Syrian Air Force

The Syrian Air Force
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A short history of Syria and it's air force: The Syrian Arab Air Force is one of the air force's in the Middle East that suffered the from the many wars with Israel in the past 40 years. The build-up began after the second world war when Syria gained its independence from France and Great Britain and during the 1950's the air force grew mainly due to the forming of the United Arab Republic (the alliance with Egypt). The biggest build-up however followed after Hafez Al Assad became President of Syria. Under Assad the Syrians made strong ties with the Russians that resulted in an expansion of the air force through acquisitions of Russian equipment.

Uzbekistan Air Forces

Uzbekistan's armed forces are the largest in Central Asia.[citation needed] According to the 1992 Law on Defense, Uzbekistan's military is for defensive purposes only. In terms of potential recruits, Uzbekistan has about 7 million males age 15-49. The Government of Uzbekistan spends about 3.7% of GDP on the military.

The Uzbek air forces consist of units formerly part of the 49th Air Army of the Turkestan Military District headquartered at Tashkent. There are two remaining combat units, brigades at Karshi-Khanabad and Dzhizak.[9]
The 60th Separate Brigade is the former 735th Bomber Aviation Regiment combined with the former 87th Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. It has 31 Su-24s, 32 MiG-29s (which are apparently in store) and 6 Su-27s. Other recently disbanded units include the 61st Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kokand, which was itself a merger with the previous 115th Fighter Aviation Regiment, and the 62nd Fighter Aviation Regiment at Andijan. Regiments at both bases were disbanded in 1999. Apparently a total of 26 stored Su-17s, in very bad condition, may remain at Chirchiq.
25 Sukhoi Su-27
31 Sukhoi Su-24 (Stored)
32 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 (Stored)
26 Sukhoi Su-17 (Stored)

Lebanese Air Force

The Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (Arabic: القوات الجوية اللبنانية Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnania) is the aerial warfare branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The seal of the air force is constituted of a Roundel with two wings and a Lebanese Cedar tree, surrounded by two laurel leaves on a blue background.

History

The Lebanese Air Force was established in 1949 under the command of then Lieutenant Colonel Emile Boustany who later became commander of the army. Soon after its establishment a number of planes were donated by the British, French, and Italian governments, while an additional number of planes were donated by Britain and Italy the same year. Britain donated 4 Percival Prentices and 2 World War II period Percival Proctors while Italy donated 4 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers which were mainly used for transportation.[1] In 1953, jet fighters were introduced when a number of de Havilland Vampire jets were received. The first Hawker Hunters arrived in 1959 and were followed by additional fighters through 1977. In 1968, 12 Mirage IIIELs were delivered from France but were grounded in the late 1970s due to lack of funds. In 2000, the grounded Mirages were sold to Pakistan.[2]
The air force, in the absence of advanced fixed wing aircraft, currently relies on a helicopter force and a some Hawker Hunter jets that have been put back in service at late 2008. The Lebanese Air Force consists of six squadrons distributed on three air bases.

Kyrgyzstan Air Force

The Air and Air Defense Force includes a regiment of MiG-21s and L-39s, four Antonov transports, and a helicopter regiment (apx 23 Mi-8, 9 Mi-24). Estimates for the numbers of MiG-21s range from 48 to 60-odd. However, Brinkster.com says that only a few L-39s and the helicopters are capable of flight. All Kyrgyz military aircraft are reportedly based at Kant, alongside the Russian 999th Air Base.
Because of expense and military doctrine, Kyrgyzstan has not developed its air capability; a large number of the MiG-21 interceptors that it borrowed from Russia were returned in 1993, although a number of former Soviet air bases remain available. In 1996 about 100 decommissioned MiG-21s remained in Kyrgyzstan, along with ninety-six L-39 trainers and sixty-five helicopters. The air defense forces have received aid from Russia, which has sent military advisory units to establish a defense system. Presently Kyrgyzstan has twenty-six SA-2 and SA-3 surface-to-air missiles in its air defense arsenal.
Kyrgystan also secretly maintains an unknown number of Mig-29 Fulcrum aircraft, two of which were sold to a private collector in 1994. They are kept in underground bunkers at an airfield in Bishkek where they are kept in pristine condition.

