F-15SA EXERCISE REPORT ‘RED FLAG-ALASKA’ THE ULTIMATE EAGLE Volume 18 • Number 1 AMERICA’S BEST-SELLING MILITARY AVIATION MAGAZINE et n aft. cr air at b m o c LANGLEY RAPTORS HOW TO FLY AND FIGHT IN THE F-22 SPARKS FLY! HORNET AND GRIPEN ROAD OPS PLUS MARINE CORPS OSPREYS DANISH VIPER MASTERS 0 6 4. £ K U 7 1 0 2 Y R A U N A J ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV IN ACTION • J-20 GOES PUBLIC AT ZHUHAI • SCORPION STINGS 1 Cover_UK.indd 1 24/11/2016 16:48 Your favourite magazine is also available digitally. DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW FOR FREE. 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App prices subject to change. 1174/16 1174 CAM digi fp.indd 2 21/11/2016 16:34 January 2017 • Vol 18 • No 1 34The F-22 Raptor is held in high esteem by air power afi cionados — fi nd out why in this issue IN THE NEWS 96 CUTTING EDGE 70 FINNISH HORNETS Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting ON THE ROAD from the front line of aerospace technology, by During the last week of September 06 Headline News David Axe 2016, the Finnish Air Force conducted J-20 debuts at Zhuhai and F-15SA the ‘Baana 16’ maneuvers, a road-base down low 58 LEAN BUT MEAN exercise involving aircraft operating 08 United States News The Royal Danish Air Force has long been at the from public highways in southern forefront of the F-16 Fighting Falcon program. Finland. Jan Jørgensen was there to US Marine Corps embarks F-35B for DT-III, With Denmark’s sights now set on the F-35 witness the action Extended Range Avenger fl ies and all the Lightning II, Søren Augustesen looks at this latest unit and deployment news small but capable force 18 World News News from Europe and around the globe including Canada’s interim Super Hornet plans, plus all the latest military losses 26 THE SECRETIVE SUPER EAGLE Jon Lake evaluates the F-15SA. Described as the most capable version of the Eagle, and as being more advanced than current US Air Force aircraft, it brings improved performance, an increased warload, enhanced situational awareness and better survivability — all at a lower total life-cycle cost 88 34 FIRST FIGHTERS The 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley- Eustis led from the front when it came to the F-22 Raptor, bringing this revolutionary fi ghter into US Air Force service in 2005. Jamie Hunter heads to Langley and discovers that demand for the wing’s services remains as high as ever 50 PHANTOM FINALE A fantastic shot of a US Air Force QF-4E Phantom II low down in the Mojave desert by David Campion that just had to be used as our centerspread this month 54 ALAT ELITE Henri-Pierre Grolleau lifts the lid on one of the most secretive helicopter units in the world, the 4e Régiment d’Hélicoptères de Forces Spéciales (4e RHFS, or 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment) PURPLE FOXES Ted Carlson/Fotodynamics visits Marine Corps Air Station 64 ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV Camp Pendleton in California, the latest roost for the ever- IN ACTION expanding US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey force Babak Taghvaee and Thomas Newdick evaluate tchaerr ideer bAudtm cioraml bKuazt ndeetpsolovy amnedn itts o nf ethwely a ircraft PLUS SSSSSSUUUBBBAAASSSCCCRRRVVVIIIBBBEEE AAAEEENNNDDD modernized Sukhoi Su-33 shipborne fi ghters Our regular Eye on the East column 76 SCORPION GETS ITS STING evaluates the recent air display at Zhuhai. Jamie Hunter talks with Textron AirLand about its Scorpion, which has conducted a series of Subscribe to Combat live fi ring trials as the company prepares to fl y ON THE COVER: Aircraft Monthly and its fi rst production-standard aircraft F-22 Raptors of the 94th Fighter make great savings on Squadron ‘Hat in the Ring’ break 80 WARFIGHTERS IN THE WILD spectacularly for the camera. cover price. Exercise ‘Red Flag — Alaska’ is growing in Jamie Hunter stature. Jonathan Derden ventures into the See pages wilds of America’s largest and most sparsely 52 and 53 for details. populated state — ideal for warfi ghter training 3 Contents_CA C.indd 3 24/11/2016 10:20 COMBAT EDGE | FIND US ON THE USAF’S AGGRESSOR INITIATIVE S EEING THE LIKES of the ‘We need capacity and the threat is Chinese J-20 wheeling in the getting better. The density and the skies over Zhuhai makes US environment is getting more challenging, Air Force intelligence analysts so we even need it more than we used to nervous. Few experts believe need it’, Carlisle said at November’s the J-20 would last long in a International Fighter Conference in fi ght against an F-22, but the chances