Combat Aircraft 2020-10.pdf

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WW
W. K
E Y.
AER
COMBAT
HOT STUFF
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AMERICA’S BEST SELLING MILITARY AVIATION MAGAZINE
The world’s most advanced
fourth-generation fighter jet
F-16 VIPER
KAMOV KA-52
Russian twin-rotor attack
helo – If looks could kill
ACTION
Galaxy's
HERO
Heavyweight
half-century of operations
AIRCRAFT
O
JOURNAL
THE 3600°F WORLD OF INFRARED
COUNTERMEASURES
•
F-16V VIPER
•
AH-6SA HELI
•
SAUDI UH-60M
•
AH-64E APACHE
•
EA-18G GROWLER
•
KC-135R TANKERS
•
KAMOV KA-52 ALLIGATOR
•
BELL 406CS COMBAT SCOUT
•
747F AAC CONCEPT
•
SCHWEIZER 333
•
P-8A POSEIDON
•
SIKORSKY S-92
•
AIR FORCE ONE
•
SEA HARRIER
INSIDE
P-8A – A SUBMARINER’S
WORST NIGHTMARE
HOW MANY AIRCRAFT MAKE A PRESIDENTIAL TOUR?
KC-135R TANKERS
•
EA-18G GROWLER
•
DARPA'S FLYING AIRCRAFT CARRIER
Volume 21 No 10 OCTOBER 2020
£4.99
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE
TRUMP'S INCREDIBLE FLYING VISIT
72
IN THE NEWS
06 Headlines News
Combat Aircraft Journal
spotlights the Air
Force’s F-35A Lightning II participation in
Red Flag Alaska for the rst time.
This month, Icarus Aerospace launches its
Tactical Air Vehicle; trials of the AGM-183A
Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon
begin; and the second Israeli F-35I
squadron becomes operational.
20
VICTORY FOR THE VIPER
Five years ago, the future wasn’t bright for the Viper. But,
as Alan Warnes discovers, the re-invigorated F-16V has
provided the iconic ghter with a new lease of life.
INSIDE
October 2020 • Vol 21 • No 10
08 News
82
16
CANADA’S FIGHTER PROCUREMENT
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Saab are set for
a three-way dog ght to ful l Canada’s need for
new multi-role ghters, says Khalem Chapman.
Incredibly, the USAF once considered
developing a ‘ ying aircraft carrier’ that could
launch and recover ghters from its fuselage.
Khalem Chapman explains why this far-fetched
concept could soon become a reality.
The Air Force is set to convert three old KC-135R
tankers into highly specialized WC-135 Constant
Phoenix aircraft. Bob Archer takes a nose at this
‘nuclear sni er’ aircraft.
Attack helicopters are playing an increasingly
signi cant role in Saudi Arabia’s military
operations, with the bulk of purchases coming
from the United States. Alan Warnes reports.
When the President travels abroad, a hugely
complex security operation rolls into action.
David Weinrich, who has witnessed several
presidential visits to Israel, explains how this
incredible ‘ ying circus’ functions.
GATOR ON THE PROWL
26
THE FLYING MOTHERSHIP
32
NUKE SNIFFER
The fearsome Kamov Ka-52
Alligator is considered one
of the most lethal military
attack helicopters in the
world. Piotr Butowski details
how this Russian aircraft was
born through hardship and
dogged perseverance.
50
36
GUARDING THE DESERT KINGDOM
FROM A GROWL TO A ROAR
40
POTUS ON THE ROAD
Electronic warfare is getting an
upgrade on the Boeing EA-18G
Growler, as the type competes in a
European ghter-selection program.
Rob Coppinger reports.
SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE!
As part of your subscription, you can now enjoy even
more
Combat Aircraft Journal,
more often, with the
launch of Key.Aero — Your Aviation Destination. Visit
www.key.aero
and use your customer ID and email
address to register today for exclusive access.
88
UNLEASH HELL: THE SEA HARRIER
44
C-5: THE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPION
In 1982, a mere 20 British Sea Harriers faced
down the 200-strong Argentine Air Force for
supremacy of the Falkland Islands. Rowland
White relives one of the greatest air-to-air
combat battles in military history.
This month, David Axe reports on how China is
allegedly working on a new stealth warplane.
But will it ever be more than a concept?
For more than half-a-century, the C-5 Galaxy
has been the backbone of the USAF’s heavy
airlifting capabilities. Khalem Chapman outlines
how it can remain viable until at least 2040.
The Navy’s maritime surveillance aircraft, the
P-8A Poseidon, not only detects and tracks
enemy submarines, but chases them down and
destroys them too. Mark Ayton takes a deep dive.
Dick Wels explores the multiple missions
conducted by the 186th Air Refueling Wing
from Key Field Air National Guard Base,
Mississippi, and the challenges faced by the
so-called ‘Magnolia Militia’.