Japan Air Force

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊 ,Kōkū Jieitai?), or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations.[1] The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems. The branch also has an aerobatic team known as Blue Impulse and has recently been involved in providing air transport in several UN peacekeeping missions.
The ASDF had an authorized strength of 47,000 and maintained some 46,000 personnel and approximately 330 combat aircraft in 1992. Front-line formations include twelve fighter squadrons, one reconnaissance squadron and five transport squadrons

Canadian Forces Air

The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act came into effect on February 1, 1968 and the RCAF ceased to exist. All branches of the Canadian Forces were unified into a single service with the aim of improving Canada's military effectiveness and flexibility.
Aircraft and bases of the RCAF and the Royal Canadian Navy (the Royal Canadian Naval Aviation Service), were scattered across several different commands of the newly unified forces. Air Defence Command consisted primarily of former RCAF CF-101 Voodoo fighter-interceptor aircraft, as well as the radar networks of DEW Line, Mid-Canada Line and Pinetree Line early warning stations. Air Transport Command was responsible for strategic airlift and refueling aircraft, namely the CC-137 Husky, with the primary role being to transport ground troops from Mobile Command to and from distant conflict zones in Europe. Mobile Command itself was composed of former Canadian Army ground forces, as well as the army's tactical helicopters (CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136 Kiowa, CH-147 Chinook, CH-113A Voyageur) and the RCAF's tactical and ground attack aircraft (CF-104 Starfighter). Maritime Command was transferred responsibility for the newly-formed Maritime Air Group, which operated aircraft in support of former RCN vessels, including CH-124 Sea King, CP-107 Argus, and the CP-121 Tracker, some of which operated from HMCS Bonaventure until that vessel's retirement in the early 1970s. Pilot and aircrew training were taken over by Training Command, which was responsible for trades training across all other commands in the armed forces.

On August 9, 1974 a CC-115 Buffalo of No. 116 Transport Unit operating on UN duties was shot down by a Syrian Surface-to-air missile killing all nine CF personnel on board. This represents the single biggest loss of Canadian lives on a UN mission as well as the last Canadian military aircraft to be shot down.
On September 2, 1975, the Canadian Forces saw a reorganization that merged all aircraft across all commands into a newly formed Air Command (AIRCOM). Air Defence Command and Air Transport Command were eliminated, and Training Command, Maritime Command, and Mobile Command (renamed Force Mobile Command) were realigned to reflect the new structure. AIRCOM was very similar to the old RCAF as the new command would handle all the aviation requirements of Canada's military.
Duplication saw several base closings through the 1970s-1990s, largely as aircraft changes took place. The acquisition of the CF-18A/B Hornet tactical fighter bomber saw CF-104 Starfighter and CF-101 Voodoo fighter aircraft retired in the early-mid 1980s, along with a corresponding downturn in several bases which had been exclusively dedicated to these aircraft. The closures of CFB Chatham and CFB Baden Soellingen along with various bombing ranges and the retirement of the CF-116 fighter aircraft and Boeing 707 transport/refuelling aircraft saw AIRCOM retract to its present base and force structure.
AIRCOM also underwent significant changes in the late 1970s when the CP-107 Argus and CP-121 Tracker were replaced with the CP-140 Aurora/CP-140A Arcturus maritime patrol aircraft. The shift of east coast maritime patrol aircraft at the time of the Argus retirement to CFB Greenwood eventually saw CFB Summerside closed in the late 1980s.
After unification, all personnel in the Canadian Forces wore a dark-green uniform with only cap and collar badges (a modified version of the former RCAF crest) as distinguishing marks for pilots and aircrew. This uniform continued under the newly-formed AIRCOM from 1975 until the mid-1980s, when AIRCOM returned to blue-grey uniforms broadly similar to those of the former to the RCAF, though the army-derived ranks adopted upon unification were retained.
In the early 1990s, AIRCOM transport and utility helicopters in support of army operations were cut back and consolidated with the purchase of the CH-146 Griffon, replacing the CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136 Kiowa, and CH-147 Chinook. The army continues to consider this a loss of capability, particularly with the loss of the heavy lift Chinooks.
Search and rescue squadrons have also seen new aircraft when the CH-149 Cormorant replaced the CH-113 Labrador beginning in 2002. The CC-115 Buffalo short takeoff and landing fixed wing aircraft are also being replaced in the 2000s with a dedicated STOL search and rescue aircraft.
Ship-borne anti-submarine helicopter squadrons are currently operating the 40-year old CH-124 Sea King. The new Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone will begin service in 2008.
In 2007 and 2008, 4 C-17 Globemaster III were added. They are based at CFB Trenton