are London. that China will build these fi ghters in In July 2016, the USAF issued a request numbers that will eclipse the USAF’s for information for adversary air (AdAir) dwindling fi ghter fl eet. capability, reaching out to the contractor Therefore, maintaining the technological air services companies. It’s a massive and training edge is vital if the US is to retain emerging market. At Nellis, despite having aerial supremacy. a resident F-16 aggressor squadron, during The feature in this issue on the 1st Fighter Fiscal Year 2016 alone the USAF says it had Wing Raptor squadrons is a classic case in an aggressor shortfall amounting to a point. While the Langley F-22 pilots enjoy a massive 3,000 sorties. resident aggressor T-38 Talon squadron to The USAF is hard at work developing its ‘fi ght’ against, they typically have little live virtual constructive (LVC) training option other than to fl y against fellow environment to make full use of sensors and Raptors for that high-end Red Air challenge. capabilities in a secure environment — Air Combat Command boss Gen Herbert testing pilots in a high-end series of ‘Hawk’ Carlisle says that pitting fi fth- scenarios in a simulator, away from prying generation F-22s and F-35s against each eyes. Despite such advances, the need to other amounts to ‘zero training and almost maintain eff ective live fl ying remains. negative training’. He adds: ‘generating our In the coming years, we can expect to see own adversary from fi fth-generation is increased use of contractor air services, counterproductive.’ To challenge the crews, providing the necessary numbers of 04 Carlisle wants to outnumber his F-22 and aggressors with radar-equipped F-16s, F-35 pilots against an eff ective aggressor alongside more in-house USAF aggressor force by a factor of 3:1 or 4:1. units to off er the high-end threat While the T-38 aggressors embedded replication. alongside F-22 squadrons off er those To keep track of the latest breaking news numbers, the only real advantage the Talon and analysis in the world of military air pilot has is a small visual signature. F-22 power you can visit our social media sites pilots need the opportunity to go up and our website: www.combataircraft.net. against a radar-equipped adversary and for You can also sign up for our free e-mail the Red Air to be able to hold its own in the newsletter by going to visual fi ght. www.combataircraft.net to register. The USAF has two dedicated F-16 Fighting Falcon aggressor squadrons: one at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the other at Eielson AFB in Alaska. However, these only really have the capacity to support resident activities, with an occasional ‘road trip’. What Carlisle needs Jamie Hunter, is an eff ective, resident aggressor squadron Editor at each of his fi fth-generation bases. E-mail: [email protected] CONTRIBUTOR PROFILE SØREN AUGUSTESEN S øren’s interest in airshow. The hobby has grown aviation started steadily from there. Søren started at the age of 10, writing articles as a part-time building model freelance writer/photographer when airplanes and reading aviation he was 30. He now travels all over the books. Inspired by the images world to photograph and write about in these books, he began aviation. His interests and expertise photographing aircraft aged lie in military aviation, especially in 16 when attending his fi rst his native country of Denmark. 4-5 Combat Edge C.indd 4 24/11/2016 14:32 JANUARY 2017 | COMBAT EDGE The underside of a J-20 on display at Zhuhai. Note that it fl ies with a Luneberg lens radar- augmentation device under the fuselage, perhaps to conceal its true radar signature. via Chinese Internet 05 4-5 Combat Edge C.indd 5 24/11/2016 14:33 [NEWS] HEADLINES DRAGON UNLEASHED observers should be careful not to overstate the importance of this brief appearance. Among the many oversimplified — or just plain wrong J-20 MAKES PUBLIC DEBUT AT ZHUHAI — statements that came in the wake of Zhuhai, critics pointed to a ‘timid flight demonstration’ proving that the aircraft ‘is not capable’, slammed the Two low-rate initial J-20 as a ‘US and/or Russian rip-off’, production J-20As completed a 60-second and asserted that it ‘must be a tactical flypast on the show’s bomber due to its large size’. Such opening day on November ill-informed analysis could prove 1. via Chinese Internet dangerous if taken seriously. The most important point to consider is that this aerial demonstration must be seen through Chinese eyes. For outsiders, the J-20’s display was not only brief but also disappointing. However, it carried significant