Page 21 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

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United Uruguayan Air Argentina
States signs contract
donates Force open for four US
Bell 212 to house surplus P-3Cs
Uruguay ARGENTINA IS to acquire
four surplus US Navy P-3Cs
from the US government.
On September 27, the
country’s defence minister,
Oscar Aguad, said that a
purchase agreement has
been concluded for the
aircraft, which will replace
the current Comando de
Aviación Naval (COAN,
Argentine Naval Aviation
Command) fleet of six
P-3Bs, all of which are
Above: The new FAU Bell 212 The afternoon of the open house at Pando included an now non-operational. The
seen at Huntsville, Alabama, aerobatic performance by the Escuadrilla Tango team, current Orions require
while being refurbished comprising four F-260EUs from the EMA. Esteban G Brea expensive upgrades
prior to handover from the THE FUERZA Aérea Marchetti F-260EU. The Infraestructura Aeronáutica and major structural
US government. The origin Uruguaya (FAU, Uruguayan Escuadrón Aéreo No 3 (DINACIA, the country’s refurbishment, including
of the airframe is currently Air Force) staged an open (Transporte) from Carrasco civil aviation and aviation main spar replacement,
unclear. FAU house event at the Escuela provided a C212-300 Aviocar, infrastructure directorate) and it was determined that
THE US government has Militar de Aeronáutica which was part of the static with a TB-10 Tobago, the purchase of newer, second-
donated a Bell 212 to the (EMA, Military Aeronautics display, as well as delivering FAU’s Escuadrón Aéreo No 7 hand P-3Cs that have only
Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya School) in Pando city, paratroopers and performing (Observación y Enlace) with recently been retired by the
(FAU, Uruguayan Air Force). Canelones on October 6. a flypast. The Carrasco- a Cessna U-206H Stationair US Navy would be cheaper.
The FAU announced The event provided visitors based Escuadrón Aéreo and the Escuadrón de Vuelo Negotiations with the US
on October 27 that it with a close look at various No 5 (Helicópteros) was Avanzado (EVA, Advanced Navy for the purchase had
anticipated taking delivery FAU aircraft, with EMA also present with a UH-1H Flying Squadron) with a been ongoing since 2016.
of the helicopter, valued static exhibits comprising that made a search-and- PC-7U. These types were Aguad said that the
at approximately US$3m, examples of the Beechcraft rescue demonstration. all on static display before COAN had also considered
around November 22 at UB-58 Baron, LET L-13 Other units deployed making several passes on purchasing two new
Huntsville International Blaník, Piper PA-18-150 were the Dirección departure for their home Airbus C295MPAs, but a
Airport, Alabama. Super Cub and a SIAI- Nacional de Aviación Civil e units. Esteban G Brea number of factors swayed
The new aircraft will join the decision in favour of
the four FAU Bell 212s the P-3Cs. These included
currently operated by More Peruvian Frogfoots refurbished easier conversion training,
Brigada Aérea 1’s Escuadrón A VISIT to the facilities of the plus the P-3C’s longer
Aéreo No 5 (Helicópteros) Servicio de Mantenimiento endurance and greater
at Carrasco International de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú weapons payload.
Airport/General Cesáreo (SEMAN) at Base Aérea Las Local media reports say
L Berisso (Montevideo- Palmas in Lima in October that the deal stipulates that
Canelones). Two of these provided an update on local the four P-3Cs allocated for
are deployed with the Su-25 refurbishment efforts. the COAN must not have
Uruguayan Aviation Unit Under the programme, ten been out of active US Navy
(URUAVU) at Bukavu in of the 18 aircraft received service for more than two
the Democratic Republic of are to undergo a major years prior to delivery. First
the Congo, supporting the inspection and refurbishment. consignments are expected
United Nations Organization A US$32m contract was to take place next year.
Stabilization Mission in the signed with Rosoboronexport Above: Peruvian Air Force Su-25 ‘71’ at SEMAN’s facilities in Las The contract, reportedly
Democratic Republic of the in December 2014. Of this, Palmas. Ian French valued at around $60m,
Congo (MONUSCO). After US$15.5m is allocated for The first aircraft to complete The fourth aircraft, includes four additional
completion of evaluation by repair of major assemblies the programme, Su-25 ‘070’ Su-25 ‘071’, is currently aircraft to be used for
FAU personnel in the US, and accessories, US$8.2m (which took six months), being worked on and was spares, plus further spares
the additional helicopter for new brake parachutes, returned to service in August scheduled for delivery in and technical equipment.
was expected to be shipped spare parts and technical last year and a total of three December. The next aircraft The P-3Cs will be
to Uruguay at the end manuals and US$8.3m for have now been delivered will be ‘075’, ‘077’, ‘078’, operated by the COAN’s
of November, soon after the overhaul of 20 R-95Sh (Su-25UBs ‘085’ in March ‘079’, ‘080’ and ‘087’, the former P-3B unit – the
which it is scheduled engines. This equates to this year and ‘083’ in August latter two being Su-25UBs. Escuadrilla Aeronaval de
to be deployed to the US$3.2m per aircraft and will 2019). For the third aircraft, Currently only one aircraft Exploración, stationed at
DRC to join the URUAVU cover six single-seat Su-25s ‘083’, the programme length is being worked on at Base Aeronaval Almirante
detachment. Dave Allport and four two-seat Su-25UBs. was reduced to four months. a time. Ian French Zar, Trelew. Dave Allport
In Brief

A-Darter missile in Brasília on September considering employing its AS332F Super Pumas. (or AV-TM 300) surface-to-
formally qualified 26. The missile has been fleet of four AS365Fi Dauphin Brazilian Air Force surface missile, the weapon
Certification authorities from integrated, qualified and 2s for tactical missions on developing cruise missile has undergone integration
Brazil and South Africa have cleared for South African JAS board its new-generation The Brazilian Air Force has tests on the central pylon of
given final approval for the 39C/D Gripens and will arm warships. The former Irish Air revealed a programme to an F-5M fighter. The 186-mile
A-Darter infrared-guided Brazil’s Gripen E/F fighters. Corps rotorcraft are currently develop a long-range air- (300km) range missile will
short-range air-to-air missile. Chilean Navy Dauphin 2s used for utility work but could launched cruise missile, the feature inertial/GPS guidance
Joint type certificates were may gain tactical mission be upgraded to complement MICLA-BR. An air-launched and an image correlation
awarded to the company The Chilean Navy is the fleet of five seagoing development of the MTC-300 system for terminal navigation.

www.Key.Aero #381 December 2019 // 21

20-21 News AFM Dec2019.indd 21 11/11/2019 10:51:48