The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AIR FORCE

The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

AIR FORCE is funded by the seven emirates - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qarwain - which form the UAE. Combat aircraft, trainers and transports are controlled jointly and four of the states have aircraft operated as royal flights. Within the seven states of the United Arab Emirates, only Abu Dhabi has a truly combat-capable air force. Abu Dhabi has also finalised the 'last big deal of the century' by signing a $6.4 billion contract for 80 Block 60 F-16s on March 5,2000.. The aircraft will be armed with the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the UAE's Marconi Electronic Systems-developed precision guided munitions family.Dassault did not lose out entirely, as the UAE also ordered 30 Mirage 2000-9s and committed to upgrade 33 of its Mirage 2000 fleet. The -9 has both an air-to-air and air-to-surface capability and will be equipped with Matra BA Dynamics Mica active radar guided medium range AAM and ASRAAM short-range IR guided AAMs.

South Korean Air Force

Republic of Korea --

Two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 25th Fighter Squadron and two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 36th Fighter Squadron fly over the Republic of Korea in formation recently. The 51st Fighter Wing hosted the RSO&I and Foal Eagle exercises here. (Photo by Jim Haseltine) Download Full Image

Israel Defence Force / Air and Space Arm

The History

The roots of the IDF/ASA go back to 1947 when the Air Service was created by the Palmach, the resistance movement for a free and independent Israel. Those first days nearly everything that could fly was put in to service. Amongst those first aircraft were Austers and Dragon Rapides. With the declaration of independence on May 15th 1948 a regional war started with the Arabic neighbour countries. Because of a weapons embargo the Israeli's had to find their aircraft trough other means, mostly by smuggling Spitfires, Mosquitos and other aircraft. The first real order for aircraft was placed in Czechoslovakia and ironically enough they were from German origin: license build S-199's (Me-109) The first airfields the IDF/AF used were former RAF bases: Sde Dov, Ramat David and Lod (better known as Ben Gurion IAP) One of the most famous pilots of those days is Ezer Weizman, later Chief of Staff of the IDF/AF and at the end of the nineties President of the State of Israel.

Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan Air Force (Urdu: پاک فضائیہ, Pak Faza'ya) (PAF) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces and is responsible for defending Pakistani air-space from intrusions. It also provides air support for ground troops. Air Force Day is celebrated in Pakistan on the 7 September, the day after the annual celebration of the Pakistan Defense Day. On Air Force Day the air force has air shows and other events to mark the PAF's role in defending the nation. The Pakistan Air Force has 65,000 full-time personnel and operates 523 combat aircraft, making it the seventh largest in the world.

Indian Air Force

India's Air Force, the world's fourth largest, has over 600 combat aircraft and more than 500 transports and helicopters. The air force takes pride in its ability to fly low and fast, as well as to operate in the extremes of temperature and altitude ranging from the Thar Desert to the Siachen Glacier. The air force has enhanced the capability of its fighter force with the addition of the multi-role Sukhoi 30, and it hopes to replace much of its Mig-21 fleet with the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft currently under development.
As of mid-2000, the Indian Air Force had embarked on acquisition of systems for front line aircraft/helicopter for day/night operations, strengthening of the electronic warfare armour and acquisition of top of the line precision guided ammunitions, enhancement of air defence capabilities to ensure early detection and continuous surveillance of any enemy ingress and surface to air guided weapons to ensure lethality in IAF strike power.
The air force was established in 1932. In 1994, it had 110,000 personnel and 779 combat aircraft. The air force, which is headquartered in New Delhi, is headed by the chief of air staff, an air chief marshal. He is assisted by six principal staff officers: the vice chief of air staff, the deputy chief of air staff, the air officer in charge of administration, the air officer in charge of personnel, the air officer in charge of maintenance, and the inspector general of flight safety.