propaganda value, especially for the Chinese public. The appearance at Zhuhai shows that China has joined the ranks of countries capable of developing and introducing a fifth-generation fighter. Above all, it proves that the PLAAF is not only satisfied with the basic C HINA’S PEOPLE’S of its recent results in the field of service following the United States’ design of the J-20 but also confident LIBERATION Army military technology. Combat Aircraft Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and that it will help it achieve its desired Air Force (PLAAF) had predicted the public appearance, F-35 Lightning II. goals. finally unveiled its with evidence of preparations for the During a largely un-noticed Comparisons to displays by the 06 J-20 stealth fighter airshow being noted at the Chengdu interview, Zhang Xinguo, vice- Sukhoi T-50 and F-22 are of limited to the public during Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) airfield president of the Aviation Industry value. After all, there is no reason for the opening ceremony of Airshow since October. Corporation of China (AVIC), noted at a the PLAAF, AVIC or CAC to adopt ‘the China at Zhuhai in Guangdong Prior to this unveiling, the PLAAF press conference that ‘the J-20 will be Russian way’, repeating the chest- province. itself revealed on October 28 that handed over to the Chinese Air Force thumping used to promote the T-50 Two low-rate initial production it would demonstrate its latest J-20 very soon’. This confirms the latest which ultimately only reinforces the (LRIP) J-20A jets completed a brief, stealth fighter. Senior Colonel Shen predictions that the first examples of various promises that that project 60-second flypast on the show’s Jinke, a PLAAF spokesman, made the J-20A have probably already been has so far broken. As regards the J-20, opening day, November 1. the announcement during a news delivered to a PLAAF flight test center none of AVIC, CAC nor the PLAAF have While the long-awaited flight routine conference that morning. He noted at either Cangzhou, or more likely, promised anything yet. was hardly dramatic, the two fighters that: ‘The J-20 was designed by our Dingxin air base, where they will enter Speaking confidentially to CA, one roared above a crowd numbering aircraft researchers for future aerial service before long. Western test pilot commented that hundreds of spectators as well as combat. Test pilots from the Air Force the J-20A in its current guise ‘looks political dignitaries and industry will use it to perform at the 11th China Numbers game a bit underpowered and hybrid in executives. International Aviation and Aerospace The latest count of J-20As built to design’. He described the Zhuhai The J-20s made a few climbs, Exhibition. date suggests that as many as 11 LRIP display as ‘a bit lethargic, but [the J-20 turns and formation flybys and then ‘The development of the J-20 is aircraft have been completed. Close is still] in the development program. disappeared again, returning to progressing as scheduled, and it is inspection of a photo of a J-20A’s I would want to see some multi-axis Guangdong’s Foshan Shadi Airport expected to further boost the fighting front section reveals the number carefree handling before commenting where the two jets resided during the capacity of the Chinese Air Force’, XX0011. Presuming that CAC’s typical further.’ event. Shen added. It was officially revealed construction number system is also There have been no official Zhuhai is China’s biggest and that, since its maiden flight in employed for the J-20A, the number statements as to whether the J-20 most important airshow, a biennial January 2011, a total of 10 prototypes can be deciphered as follows: XX = 20 employs a version of the AL-31FN occasion that serves as a ‘spotlight have been manufactured: the two (for J-20); 00 = batch 00 (LRIP); and 11 engine. However, the latest reports on the East’ and is used by Beijing demonstrators numbered 2001 and = aircraft number 11. suggest the use of a special, custom- as an opportunity to demonstrate 2002 (the latter now renumbered as In the meantime, spectators, tailored version of the Salut AL-31FM2. its achievements and ambitions in 2004), plus the prototypes 2011, 2012, enthusiasts and analysts alike will Beyond this, there has been no civil aerospace and military aviation. 