Page 17 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

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US Army’s latest Atlantic Resolve aviation rotation

A US Army combat aviation took place on November 1. Unloading began the next reconnaissance battalion (ARB, CAV), UH-60M (AHB)
brigade (CAB) rotation took American Roll-on Roll-off day. The vessel offloaded (ARB), an assault helicopter and UH-60L, HH-60M
place in October between the Carrier (ARC) ship Endurance 37 helicopters in Zeebrugge battalion (AHB), a general and CH-47F (GSAB). The
outgoing 1st CAB stationed at transported the 3rd CAB and then continued to Volos support aviation battalion cavalry squadrons also fly
Marshall Army Airfield, Kansas, helicopters, vehicles and other in Greece to deliver the (GSAB) and a squadron the AH-64D/E, which has
and the incoming 3rd CAB equipment from Savannah, remaining 80 helicopters. from a cavalry regiment replaced the OH-58D in
from Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, and arrived at Normal composition of a (CAV). The battalions are the armed reconnaissance
Georgia. The deployment of Zeebrugge on October 14. CAB consists of an attack equipped with the AH-64D/E role. Manolito Jaarsma
the 3rd CAB to Europe was
announced by the US Army on
August 16. Simultaneously, the
2nd Armored Brigade Combat
Team (ABCT) based at Fort
Hood, Texas, arrived in Europe.
NATO host nation support
was provided by Belgium
(the port of Zeebrugge
and Chièvres air base) and
Greece (port of Volos) for the
incoming and the Netherlands
(Eindhoven AB and the port
of Rotterdam) for the outgoing
aviation rotation. A transfer of
authority between both CABs AH-64D 09-05602 of the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment ‘Blackjack’ at Zeebrugge on October 16. Manolito Jaarsma
Final RFP for USAF’s new light THE USAF released final Command (AFSOC) from
requests for proposal (RfP) for its headquarters at Hurlburt
attack aircraft a limited number of Textron Field, Florida, to develop an
Aviation AT-6 Wolverine and
instructor pilot programme
Sierra Nevada Corporation/
for the Combat Aviation
Embraer Defense & Security Advisory mission, to meet
A-29 Super Tucano aircraft on increased partner nation
October 24. According to a requests for light attack
statement from the Secretary assistance. Meanwhile, the
of the Air Force Barbara Wolverines will be flown
Barrett, the service plans by Air Combat Command
to purchase “two to three” at Nellis Air Force Base,
light attack aircraft from each Nevada, for continued testing
manufacturer to support the and development of frontline
National Defense Strategy’s tactics and standards for
focus on “building allies and exportable, tactical networks
partner capacity, capability that improve interoperability
and interoperability via with international partners.
USAF Capt Matthew Clayton, an 81st Fighter Squadron instructor pilot, flies an A-29 over Moody training and experimentation” . Contract award is
Air Force Base, Georgia. Currently, the 81st FS is the only A-29 squadron in the air force, but The Super Tucanos expected by the end of the
more examples of the type will be added to the inventory at Hurlburt Field. USAF/Senior Airman will be operated by Air year for the A-29 and in
Ryan Callaghan Force Special Operations early 2020 for the AT-6.
‘Panthers’ Strike Eagles US Navy C-40 deliveries complete
arrive at Al Dhafra US NAVAL Air Systems at Naval Air Station North for flight’ certification.
Command announced the Island, California. At least one C-40 is always
last two deliveries for the As well as completing its deployed to US Central
US Navy’s C-40 fleet after current planned aircraft Command (CENTCOM),
the Tactical Airlift Program procurements, the US US European Command
Office (PMA-207) took Navy’s Clipper fleet added (EUCOM) and US Pacific
delivery of the service’s a sixth squadron recently, Command (PACOM) areas
16th aircraft in June and when VR-51 ‘Windjammers’ of operation and over the
17th aircraft on September received two C-40s at past year, the C-40 fleet
26. The navy’s latest C-40A Marine Corps Air Station logged 24,374 hours of
will be assigned to the Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. flight time, completed
US Naval Reserve’s Fleet The squadron became 1,555 missions, transported
Logistics Support Squadron fully operational in October, 95,746 passengers and
57 (VR-57) ‘Conquistadors’ following receipt of its ‘safe 20,012,934 tons of cargo.

Above: USAF F-15Es from the 494th Fighter Squadron taxi to
park on their arrival at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.
USAF/Tech Sgt Kat Justen
AIR COMBAT Command RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.
announced that USAF F-15Es The jets join a variety of
from the 494th Fighter aircraft at Al Dhafra that
Squadron ‘Panthers’ arrived includes additional F-15Es
at Al Dhafra Air Base, United (from Seymour Johnson Air
Arab Emirates on October Force Base, North Carolina),
18. The Strike Eagles were KC-10s, E-3s, U-2s and An aircraft handler directs a C-40A Clipper on the flight line at
deployed by the squadron’s RQ-4s to support ongoing Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, in July.
US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jose R Jaen
parent 48th Fighter Wing at operations in the region.

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