The air force is deployed into five operational commands: the Western Air Command, headquartered at New Delhi; the Southwestern Air Command, headquartered at Jodhpur, Rajasthan; the Eastern Air Command, headquartered at Shillong, Meghalaya; the Central Air Command, headquartered at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh; and the Southern Air Command, headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala. Additionally, there are two functional commands: the Training Command at Bangalore, Karnataka, and the Maintenance Command at Nagpur, Maharashtra. Of the seven IAF commands, the Western Air Command (WAC) is the most coveted as it covers a large chunk of the Indo-Pak border.
Aside from the Training Command at Bangalore, the center for primary flight training is located at the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, followed by operational training at various air force schools. Advanced training is also conducted at the Defence Services Staff College; specialized advanced flight training schools are located at Bidar, Karnataka, and Hakimpet, Andhra Pradesh (also the location for helicopter training). Technical schools are found at a number of other locations.
The Air Force is composed of (i) Squadrons and Flights of various kinds of aircrafts such as Fighter, Bomber, Transport, Communication, Reconnaissance etc., (ii) Establishments for the training of officers in flying, technical and ground duties and of airmen in technical and their trades, (iii) Maintenance Units for the storage, custody, supply maintenance, repair and overhaul of Air Force equipment, and (iv) Command administrative and miscellaneous units. In addition to providing essential air defence for the country, the A.F. undertakes the transport of personnel and stores as required by the exigencies of the service, dropping of supplies in areas otherwise inaccussible and aerial surveys. In times of Natural Calamities, the Air Force aids the Civil authorities, wherever necessary.
In 1991, the government approved the induction of women into nontechnical air force officer billets, such as administration, logistics, accounting, education, and meteorology. In 1992 opportunities for "pioneer women officers" were opened in the areas of transportation, helicopters, and navigation, and the first group of thirteen women cadets entered the Air Force Academy. During their flight training, they qualified on HPT-32 and Kiran aircraft to earn their air force commissions. After completing ten months' training, five of the seven successful course graduates received further training on various transport aircraft. By 1994, there were fifty-five women officers in the air force.

Royal Britain Air Force

The C-130 Hercules detachment at 904 EAW had a particularly busy week, given a demanding operational tempo and a wide variety of tasking. Aircrews are constantly tested to their limits and as a result of rigorous training and regular practice in peace time, they reliably deliver excellent effect when required under challenging operational conditions. Alongside other mainstream Tactical Air Transport sorties, a successful leaflet drop was conducted. This was a particularly noteworthy result because an airborne re-plan had to be undertaken, due to differences between actual and forecast wind conditions. Operations such this are designed to inform the local population about Coalition activities. Despite unforeseen pressures from external agencies and aircraft unserviceabilities having a direct effect on the C-130s of 904 EAW, over 2200 passengers and 230 tonnes of freight were transported. Supreme efforts from the C-130 aircraft engineers ensured that mission success was achieved throughout this period. Amongst this broad range of tasking, high priority short-notice requests were also met, against the backdrop of increasing Tactical Air Transport support to NATO’s International Stabilisation Assistance Force (ISAF).
For the Harrier GR9s of 904 EAW it has been a comparatively quiet week, with a slower operational tempo than has been the case recently. However, multiple reconnaissance missions were tasked and successfully executed, providing Ground Commanders with essential imagery of Enemy activity. It is imperative that this imagery is interpreted as rapidly as possible, to provide the necessary detail to meet the operational demand. Close liaison and briefings continue to cement Coalition relations, achieving maximum effect with shared data from Close Air Support missions. Such liaison provides valuable lessons learned and tactical development across the whole fighter contingent. A rolling schedule of Harrier maintenance ensures aircraft availability and despite unscheduled maintenance events, all tasking was still achieved this week. An ongoing modification programme also ensures Harrier capabilities are kept at the cutting edge of air warfare tactics.

German Air Force

In a process begun in the mid-1990s now speeded up by the current government , the Luftwaffe ( German Air Force) is currently adopting its equipment-requirements to reflect current and future needs. The Luftwaffe had to adjust its missions to take account of the possibility of involvement in conflict beyond the borders of Europe. The Luftwaffe aims for the capacity to participate in multi-national joint crisis management operations covering the whole spectrum, from humanitarian aid to collective defence. Priority has been given to the purchase of 180 Eurofighters, representing the largest slice of the German MoD's procurement budget. The introduction of the Eurofighter into the Air Force is due to start in the fourth quarter of 2003. The German Eurofighter programme was given a boost with the first flight of the first German series production Eurofighter (IPA 3 Instrumented Production Aircraft) at the EADS facility this year. The first unit to receive the Eurofighter will be Jagdgeschwader 73 at Laage , currently equipped with F-4F Phantoms and Mig-29s. The Phantoms and Mig-29s will be replaced with the Eurofighter over time. The Mig-29s will be handed over to Poland in 2003, and the Phantoms will be be slowly phased out which began in 2002.