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and two have to be patient — it is clearly too information released relating to the Consequently, the J-20A can be static test specimens. The spokesman early to judge to what extent the J-20’s dimensions, specific avionics seen as a prime symbol of Beijing’s said that the type will be the third J-20 can match the stealth properties or weapons. This is clearly deliberate, increasing ambitions and the extent stealth fighter to enter operational of the F-22 and F-35. Certainly, leaving potential opponents in the www.combataircraft.net January 2017 6-7 Headlines C.indd 6 21/11/2016 11:09 HEADLINES [NEWS] dark, and making any premature judgments all the more hazardous. ‘Mighty Dragon’ appraised In conclusion, China’s ‘Mighty Dragon’ is neither a sitting duck nor a Raptor- killer — at least, not yet. However, one can be sure that the engineers at CAC have studied Western and Russian fi fth-generation projects closely, drawn important lessons and found their own solutions. The J-20 is not cause for undue alarm, but, given recent progress, it would be a mistake to underestimate its SCREAMING EAGLE capabilities, or those of CAC. Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu F-15SA serial 12-10016 gets down low during testing over the Mojave desert in range R-2508. The new wrote that ‘all warfare is based on standard of Eagle is on test from Air Force Plant 42 at deception’, further recommending Palmdale. Latest details on this program appear in the value in appearing ‘weak when this issue. Gareth Brown you are strong, and strong when you are weak’. A more sober assessment F-35 UPDATE of the J-20’s design suggests that CAC From 2025, repairs will be divided has struck a balance between its own according to separate European capabilities and knowhow, PLAAF and Pacifi c regions. For this period requirements, available materials and the DoD has assigned 51 of the fi rst structure, and, of course, cost. The MRO&U ASSIGNMENTS, TURKEY 65 components to the UK and 14 to company has settled on a design that the Netherlands. In the Pacifi c, the diff ers from other stealth fi ghters in ADDS SECOND BATCH AND F-35B Department has assigned 64 of the several key respects. fi rst 65 components to Australia ON USS AMERICA FOR DT-III 07 In terms of capability and and one component to South technology, the J-20 represents a giant Korea. T leap forward for the Chinese aviation HE US (CONUS), and cover the fi rst 65 of 774 Meanwhile, Turkey’s industry and PLAAF alike. Currently, DEPARTMENT repairable items, including avionics, Undersecretariat for Defense the fi ghter is certainly underpowered of Defense (DoD) life support, egress, canopy system, Industries has announced plans to and this will have an adverse eff ect has announced its pumps and other components. order a second batch of F-35s. The on fl ying characteristics — at least plans for initial F-35 Assignment of the remaining parts deal is likely to involve 24 aircraft until the planned WS-15 engine is maintenance, repair, will occur over the next two to three to be delivered in 2021 and 2022. available. In the meantime, the J-20’s overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) years. Ankara fi rst ordered two F-35As engines are probably adequate and capabilities — the global hubs that For repairs of all F-35s around in 2014 and added another four will provide fl ight performance at will be responsible for repairing the the world from 2021 to 2025, the jets in 2015. Turkey expects to take least comparable to the latest J-11B Lockheed Martin Lightning II. DoD has assigned 48 of the fi rst 65 delivery of its fi rst F-35As in 2018 fi ghter. As regards stealth, the J-20 The initial assignments will provide components to the United Kingdom, and ultimately aims to buy as many is most likely no match for the F-22 for repair of Lightning II components 14 to the Netherlands, and three to as 116 Lightning IIs. and F-35 (see the non-stealthy engine outside the continental United States Australia. Thomas Newdick exhausts, uncovered countermeasures launchers, and other details). On the US Marine Corps other hand, it is surely far stealthier F-35Bs have been engaged in a third than most other types operational in round of shipboard the Asia-Pacifi c region. testing, this time Andreas Rupprecht on USS America. Lockheed Martin/ Andy Wolfe ALSO THIS MONTH... F-35B goes DT-III Full details of the latest Lightning II testing. See US News Admiral Kuznetsov makes its mark Russian carrier marks fi rst Syria missions, but loses a MiG-29. See World News January 2017 www.combataircraft.net 6-7 Headlines C.indd 7 21/11/2016 11:10 [NEWS] UNITED STATES LIGHTNING II LATEST (STOVL) operations in a high sea state, shipboard landings, and night operations. Operational testing (OT), conducted by Marine Operational Test and