Page 99 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

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1: A technician checks a wingtip AIM-9M
Sidewinder missile prior to a training sortie. As lead
nation of the 50th BAP detachment at Šiauliai, the
HUNAF remained on 24/7 alert – known as ‘hot’
– throughout its four-month stay. 2: An unusual
occurrence for a BAP interception – a Su-24M

strike aircraft ejects infrared flares over the Baltic.
During manoeuvres under the guidance of an
A-50U airborne early warning aircraft, Su-24s
carried out reconnaissance and jamming sorties

escorted by ‘Flanker’ fight ers. HUNAF 3: Last
checks in the ‘Q shed’ for JAS 39C serial 32 prior
to departure on a scheduled Tango scramble. The
Hungarian Gripens made use of Litening III laser
designator pods for long-range air-to-air detection.
4: Seen from the cockpit of a Hungarian Gripen,
Su-27P ‘03 Red’/RF-91911 is armed with four
live short-range R-73 (AA-11 ‘Archer’) air-to-air
missiles. This ‘Flanker’ was involved in escorting
the Russian defence minister’s Tu-214PU over
the Baltic on August 13 when it was accused by
NATO of making an “unsafe” manoeuvre against a
Spanish EF-18. HUNAF 5: The HUNAF detachment
poses with a Gripen in a QRA shelter to mark the
50th BAP rotation. Augmenting nations during
this period were Spain and the UK, with EF-18M
Hornets at Šiauliai and Typhoon FGR4s at Ämari
respectively. 6: Two-seat JAS 39D serial 44 over
Lithuania. The HUNAF brought this dual-seat
Gripen with them to keep pilots proficient in

some areas of their flying and for the detachment

commander – who was not current – to get some

flying hours when available.
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The second Ramstein Alloy exercise of the This summer, Ämari was home not only to the opportunity to demonstrate the security
year took place in reserved training airspace RAF Typhoons but a larger British battle group provided by NATO to the Baltic citizens.
over the three Baltic states and adjacent led by the Royal Navy. The navy organised the On September 3, General Jeffrey L Harrigian
international waters and was organised by Baltic Protector Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) – the new commander of US Air Forces in
the CAOC in Uedem, in conjunction with the exercise involving 20 vessels and 3,000 soldiers Europe (USAFE) – presided over a handover
Baltic CRC at Karmėlava, Lithuania, and the from nine nations, during which the Gripens ceremony and commended the outgoing
Control and Reporting Point at Ämari, Estonia. flew CAS for the disembarkation forces. The Hungarian and Spanish detachments for
Conducted since 2008 as the Baltic Region Gripen’s CAS capabilities were also put to use their successful mission, while wishing luck
Training Event before being relaunched in in the Lithuanian-led Iron Wolf army exercise. to the incoming Belgian and Danish forces.
2016, Ramstein Alloy provides a two-day Furthermore, HUNAF Gripens and Spanish The 50th BAP rotation was the second
training event, three times a year, to exercise Hornets flew around a dozen NATO- time the Hungarian Air Force carried out an
and enhance relations among regional air approved ceremonial flights over different operation abroad. According to current plans,
forces and further develop interoperability military and civilian venues in the region. the HUNAF Gripens will return to the Baltics
with locally based partner air forces. These fly-bys proved popular and were an in 2022, for another four-month deployment. AFM

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www.Key.Aero #381 December 2019 // 97

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