Page 13 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Vietnam Scheme T-38 The latest heritage T-38C Talon (serial
66-4353), assigned to the 469th Flying
Training Squadron (FTS) based at
Sheppard AFB, Texas, wears a scheme
inspired by the Southeast Asia colours
used on USAF tactical aircraft in the
1960s and ’70s. As part of the 388th
Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW), predecessor
unit the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron
(TFS), flew F-4 Phantoms in Vietnam.
Caulun Belcher

IOC for ROKAF F-35A

The Republic of Korea Air Force AFB, Arizona. By the end of 2019, 13 Group’s Detachment 2 at Luke or are
(ROKAF) declared initial operating aircraft had been handed over to South under test at Fort Worth.
capability (IOC) for the F-35A on Korea, the first two examples arriving at Seoul plans to have 40 Lightning IIs
December 17. The Lightning IIs are now Cheongju Air Base last March 29; two by the end of 2021. In October 2019,
ready for limited combat deployment. more were delivered to the base directly the government announced it would
ROKAF chief of staff General Won In- from the factory at Fort Worth, Texas, begin the second phase of its plan to
choul presided over the event, which last July 15. The 151st Fighter Squadron acquire additional jets. Under the F-X
took place at the 17th Fighter Wing’s is the initial operator of the ROKAF’s III programme, the ROKAF is scheduled
base at Cheongju. F-35A fleet, with eight aircraft assigned to receive another 20 F-35s at a cost of
By December 2018, six F-35As were as of December. The other five jets $3.3bn. These aircraft are expected to be
undertaking crew training at Luke are attached to the 944th Operations delivered from 2021 to 2025.

Final Indian Floggers Retired

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has retired its final Mikoyan-Gurevich historic Kargil conflict when it delivered rockets and bombs with
MiG-27ML UPG Flogger variable-geometry ground-attack accuracy on enemy positions. The fleet also took an active part in
aircraft, following a ceremony at Jodhpur Air Force Station, Operation Parakram [the India-Pakistan standoff in 2001-02].”
Rajasthan, on December 27. The MiG-27 was the last variable-geometry aircraft to operate
During the proceedings, No 29 Squadron ‘Scorpions’ – the with the IAF, with India’s MiG-23 force having been retired in
final IAF unit to operate the MiG-27 – performed a seven- 2007 (MiG-23MF interceptor) and 2009 (MiG-23BN ground-
ship formation flypast over the base, marking the type’s final attack aircraft) respectively. From 2004, 38 of the original aircraft
sortie in Indian service. The unit was part of South Western Air were modernised by HAL to MiG-27ML UPG (upgrade) standard.
Command’s 32 Wing. This improved combat effectiveness and included a service life
In a statement released before the type’s retirement, India’s extension. The final non-upgraded MiG-27ML jets were withdrawn
defence ministry said: “The MiG-27 fleet earned its glory in the at Hasimara AFS in December 2017.

Alouette III Ends ROKN Service IN BRIEF

The Romanian government has passed a draft
law outlining procurement of another five
F-16 FIGHTING FALCONS from Portuguese
stocks. The jets will have the same M.5.2R
software configuration as Romania’s existing
12 F-16s. Eventually, all 17 fighters will be
upgraded to a new standard called M.6.X.
Russian Helicopters and the Russian
defence ministry have launched JOINT
STATE TESTS OF THE MI-26T2V heavy-lift
military helicopter. In 2018, Rostvertol
produced a prototype of the modernised
Halo, equipped with NPK90-2V integrated
avionics, and, following preliminary tests at
the manufacturing facility, trials will continue
The remaining three Aérospatiale SA319B Following its last flight, Alouette III serial 79- throughout the year.
Alouette IIIs in service with the Republic 0312 lands at Mokpo on November 7. ROKN
of Korea Navy (ROKN) were formally and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and The ARGENTINE AIR FORCE’S FOKKER
retired during a ceremony at Mokpo anti-surface warfare (ASuW) missions F28-1000C TC-52 (c/n 1074) took to the air
again on December 23, after being restored
Air Base (K-15) on December 3. During since 1977. Operationally replaced by the to airworthiness by the Fábrica Argentina de
43 years of service, which ended on Lynx Mk99/99A, the Alouettes had been Aviones (FAdeA) and personnel from Grupo
November 7, the Alouette IIIs flew 73,545 relegated to the training role with the Técnico 1. The Fellowship had last flown on
hours. The navy operated a total of 12 609 Education & Training Unit’s 1st Flight August 31, 2018.
SA319Bs in the shipborne reconnaissance Training Squadron at Mokpo.

WWW.AVIATION-NEWS.CO.UK 13

10-13_military_newsDC.mfDC.mf.indd 13 13/01/2020 14:40