F-35B EMBARKED ABOARD USS AMERICA Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1, included simulating extensive maintenance aboard a ship. Those F-35B test aircraft BF-05 departs USS efforts included the replacement of America (LHA 6) on November 11, with four inert 500lb GBU-12 Paveway II laser- a power module and engine. The OT guided test bombs on the underwing was also intended to prepare for the pylons. Lockheed Martin/Darin Russell first deployment of the F-35B aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1), in 2017. DT-III culminated on November 19 with a proof of concept demonstration when 12 F-35Bs flew from the ship alongside other Marine Corps Air Combat Element assets. The first ship of its class, USS America incorporates key design elements to accommodate the F-35B. Its features include an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a F IVE OF A planned 6) on October 28. Two of the aircraft Squadron (VX) 23 at Naval Air significant increase in storage for complement of seven supported the third shipboard phase Station Patuxent River, Maryland, parts and equipment, and increased Lockheed Martin F-35Bs of developmental test (DT-III) and and the F-35 Integrated Test Force aviation fuel capacity. touched down on the five were tasked with operational (ITF), DT-III was intended to evaluate The USS Wasp will change its home amphibious assault testing over a period of three weeks. Block 3F software-configured F-35B port from Naval Station Norfolk, ship USS America (LHA Conducted by Air Test and Evaluation short take-off and vertical landing Virginia, to Sasebo, Japan, in 2017. 08 ENLISTED PILOTS USAF PLANS NEXT- COMPLETE FIRST SOLOS GENERATION FIGHTER STUDY TWO US AIR Force master RQ-4 RPA flying operations. THE US AIR Force will begin Command (ACC), is intended to meet sergeants recently became The first enlisted pilot conducting an analysis of requirements that were identified the first enlisted airmen to initial class (EPIC) began on alternatives (AoA) that will consider in the USAF’s recent Air Superiority complete solo flights during October 12 with four students options for a future low-observable 2030 study. Released in May 2016, initial flight training (IFT) training alongside 20 recently air superiority fighter. The 18-month the study looked at current and with the 1st Flying Training commissioned officers. A total effort is scheduled to begin in emerging capability gaps in the Squadron. The milestone, of 12 enlisted personnel have January 2017. USAF’s air dominance mission. which occurred at Pueblo been selected for the EPIC A parallel AoA will look at new Instead of being designed as a Memorial Airport, Colorado, program. After completing next-generation air superiority air- ‘swing-role’ platform, the PCA is on November 3, marked the this, each of the students to-air and anti-radiation missiles that intended as an air superiority fighter first time the USAF has trained will progress through the could eventually replace the current and will be optimized for destroying enlisted personnel as pilots RPA instrument qualification AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range enemy aircraft and surface-to-air since 1961. course and RPA fundamentals Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the missile sites and radars. As part of Both pilots flew Diamond course at Joint Base San AGM-88-series High-Speed Anti- the AoA the USAF will develop a list DA20 aircraft, which are Antonio-Randolph, Texas, and Radiation Missile (HARM), which are of required capabilities, hardware owned by Doss Aviation. Doss basic qualification training both produced by Raytheon. and associated cost and schedule operates the IFT program, at Beale Air Force Base, Rather than considering a design estimates that will lead eventually to which is mandatory for all California. The integration that could go ‘head-to-head’ with the an open competition. manned aircraft pilots, combat of enlisted pilots into RQ-4 Russian-built Sukhoi T-50 and China’s The US Navy is conducting a similar systems officers, and remotely operations will support the Chengdu J-20, the new fighter will AoA for a so-called F/A-XX Super piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots, for USAF’s efforts to meet the be designed to ‘out-match’ sixth- Hornet replacement. Because of the the USAF’s Air Education and demands of combatant generation fighters. different missions assigned to the Training Command. commanders for RPA The next-generation aircraft, which two aircraft, it is currently unlikely In December 2015, the USAF intelligence, surveillance