)
in one of the cargo cabin windows on each side –
standard practice on many Ukrainian military Mi-8s.
Left: In addition to the local aircraft from 10 mabr
and 299 brihada taktichnoyi aviatsiyi (brTA, tactical
aviation brigade), at the end of October last year a
detachment of at least five Su-27s of the 831 brTA at
Myrhorod air base was operating from Kul’bakino,
taking part in the annual air-to-air live-firing exercise
over Ukraine’s new Yagorlyk training range, located
on the Black Sea shore. Three of these are seen in
this photo – Su-27P1Ms ‘39 Blue’ and ‘59 Blue’ and Su-
27UB1M ‘71 Blue’. Below left: Before the arrival of the
new Mi-8MSB-V helicopters, the unit’s Ka-27s and Mi-
14s were tasked with various transport duties. Mi-14PL
‘37 Yellow’ (c/n 78461) is seen landing after delivering
underslung cargo (a vehicle or artillery piece) during
a transport mission as part of the Shtorm-2018
(Storm-2018) exercise in August 2018. This helicopter
returned from an overhaul and modernisation at the
Konotop repair facility in late November. Ukraine MoD
Press-Service via author
p36), including its two shipborne Ka-27s, ASW end of 2019, after being fitted with new Western helicopter aircrew in combination with Polish
Ka-27PL ‘20 Yellow’ and SAR Ka-27PS ‘29 avionics, including a Honeywell/BendixKing PNL-3 Bielik night-vision goggles (NVGs),
Yellow’, which, while operational and present RDR 2100 digital weather radar system and a suggesting that the cockpit of ‘37 Yellow’
during the exercise, did not participate, owing Garmin GTN 750H navigational suite for each is also likely to be NVG-compatible.
to the fact that the Ka-27 fleet was due for pilot. The latter features a multifunction display
maintenance and their flight resources had to be and is linked to additional associated sub- Last of the flying-boats
conserved. However, their role was completed systems, antennas, sensors and indicators, Finally, as per a contract signed last July 15, the
instead by the unit’s single Ka-226 (see Ukrainian combining GPS and VHF omnidirectional unit’s two Be-12s – ASW Be-12PL ‘02 Yellow’
Navy Ka-226 in Exercise Sea Breeze, September range/instrument landing system (VOR/ and SAR Be-12PS ‘05 Yellow’ – are currently at
2019, p21) and the three active Mi-14s. The ILS) navigation, radio communications and the local NARP aircraft repair facility for further
Ka-27PL ‘22 Yellow’ and Ka-27PS ‘29 Yellow’ weather radar mode. Pilots will be equipped repair and maintenance. The work at NARP
are currently undergoing a major maintenance with Polish THL-5NV helmets, already was expected to have been completed by the
and life-extension programme at the KARZ used by Ukrainian Army Aviation Mi-24PU1 end of 2019. These obsolescent amphibians
‘Aviakon’ repair facility in Konotop and are had been scheduled to be replaced by two
expected to return later this year, leaving only An-148-300MP maritime patrol aircraft by
Ka-27PL ‘20 Yellow’ currently operational. the end of 2019, but this hasn’t happened
The unit’s fourth Mi-14, ASW Mi-14PL ‘37 – the role of maritime patrol/SAR aircraft is
Yellow’, was also absent during Sea Breeze, therefore being undertaken by the unit’s pair
undergoing overhaul and modernisation at of An-26 transports, ‘09 Yellow’ and ‘10 Yellow’
KARZ ‘Aviakon’. It returned to 10 mabr at the (see Black Sea Defenders, June 2018, p43). AFM
Right: The unit’s single active SAR Ka-27PS ‘29 Yellow’
(c/n 5235012382608) took part in a large 10 mabr
exercise at the beginning of August last year. It is seen
here at the former Ochakiv air base on August 1, after
relocating there along with all other airworthy 10 mabr
aircraft. Here the aircraft and crews operated from
an auxiliary airfield in full ‘wartime’ conditions. The
helicopter is currently undergoing a major maintenance
and life-extension programme at the Konotop repair
facility. Ukraine MoD Press-Service via author

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

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