In the Future there will be five Eurofighter wings ( each equipped with 36 aircraft ) which will be accompanied by 125 Tornados ( down from 267 today ). In contrast to UK and France, the German DOD has so far not discussed a new strike aircraft to replace it's Tornados. Funding for this project might be hard to find after the costly purchase of the Eurofighter. There have been strong suggestions that in the long term (beyond 2020) the Eurofighter will be the air force's single combat aircraft platform. Most of the 275 have gone through an initial upgrade and are now in the process of going through a Mid-Life Improvement (MLI) programme and a New Avionics Structure.

CHINESE ARMY AIR FORCE

INTRODUCTION

The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the largest military air force in the world with over 6,000 military airplanes and over 300,000 active personnel. The new PLAAF is updating its inventory of MiG-21 and MiG-19 copies with planned purchases of the advanced Russian made Sukhoi SU-27 FLANKER series and the newly developed J-10 strike fighter.

Russian Air Force

The Russian Air Force (Russian: Военно-воздушные cилы России, transliteration: Voyenno-vozdushnye sily Rossii) is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force.[2] It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota ("Naval Aviation"), or AV-MF).

Air Force Roll in 2nd World War

Germany was the first country to organize regular air attacks on enemy infrastructure. In World War I it used its zeppelins (airships) to drop bombs on British cities. At that time, Britain did have aircraft, though her airships were less advanced than the zeppelins and were very rarely used for attacking; instead they were usually used to spy on German U-boats (submarines). Fixed wing aircraft at the time were quite primitive, being able to achieve velocities comparable to that of modern automobiles and mounting minimal weaponry and equipment. Aerial services were still largely a new animal, and relatively unreliable machines and limited training resulted in stupendously low life expectancies for early military aviators.[citation needed]
By the time World War II began, planes had become much safer, faster and more reliable. They were adopted as standard for bombing raids and taking out other aircraft because they were much faster than airships. The World's largest military Air Force by the start of the Second World War in 1939 was the Red Air Force, and although much depleted, it would stage the largest air operations of WWII over the four years of combat with the German Luftwaffe. The war's most important air operation, known as the Battle of Britain, took place during 1940 over Britain and the English Channel between Britain's Royal Air Force and Germany's Luftwaffe over a period of several months. In the end Britain emerged victorious and this caused Adolf Hitler to give up his plan to invade Britain. Other prominent operations during the Second World War include the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941, the Allied bombing of Germany during 1942-1944, and the Red Air Force operations in support of strategic ground offensives on the Eastern Front.