96
CUTTING EDGE
58
INSIDE THE SUB HUNTER
ON THE COVER
| PAGE 72
Three F-15Cs dramatically
break formation and deploy
infrared countermeasures,
designed to ‘seduce’ heat-
seeking missiles away from
their intended target.
CAJ
explores the super-hot world
of decoy flares
Your Aviation Destination
www.key.aero/military-aviation
THE
VERY BE
ST
MODER
N-MILITA
RY
AVIATION
CONTEN
T
ONLINE
64
MISSISSIPPI MILITIA
COMBAT EDGE
//
FIND US ON
A
DOING IT WITH FLARE!
WISE MAN ONCE said
‘Variety is the spice of life’…
and that’s certainly an
ethos we adhere to when
it comes to creating the
editorial content in
Combat Aircraft Journal
magazine.
And, if our frighteningly-knowledgeable
new team, is an example,
CAJ
readers
are a well-informed bunch, too! So, our
challenge every month is to deliver a
wide range of insightful articles you
haven’t seen before.
I hope we’ve got it right in this issue, as
we’ve featured everything from the most
cutting-edge F-16 on the block, to the
iconic VTOL Sea Harrier FRS.1, an aircraft
that made its name in the Falklands
con ict back in ’82. We’ve also explored
the aming hot and fascinating world
of decoy ares, and taken a look under
the skin of Lockheed Martin’s awesome
EA-18G Growler.
Throw in a ying aircraft carrier (yes,
really), the submarine-killing P-8A
Poseidon, plus a look at the hard-hitting
Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopter, and
that’s still fewer than half the features in
this packed issue.
There’s just one more thing I have
to tell you about, and that’s the US
Presidential ‘ ight’ story (page 40). We’ve
themed this feature,
but this isn’t a dig at
POTUS, just a mind-
boggling look at the
crazy ying circus
that accompanies Air
Force One on its trips
around the globe,
in this case to Israel.
Enjoy!
John
We love feedback and photos, input
and ideas, so email us if you’d like to
get involved:
editor@combataircraftjournal.com
For the latest military aviation news
and stories, head to:
www.key.aero/military-aviation
FAVOURITE READS
THIS MONTH’S
One thing that’s struck me since I
joined the magazine is how old many of
our favorite aircraft are. At rst, it didn’t
compute that the C-5 Galaxy military
transport airplane could have been
in service for 50 years. This venerable
beast has performed many roles over
those years: a lifesaver, as it evacuated
people from Saigon, or ew supplies
into beleaguered Israel; it’s dropped
an 86,000lb (39 tonne) ICBM missile
over the Paci c and, of course, it’s
carried vast loads all over the globe,
including six Apache helicopters, or
two full-sized tanks at a single sitting –
which is an apt analogy, when you see
the size of its ‘mouth’. You can read the
rest of this incredible aircraft’s resumé
from page 44.
A
S A 50 SOMETHING YEAR OLD,
I have vivid memories of the
Falklands War. In particular, I
remember Brian Hanrahan’s legendary
report from the ightdeck of the Royal
Navy aircraft carrier, HMS
Hermes:
“I
counted them all out and I counted
them all back.”
Of course, he was talking about the
iconic Sea Harrier FRS.1, aka the SHAR,
which wreaked havoc on the enemy
forces as it made sortie after sortie
from the decks of HMS
Invincible
and
Hermes.
On page 88, you can read
all about how just 20 humble Sea
Harriers took on the Argentinian Air
Force’s Skyhawks and IAI Daggers,
all while 8,000 miles from home. It’s
gripping stu .
04
October 2020
// www.Key.Aero
ROCKWELL B-1B
DISPENSES DECOY FLARES
A beautiful shot of a B-1B heavy
bomber from the 9th Expeditionary
Bomb Squadron (EBS) releasing
flares over the Pacific Ocean while
on a training mission. The 9th EBS
was flying as part of the Continuous
Bomber Presence out of Andersen AFB,
Guam, in 2017.
The 9th Bomb Squadron was re-
activated on October 1, 1993, at Dyess
AFB, Texas, to fly the Rockwell B-1B
Lancer, or ‘Bone’ (as in ‘B-One’). The
unit is one of the oldest in the USAF,
originally forming on June 14, 1917 as
the 9th Aero Squadron.
The original B-1A first flew on
December 23, 1974, but increased
costs and changing priorities
led to the program being
cancelled after only four
prototypes had been
built. The program was
relaunched in 1981 as the redesigned
and improved B-1B. Optimized for low-
level penetration and with a reduced
radar signature, it entered service in
1986 and 100 were delivered. Although
designed purely for the nuclear role, it
was never used as such and instead
evolved into a conventional bomber —
it has been extensively used as such in
operational missions.
At present, 62 remain in service,
although the proposed Fiscal
Year 2021 budget includes
planned retirement of the 17
oldest aircraft. The last B-1Bs
are expected to be withdrawn
around 2036.
www.Key.Aero //
October 2020
05

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