War Machine 5

Volume I

Issue 5

CONTENTS Modern Fighter Aircraft Panavia Tornado ADV

vo

SaabJA3TViggen

82

Missions of Tornado F,Mk2

83

Dassault-Breguet Mirage IIUS/S0 series DassaultBreguet Mirage F. I

84

Dassar:lt-Breguet Mirage 2000

85

IAIl{fir Air Wu over lebanon McDonnell Douglas

&neral Dynamics F- I 6

F- 15

85

86

87

Eagle

88

F.16 Fightrng Falcon

Fighting Fa.lcon in Action

88

Bindes

89

Nortluop F-SE/Tiger II,'F.20

95

YomKippurAirWu

96

McDonnellDouglas F-4 Phantom II

97

llikoyar-Guevich MiG-2 I'Fishbed' Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23'tloggel

Pub

ry

be

sulftct b

iryrt

s.*: :, :- .-

98

::

98

:

:

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25'Foxbat' Sukhoi Su- 15 'Flagon'

100

M:.!-

Tupolev Tu-128'Fiddler'

100

Ed::

: r:

99

ji

- -: --:---

-

Armed Forces of the World US Rapid

Deployment Force (Part

drrtr;

andlor

: :: - ---:a's are obtainable -: ' -'.: l,:< Numbers. Gor --: _::'i4William Street, Vic 3001. .r :a ' '.'::,---e. Europe, Malta and New ---:::s ::, are available at ' - . .-'\ewsagent. In case --: -: :re address in your , '.' : ^iers South African :, :S IaX. b in ders f or WAR :- :- -cw to obtain your ,

:

:: r a of{er)

will be

in

':- :::^ce of 15.00 per : ::.:: e to Orbis Pub:: '.'-3N NE Binders, -

1) T

vce-::

-:

--:::':'Cbury,

Picture acknowledgements

V:-:

Covet photograph: COI PaEe 8 l: Brihsh Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas. 82: Saab 84: Lrass:ll. : r j _ -. = Dassaull Brequet 85: Dassault Breguel/Dassdult-Breguet. 86i lsrael Atrctaft Industnes 8?i _ijj r., PresvA$ocialed Press. 88: US Air Force 89: Raylheon Co /US Arr force 92: US Arr Force'US it: a: I : 9{ = General Dynamrcvus Alr Force. 95: Peler Foster/Northrop 95: Assctated presyAssocla'et ::::: j :.: tone Press Agency 9Z: MoD/US Air Force 98i US Navy/Klaus Nrska 99: Ulf Hugo Swedlsh ..rr :: I ri I O0: Navy. (iii): US Armed Forces (iv)r US Armed ForcevBnlish Aerospace.

: :::: -::

:

London

e through your

:' :: -li 95 ln case of ..,:: ..,::H NE Binders, '.' - . =ss:l Street. Val-

Note: Binders and Back Numbers are obtainable subiect to availability of stocks. Whi st every attempt is made to keeo the price of the issues and binders constant. the publishers reserye ihe ^.rease ' --': ,. -ef clrthe stated prices:::c!mstances a a'a'a :-: ::: -ied in

r.': ::

Forthcomrng issues

th's cub a:: r' j'r 'UK market only : :

featue;.tWorld:lflu II submachine gus

:,': t:'-:

:

t:.

:t-.::'arthe : -:=ssarily : -:':.sale , :; -ay be :

-. laxes,

::.=

3"ar'r--;4-,( ! i-. :

OrlCeS

:, Orbis ... rh the ' :y The :

Tputer

:'-nation r

-

3tai ned

e,

-:.d

Rise

Aircraft

A superb range of new-generation high-technology fighterc have recently takentothe sHes: not simply aircraftthatcan fly a few miles higher or a little faster than before, but wholly new concepts, highly equipped with computerized Ilight, tatget acqzkition and fire control systems. flere we reuiew the land-based fighterc of today, : -1:rter-interceptor, strike-fighter and fighter-bomber: where does one r1:egory end and another begin? Such a question is more easrly asked :--r answered, for whilst some aircraft are desrgned for a specifrc role, ,:iers are capable of all three, or have alternative tasks allocated to ::.em when they are no longer capable of meeting an opponent's top-line ..:lriers on equal terms, Traditionally, however, the frghter is an inter,'=p:or. a lightweight, agile, hiqhly-tuned combat machine totally dedi:-:ed to out distancing and out-manoeuvring any aircraft it is likely to :.:et and, in recent times, of destroying it with cannon or an atr to atr

TheTornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) shows off its deadly pack of lour Sky Flash missiles. Unhke much more agile new-generatton fighters sucft as tfteF-JS and F-l€, th.e Tornado ADV is desigm ed o p a u a I for hours on end far out ove r B nt atn s norther n and weslern approa cl es and to intercept and desta',' e.en'r' t

aircraft attacbng NATa lanes and land targets.

s

s::pp::g

I Ct:.poini accuracy on :'.':'.';ithcut unaccept effecttveness Thrs rs

fighter whrch can

:eImS Of =r.- -:r'.'.'here

:-

:

::..::

.':.=

re!:

:' : -: :

,:

--

-:

:

.' -. :

S:ftke Opefa :--: lssertron lt is : : r::rrd Ln the

::-ssile, Thrs definition has not always found acceptance with air force require ::-ents branches thror-rghout the world, and periodically the 'dogfighttnq'

::ncept has been abandoned in favour of the heavier, all-weather or

-:rg range interceptor until a fresh conflrct confirms once again the :-:ed for agrlity. New technology has enabled designers to develop :.:rgle-seat fighters with many of the capabilities of their wetghtier :'mpanrons, but the gap has nol yet been closed fully, so twin-seat,

-.'.'ln-engine interceptors wrll remarn in front-line service for the foresee-ble future, The General Dynamrcs F 16 Fightrng Falcon can fly rings

.r:und any opponent, though unhke the heavrer Panavia Tornado F.Mk : .: rs unable to loiter for hours at greal drslances from its base, then shoot -j--v'rn an intruder 40km (25 miies) an'a_r after a low level pursuit at

necessary to look nFalklands war of 19!u

lncreasingly

ther: :=':

,:-.=r::piOr and

ground-attack strrl,e ,.- -: -. .. as technology wrli :+::.. ,: full circle srnce air ci i- --- :' : srmiiaritiesexist wrtr ':.= : ...

:

:.

-. -:---^t -i :!'l

:.

many

..lhiers now in service or productron ha'..e been conceived as dual-role

Ar

.

LA

-.

u'-'

lUIn€d Other rL^ Ll le

:,: : -:1,'n Dy an :.= :lal nlade -:=:,i swift to

Whereas specialized qround-attack aLrcrait have been augmented in past by new fighters which have farled :c meet expectations or by

,.&.J-

I

,ge fcr the -: a-r:rafl and

::e

:::se replaced as interceptors by more mcdern equipment,

I

,,=:

.

.

eagles o[ the sky sul

::r:-'--.ns so fat

: .:. -:

attack and iormrda:,-

.oeeds which would shake any other arrcraft tc preces

:

--- :ra',r€

r:-.-:.... avionics developn.r :.. --':. tighter turnrng crr:i+ ::.: ' elite band of fit and a-:: ..-: fighler-rntercep'cr

COSI

numbers -:rgest carriers,

.."--'.,!:*:-

fl ffi E

Panffi" rornado ADv

-i.i the start of the Tornado programme

:: was expected that alr-combat

iightrng would be a role, but the dominant regutrement of the customers was long-raage interdiction and other surface-duected roles (though with Radpac software and changed weapons ighter capability is considerable), The RAF alone raised a reguirement for a long-range all-weather interceptor to patrol the vast airspace for which the UK s resporsible (from Iceland to the Baltic), replacing the Lightning and later the Phantom, and 165 are being bought for RAF Strrke Command. First flown on 27 October 1979 the Panavia Tornado ADV (Air-Defence Version), designated Tornado F.Mk 2 by the RAF, has proved to have performance beyond prediction, The new Marconi/ Ferranti Foxhunter radar can pick indrvrdual targets at over 185kn (115 miles) and track several targets simul-

taneously, and the longer radome qives enhanced transonic accelera-

tion, The firselage was lengrthened to accommodate tandem paus of recessed missiles (the BAe Sky Flash, wrth a rangre of more than 40 kn/25 miles a:rd the ability to snap down on targets as