Royal Saudi Air Force

Alpha jet of the Royal Saudi Air Force
Courtesy Armed Forces Office, Royal Saudi Arabian Embassy, Washington
As of 1992, the first line combat air strength of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) consisted of some 200 aircraft, organized into six fighter/ground-attack squadrons and five fighter-air defense squadrons. The personnel strength of the air force was estimated to be about 18,000. Although modest in comparison to the air power of neighboring countries, the RSAF was considered to be the most modern and effective of the Saudi services. Its mission was to defend the economic installations and the widely scattered population centers of Saudi Arabia against attack and, particularly, to repel air attacks or amphibious assaults against the country's highly vulnerable oil pumping stations, processing and loading facilities, and oil platforms in the Persian Gulf.
The first-line combat fighters were deployed at four key airfields: Dhahran, to defend the main oil facilities of the Persian Gulf; At Taif, covering the ports and holy cities of the lower Red Sea; Khamis Mushayt, defending the Yemeni border zone; and Tabuk, to defend the key ports of the upper Red Sea area and Saudi air space adjacent to Jordan, Syria, and Israel. These four bases and the air base at Riyadh were protected from air attack by Improved Hawk (I-Hawk) SAMs, hardened aircraft shelters, and underground command posts.
The RSAF was established in 1950 during the reign of Abd al Aziz. Its early air operations had been under control of the army. In its initial years, the air force was influenced chiefly by the British, who provided aircraft and advisers and helped train Saudi pilots and maintenance personnel in the kingdom and in Britain. United States influence, emanating from the air base at Dhahran that was leased by the United States from 1952 to 1962, was also pivotal to the early development of the Saudi air force. Some United States aircraft were transferred to the RSAF from units operating at Dhahran and the United States Military Training Mission at Dhahran trained Saudi pilots and maintenance personnel.
In 1972 the first of 114 Northrop F-5s were delivered to the RSAF and, as of 1992, the air force still used three squadrons of later versions of the F-5 in the fighter-ground attack role, one squadron for reconnaissance, and a number of aircraft as advanced jet trainers. In 1984 first deliveries were taken of the more advanced F-15s. By 1992 the SAF had seventy-eight F-15s, including fighter conversion trainers (see Cooperation with the United States , this ch.).
As a result of the United States rebuff, Saudi Arabia turned to Britain to meet its requirements. In mid-1988, it was announced that as part of a huge transaction, Saudi Arabia would acquire Tornado fighters from Britain in their strike and air defense configurations, plus Hawk jet trainers and Pilatus PC-9 trainers built in Switzerland and outfitted in Britain. As of early 1992, three of the RSAF fighter-ground attack squadrons were equipped with Tornadoes and three squadrons were equipped with F-5Es. Two air defense squadrons were equipped with Tornadoes and three squadrons were equipped with F-15Cs. The three transport squadrons were equipped with C-130s in various versions and CASA C-212s, a medium transport of Spanish design. The two helicopter squadrons employed a variety of smaller rotary-wing aircraft (see table 13, Appendix). Undaunted by its previous failure to establish an assured supply of combat aircraft from the United States, Saudi Arabia announced in late 1991 that it had placed an order with McDonnell Douglas for an additional seventy-two F-15s. It appeared doubtful whether the sale would be approved by the United States administration and the Congress.
Because ground-based radar could not provide adequate advanced warning of attacks on sensitive targets along the Persian Gulf, particularly from nearby Iranian air bases, Saudi Arabia ordered five E-3A AWACS aircraft in 1981. To allay Israel's concerns, the aircraft were equipped specifically for the defensive needs of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea areas only. The first aircraft reached operational status in 1987 in time to assist United States naval operations in the tanker war in the Persian Gulf. Training and support services were provided by the Boeing Corporation and a United States Air Force team. Congress required that the United States have substantial control over the use of the airplanes and a sharing of the AWACS data.
In 1985 Saudi Arabia also contracted with a consortium headed by Boeing for the Peace Shield command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) system. Its purpose was to link information collected by AWACS and ground-based surveillance radar with fighters and ground air defense, including the I-Hawk SAMs, to provide integrated air defense against attacks across the gulf and Red Sea and from the direction of Yemen. In 1991 it was announced that the Hughes Aircraft Corporation had assumed management of the project, which had been subject to delays in its completion.

Iranian Air Force

The US-trained Iranian Imperial Air Force was widely regarded as second only to Israel's in the Middle East — more than a match for Iraq and a serious adversary for even the Soviet Union. At its peak the Imperial Iranian Air Force, that of the Shah, had more than 450 modern combat aircraft, including then state of the art F-14A Tomcat fighters and about 5,000 well-trained pilots. On the eve of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 the Air Force, numbering close to 100,000 personnel, was by far the most advanced of the three Iranian military services and among the most impressive air forces in the developing world. Reliable information on the Air Force after the Revolution was difficult to obtain, but it seemed clear that by 1987 a fairly large number of the existing fleet had been cannibalized for spare parts.
A total of 14 air bases were operational: Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Chan Bahar, Dezful, Doshan Tapeh (Tehran), Ghaleh Morghi (Tehran), Hamadan, Isfahan, Mashhad, Mehrabad (Tehran), Shiraz, Tabriz and Zahedan. Soviet and Chinese-made aircraft, obtained following the Iranian Revolution were distributed throughout the country to fufill mission roles of ground attack, transport, training and interception. Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Dezful, Hamadan, Tabriz and Mehrabad became the centers for ground attack squadrons. Shiraz was the home of the interceptor squadron. It also provided training along with, Mehrabad, Doshan Tapeh and Isfahan. Shiraz also housed the transport squadron.