and is referred to as the Penetrating that the projects will be merged announced an initiative to reconnaissance capabilities in Counter-Air (PC-A) by Air Combat within PC-A. train enlisted pilots to support their areas of responsibilities. www.combataircraft.net January 2017 8-12 US News C.indd 8 24/11/2016 10:17 UNITED STATES [NEWS] The Wasp will replace USS Bonhomme F-35B BuNo 169028 operated by VMFA-211 in preparation for loading of live weapons Richard (LHD 6) as part of the Navy’s during operational testing aboard the USS America. Lockheed Martin/Andy Wolfe forward-deployed naval forces in Japan. Bonhomme Richard will change its home port to Naval Station San Diego. The Wasp was the first ship modified to accommodate the F-35B and aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 ‘Green Knights’ will conduct the debut deployment to the Western Pacific aboard the ship as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in the fall of 2017. The ‘Green Knights’ are scheduled to arrive determined. In preparation for the second fleet replacement squadron equipped with F/A-18E/Fs, and a at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, deployment the ‘Rude Rams’ will (FRS) at NAS Lemoore, California, single squadron with EA-18Gs. Japan, with 10 F-35Bs in January participate in January’s ‘Red Flag’ when VFA-125 ‘Rough Riders’ is The Pentagon has awarded 2017 and will receive six additional exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, reactivated in January 2017. The Lockheed Martin a $6.1-billion Lightning IIs over the summer. Nevada, with 12 F-35As. F-35C is scheduled to achieve initial contract for the next batch of F-35s. The Wasp-class USS Essex (LHD 2) The US Navy has now confirmed operational capability (IOC) with The low-rate initial production (LRIP) is now receiving upgrades that will that the F-35C carrier variant will Block 3i software as early as August Lot 9 includes 57 jets comprising 42 allow it to field the F-35B. These are go on its inaugural deployment in 2018 but will undergo another F-35As, 13 F-35Bs and two F-35Cs scheduled for completion in March 2021 when Strike Fighter Squadron round of at-sea operational testing in that will be delivered from early 2017. 2017. The work will make Essex the (VFA) 147 ‘Argonauts’ embarks in spring 2018. It will achieve IOC after The cost for the Lot 9 aircraft will be third ‘big-deck’ platform to be given the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The an operational squadron has been around 3.7 per cent lower than LRIP the upgrades. ‘Argonauts’ will transition from the equipped with 10 aircraft, is fully 8. The order includes 23 international Elsewhere, the US Air Force’s 34th F/A-18E to the F-35C in 2018. Under manned with trained personnel, and F-35As comprising six for Norway, two Fighter Squadron will make its initial current plans, VMFA-314 will be the its aircraft are equipped to conduct for Italy, two for Japan and seven for deployment with the F-35A as part second squadron to convert to the assigned missions. The future carrier Israel. The F-35Bs number seven for of a Theater Security Package during F-35C in 2019. In preparation for air wing structure will comprise two the USMC and six for the UK. Deliveries 2017. The location has not yet been these moves the Navy will form a squadrons of F-35Cs, two squadrons will begin in the first quarter of 2017. 09 HOLLOMAN FOR TRAINING SQUADRONS Kelly Field Annex at Joint Base San environmental impact analysis Antonio-Lackland, Texas, will also process must be completed before THE US AIR Force has selected site survey analysis concluded that analyze Kelly Field as a reasonable the aircraft begin relocating to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, as the it has the capacity and existing alternative. Holloman. preferred alternative for the interim command structure to begin The two squadrons will operate A total of 45 fighters and 800 home of two F-16C/D training producing pilots faster than other aircraft made available by the personnel are expected to begin squadrons that will be created to proposed locations. The service, transition of the 388th Fighter Wing moving to the New Mexico base increase fighter pilot production. which had considered stationing at Hill AFB, Utah from the F-16C to in summer 2017. The USAF will Holloman, which is already home to the interim formal training units the F-35A. The USAF announced continue to look at 34 possible two training squadrons and around (FTU) at Luke AFB and Tucson Air plans to establish an interim FTU locations that are being considered 