Page 98 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

Hungarian Gripens on BAP

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Tango scrambles completed a quick turnaround and refuelled Blackjack – with the help of the Hungarians.
The Gripen pilots flew training QRA missions the Gripens to get them back on QRA The HUNAF pilots always took photos and
(Tango scrambles) as well as ‘real-world’ status. In the event of malfunctions that videos of the intercepted aircraft, which wasn’t
alerts (Alpha scrambles). Training sorties were could not be fixed at Šiauliai, a replacement always welcomed. According to the Gripen pilots,
planned alongside the Spanish and British Gripen was flown in from Hungary and the escorts for high-value assets sometimes
detachments to ensure all aircrews were familiar the faulty jet flown home if possible. manoeuvred aggressively to prevent interception
with local and NATO flight procedures. The first Alpha scramble took place on May by the NATO jets. After landing the pilots made
The HUNAF Gripens received their 13, when Hungarian Gripens intercepted an mission reports that were sent to CRC Karmėlava.
scramble orders from CAOC Uedem via An-26 transport. The 50th and last Alpha
a permanent communication connection scramble was ordered on August 30, when Gripens on exercise
between Šiauliai and the Baltic Control and the Gripens intercepted a Su-30SM. The Hungarian Gripens deployed to Lithuania
Reporting Centre (CRC) at Karmėlava. Throughout the deployment, the Hungarian for the BAP mission also supported a range of
Regardless of whether it was an Alpha Gripens completed 488 take-offs and recorded ground troops and other forces in the region.
or Tango scramble, all sorties took place 534 flying hours, including the 50 Alpha Training exercises included joint flying sorties.
according to a strict set of rules. The pilots, scrambles, 110 Tango scrambles, and 141 other Among the most significant manoeuvres was
already kitted out with helmets, kneepads training sorties, including dogfights, close air BALTOPS – a United States Naval Forces
and immersion suits, were driven to their jets support (CAS) and flybys. During the HUNAF’s Europe exercise involving 8,600 soldiers from
in a minivan. Already alerted, the technicians 2015 deployment only 25 Alpha scrambles had 18 nations, during which the Gripens flew
opened the hangar doors and waited for been ordered. This year, intercepted aircraft air defence sorties to protect NATO naval
the aircrew to arrive. After a rapid strap-in, comprised examples of the: An-12BK, An-24, assets. Meanwhile, the HUNAF flew CAS
the engines spooled up, pilots completed An-26, Tu-134, Tu-154, Tu-214PU, Il-18RT, Il-20M, missions during Exercise Tobruq Legacy 19
their last checks and technicians performed Il-22M, Il-38N, Il-76MD, A-50U, Tu-142M, Su-24M/ at the Ustka weapon range in Poland.
a final walk-around of the aircraft and the MR, Su-27P/SM, Su-30SM, Su-35S and Su-34. During Ramstein Alloy 19-2, Gripens were
live weapons. The Gripens flew with two The intercepted aircraft were flying between again involved as NATO allies conducted air
AIM-9 Sidewinders, two AIM-120 AMRAAMs, St Petersburg and Kaliningrad either without policing tasks in the Baltic region. On June
loaded guns and one central drop tank to ‘squawking’ (transponders switched off), radio 25-26, NATO and partner nations took part in
extend combat air patrol (CAP) duration. communication or flight plans, or a combination training in standard QRA procedures for both
According to NATO rules, the basic formation of these, and interception was not always easy. rotational BAP assets and regional air forces.
for QRA is a two-ship. The leader is responsible Numerous exercises were noted over the Baltic More than a dozen fighters from Finland,
for identifying the violating aircraft, while the Sea, with Russian military aircraft controlled Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Spain,
wingman covers the leader’s rear hemisphere. by an A-50U Mainstay. Su-24s carried out Sweden and the United Kingdom worked with
Occasionally pilots had to use an emergency reconnaissance and jamming sorties and escorts air-to-air refuelling assets from Germany and
frequency to contact the intruder or otherwise were provided by Su-27, Su-30 and Su-35 aircraft. the Netherlands together with a NATO E-3A
flew in close formation and used hand signals. On one occasion the Spanish QRA pair was AWACS. Also involved were a Lithuanian
After returning to base, HUNAF technicians delayed but eventually caught its target – a Tu-160 transport and a search and rescue helicopter.

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