Pakistan Air Force recieves four F-16s

The Pakistan Air Force received four refurbished F-16 fighter jets from the United States on Saturday, June 28, 2008 in an impressive ceremony at the PAF Mushaf Base.
These four F-16s left the U.S. on June 25 to be transfered to Pakistan at the PAF Mushaf Base.
The fighter jets are part of a consignment of 12 refurbished planes that Pakistan would receive from the US. Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, deputy operations chief of the air staff, received the fighting falcons from US Air Force Commander Lt General Gary L North.
These F-16s will have the same capability that Pakistani existing fleet of F-16 has. “With handing over of four more F-16 on June 28, it is hoped that the remaining aircrafts embargoed by the US would also be delivered soon,” an official said.
These aircrafts are part of the 28 F-16 aircrafts that Pakistan ordered in the 1990’s to meet the aerial challenges against the Afghan border during the Soviet Invasion.
“But these aircrafts were used sparingly and not used in a regular manner as the US knew they belonged to Pakistan,” the official further added that the PAF Chief Air Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmad played a key role in getting the aircrafts delivered.
High ranking officials from the both countries were present at the ceremony. Pakistan has also ordered new F-16 Block 52 models from the United States. Pakistan originallly planned to procured 36 of these aircrafts but later revised its decision to 18 aircraft when it faced the earth quake tragedy in 2006.
However, Pakistan plans to spend 1.3 billion dollars on mid-life update and modification of the F-16A/B aircraft, which was purchased earlier. Engine modifications and purchasing some new equipment for the old fleet will cost Pakistan an additional 151 million dollars.
Pakistan has procured these F-16 despite United States being unreliable defense supplier because it believe that the U.S. will not again make the same mistakes that it made earlier when it blocked the F-16 sale. Pakistan also believe that these F-16 will easily integrate into the existing infrastructure and training aspects as Pakistan has already operated the type of the aircraft for well over five decades.

Round Three of the UK's Eurofighter Challenge

The European consortium became locked into the Eurofighter development contract back in the 1970s. Guy Richards takes a look at how 30 years on, the MoD is without funds or final delivery.

Minot Airmen render aid to flood efforts

3/26/2009 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- Eight Airmen on two UH-1N Huey helicopters loaded with rescue equipment here deployed March 25 to support state authorities in flood efforts in Bismarck, N.D, after President Barack Obama declared the state a federal disaster area. An ice jam north of Bismarck broke, which sent flood waters from the Missouri River toward the city and evacuations were ordered in riverside areas. "We're doing an Air Force Rescue Coordination Center-approved rescue request," said Lt. Col. David Lowe, the 54th Helicopter Squadron commander. "They requested us to support state authorities down in Bismarck in regard to potential flooding of the Missouri River."Minot AFB rescue Airmen are expected to be postured for five days, but are remaining flexible to the needs of the state. The Airmen augment an Army National Guard unit in Bismarck. "The request came in because of the hoist capability we have," Colonel Lowe said. "The North Dakota Guard is a great unit and they have excellent resources, but they don't have hoist-equipped aircraft. Hoist equipment brings a lot to the table in terms of rescue capability." Additionally, the UH-1N has a forward looking infrared system, called FLIR, which is a high-tech camera with features such as night vision and thermal heat-seeking capabilities. The FLIR system has advanced magnifying and recording capabilities and is used to scan surrounding areas during missions. According to flood experts, one of the main concerns in the flood effort is ice jams that have frozen on the north and south side of the Bismarck/Mandan region, threatening to release a sizable flood if they break free. "Some of the support we will be providing will be flying over the ice dams and strategically placing dynamite to safely relieve pressure areas," said Senior Airman Timothy Merlin, a 54th HS flight engineer. "We can also dump salt wherever it's needed." "It's good to have a skill where you can contribute to the community and potentially save lives," said 1st Lt. Cory Fale, a 54th HS pilot. "We train to do this and now we get a chance to show what we can do. If someone needs support, we're there." "We're not sure how long we'll be gone," Colonel Lowe said. "But regardless, we're there to provide a safety net and rescue people who may become stranded. Any other support we can provide this state is gravy."