55 F-16C/Ds, was selected after a National Guard Base in Arizona, and capability in August. A positive to permanently house the FTU. KING STALLION PASSES FIRST Sikorsky OPERATIONAL TESTS THE US MARINE Corps concluded initial risk in advance of final operational operational testing of the Sikorsky evaluation (OPEVAL). YCH-53K on October 19. The two-week- The initial operational testing included long operational assessment by Marine external lift scenarios of 27,000lb Corps pilots, aircrew and maintainers (12,200kg) in the hover and a 12,000lb verified several key capabilities. (5,422kg), 110nm (204km)-radius Conducted at Sikorsky Aircraft’s mission. Among the ground event development flight center (DFC) in West demonstrations were embarkation/ Palm Beach, Florida, the completion of debarkation of combat-equipped the testing was an important step in troops, internal and external cargo support of a Milestone C decision that rigging, tactical bulk fuel delivery system will allow the program to enter low-rate (TBFDS) operation, and medevac litter initial production. This is expected in configuration. The four YCH-53Ks that are early 2017. The OT-B1 (operational test) supporting testing have logged over 200 phase was also intended to minimize cumulative flight hours. January 2017 www.combataircraft.net 8-12 US News C.indd 9 24/11/2016 10:17 [NEWS] UNITED STATES The General Atomics Extended Range Predator C Avenger takes off from the contractor’s Gray Butte test facility for the fi rst time on October 27. General Atomics ‘CHIEFS’ HEAD HOME F-15E STRIKE EAGLES operated Johnson Air Force Base, North by the 4th Fighter Wing’s 335th Carolina on October 12, which FS ‘Chiefs’ recently completed a was completed in November. deployment to south-west Asia The 389th Fighter Squadron from in support of Operation ‘Inherent Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, took Resolve’. The squadron began over the ‘Inherent Resolve’ mission 10 a staggered return to Seymour in October. A dozen F-16Cs from the 93rd FS ‘Makos’ and the 457th FS ‘Spads’ passed through Morón air base, Spain, arriving on October 31. They were en route back to the US, having completed a deployment to the Middle East. They comprised serials 85-1487/FM, 86-0307/FM, 86-0318/FM, 87-0233/FM, 87-0287/FM, 88-0402/FM, 88-0405/FM, 85-0554/TX, 85-1501/TX, 86-0227/TX, 86-0231/TX, and 86-0232/TX. Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta F-16 DEPLOYMENTS Arriving at RAF Lakenheath, UK, on November 18, is one of four 335th FS ‘Chiefs’ F-15Es (89-0484) that passed through accompanied by serials 87-0199, 88-1708 and 89-0477 as ‘Tabor 11’ fl ight. Ryan Dorling THE 480TH FIGHTER Squadron (FS) September 16 when it delivered its completed a six-month deployment 1,900th precision-guided munition. ‘SEAHAWKS’ COMPLETE FINAL DEPLOYMENT to South-west Asia in support of The 79th FS began a deployment Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’ on to Bagram, Afghanistan in support THE ‘SEAHAWKS’ OF Marine support of operations against the October 12 when it returned to of Operation ‘Freedom’s Sentinel’ Tactical Electronic Warfare so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. during October. The District of Squadron (VMAQ) 4 completed Syria as part of Operation ‘Inherent The squadron, which departed Columbia Air National Guard’s 121st a short-notice deployment to Resolve’ will likely be the last for from Spangdahlem on April 7, set FS began a Theater Security Package Turkey when they returned to the squadron, which is scheduled a new record for the number of deployment to Andersen AFB, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry to be deactivated in June 2017. stores delivered by an F-16 unit by Guam, in November. Point, North Carolina, on October VMAQ-4 began its deployment to 10. The deployment to Turkey in Incirlik in April 2016. GUARD HELICOPTERS COMPLETE EA-6B BuNo 163527 taxies at MCAS Cherry Point, at the conclusion of a deployment to Turkey on October 10. USMC EUROPEAN DEPLOYMENT A TASK FORCE that comprised Command Europe (SOCEUR) four UH-60Ls and personnel including the 10th Special Forces from Army National Guard units Group, Marine Corps Forces from Colorado, Kansas and Special Operations Command Utah completed a rotational and Navy Special Warfare Unit 2. deployment to Europe in Based at Illesheim, Germany, the October. The Army National four UH-60Ls fl ew more than 337 Guard Helicopter Task Force (HTF) hours and conducted in excess of supported Special Operations 212 missions. www.combataircraft.net January 2017 8-12 US News C.indd 10 24/11/2016 10:17