United States Air Force

"USAF" redirects here. For other uses, see USAF (disambiguation).
"The U.S. Air Force" redirects here. For the song, see The U.S. Air Force (song).
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially born as the United States Army Air Corps, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947.[2] It was the last branch of the U.S. military to be formed.
The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced Air Force in the world, with about 5,778 manned aircraft in service (4,093 USAF; 1,289 Air National Guard; and 396 Air Force Reserve);[3] approximately 156 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles,[4] and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The USAF has 328,439 personnel on active duty, 74,000 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,000 in the Air National Guard. In addition, the Air Force employs 168,900 civilian personnel including indirect hire of foreign nationals.[5]
Not all of the United States' military combat aircraft are operated by the USAF. The Army operates its own helicopters, mostly for support of ground combatants; it also maintains a small fleet of fixed wing aircraft (mostly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The Navy is responsible for a multitude of aircraft, including integrated air wing combat aircraft operating aboard its 11 aircraft carriers and also many maritime patrol and transport aircraft stationed at multiple naval air stations around the world. The Marine Corps operates its own combat and transport aircraft in support of its ground mission and often in conjunction with Naval Aviation. The Coast Guard also maintains transport and search-and-rescue aircraft (SARA), which may be used in a combat and law enforcement role. All branches of the U.S. military operate both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who heads administrative affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the Department of Defense, headed by the Secretary of Defense. The highest ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force

Pakistan Armed Forces

When the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was established on August 15, 1947, it had only a small amount of aircraft and only few to fly that amount. There were even fewer places to fly from. The PAF came into being with only thirty-two C-47 Dakotas and types like Tempests, Harvards, Tiger Moths and Auster V's which were delivered to No. 5, 6 and 9 Squadron. Operating these types of aircraft in Pakistan was far from ideal. The Dakotas were having severe trouble flying at their maximum altitude of 10.000 feet to avoid the tops of the world's highest mountains. Because most mountains in northern Pakistan are even taller than that, only one route, which lead through the narrow Indus Valley, could be used to reach the important supply-airfields Chilas, Bunji, Gilgit and Skardu. The Jet age Despite the lack of funds and market-places, Pakistan Air Force entered the jet age in August 1951 with the arrival of three first-generation jet fighters - British built Attackers. They formed the nucleus of the new Number 11 Squadron. Pakistan began to court the Americans, who agreed in principle to supply F-94Cs, F-86 Sabres and F-84s, the USAF's standard fighter-bomber. Finally, PAF opted for the F-86F Sabres. The PAF received 102 F-86F Sabres during the first stage followed by 90 ex West-German CL13B Mk.6s, which were referred to locally as F-86E. These Sabres were sold to Iran originally but were immediately resaled to Pakistan. During a ten year-period, from 1955 until 1965, a build-up of more modern material began with the deliveries of F-104 Starfighters and B-57 bombers. Next to that some C-130s were added to the transport fleet and for training purposes Harvards and T-33s were purchased. To perform the reconnaissance task the RT-33 joined the force. When the first Starfighters arrived in 1961, Pakistan was the first country in Asia to operate a Mach 2-fighter which was not only fast but also equipped with the most modern equipment. The war of '65 On the 6th of September 1965 war broke out between India and Pakistan. During the beginning of this offensive a PAF F-104 shot down an Indian Air Force Mystère IV with one of its sidewinders making the first combat kill with a Mach 2-capable aircraft. Pakistan made counter attacks on Indian soil using F-104s, F-86s, B-57s and RT-33As. The war lasted for 23 days and in Pakistan it is considered a glorious victory for that country. The Six-Day War between Israel and a number of Arab countries in 1967. During this conflict the PAF sent personnel to Egypt, Jordan and Syria to support the Arabs in their battle against the Israelis. PAF pilots managed to shoot down ten Israeli aircraft, including Mirages, Mystères and Vautours, without losses on their own side. The PAF pilots operated with Egyptian, Jordanese and Iraqi combat aircraft.

Mission statement

The PAF's insignia resembles the low-visibility roundel used by the Royal Air Force. The tail marking is the Flag of Pakistan.
The primary mission statement of the PAF was given by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistani during his address to the passing out cadets of the Pakistan Air Force Academy Risalpur on 13 April 1948. His following statement has been taken as an article of faith by all coming generations of PAF personnelBut the present scenario has required and enabled the Force to come up with an improved and up-to-date Mission Statement