Effi H't

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ffi

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DesignatedTornadoF.Mk2 inseruice-with theRAF, the.ADVhad tobemade longer than theoriginallDsversion to accommodate the new Foxhunter radar and four.S/
ntc surveillance measures), ECCM (electroruc coux:er- countermeasures)

and an ECM-res:stant data link, By

1983 the RAF :rac placed orders for 70 of the 165 reqr-i3e a:rd these will en-

ler sen'lce

:::. -::i

a.ll reqoece

:.= ie::.

Performance in so outstandingr

that irrther customers are confidently predicted, possibly includrng the existing Tornado IDS users.

high altitude; climb to gl50 m

Specification: Tornado F.Mk

2

Type: long-range all-weather inter-

ceptor Armament: one 27-mm Mauser

mented turbofars Performance: maximum speed over Z414kn/h (1,500mph) orMach2.27 at (30,000 ft) in 2 mrnutes; sewice ceiling more than i5240m (50,000ft); patrol radius over 644 kn (400 miles) with 2 hours on station plus I0 minutes of

combat gnrn;

four Sky Flash (later AMRAAM)

medium-range AAMs pius two AIM-9L Sidewinder (later ASRAAM) shortrange AAMs Powerplant: two 7258 kg (16,000-lb) thrust T\ubo-Union RB, 199 Mk 103 aug-

Weights: empty 14000 kq (30,865 Ib); maxrmum take-off more than 27270 kg (60,020Ib)

Dirnensions: span (sruept) 8.6m (28ft

27zin); Iength tB.06m (S9ft 3in), height

5.7 m ( lB ft 872 in);

wingareanot

stated

lAs? vissen

When Sweden planned lrs

r_=r::.

generation combat aircraft, Systen: 3: in the early I960s the most urgent need was for attack and multi-sensor reconnalssance versions to replace types such as the Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 35 Draken and Saab 105. A total of IBO of these models, the AJ37 attack aucraft, SF37 and SH37 overland and overwa-

ter reconnaissance platforms, and

SK37 trau:rer, were delivered by I9Bl, By this trne production was centled on

the Saab JA3? Viggen interceptor, which uses the same affiame (ex-cept for having the extra swept tip to the frn hrst seen on the SK) but has totally new sensors (includrng L.M. Ericsson UAPI 023 pu.lse-Doppler high-perfornance long-range radar feeding rnformation to a Singer-Kearfott SKC-2037 digital central computer, which in tum keeps the pilot in the picture by means of a Smiths head-up display) and weapons, rncluding the hrgh-velocity Oerhkon KCA 30-mm cannon, whose shell has a very flat trajectory and a kinetic enerqry affer a flight of 1500 m (1,640 yards) equrvalent to that of a DEFA or Aden cannon (of the same calibre) at the muzzle, Even the engine has drfferent

fan/compressor blading and other changes to increase thrust, and like other versions has a giant afterburner and thrust reverser for pulling the aircraft up quickly, STOL operations, facilitated by the canard confignlatron,

are routinely made from straight

stretches of country highway, wlth noflare landings on the tandem-wheel main grears, in order to prevent the squadrons being destroyed on therr

hxed air bases. The Swedish Flyg-

vapen (air force) ordered 149 to equip eight squadrons over the penod lg7985. The JA37 was the fust frghter in any part ofEurope to enter seryice wrth an advanced pulse-Doppler radar, and its

5Z

in its new air E€no nty grey scieme, carrying a fuJl complentent of BAe Sky Flash airto-arr missiles, Al M -9L S idewinders and vental fuel tank. TheJA 37 is the only version of the Viggen still in prduclion, and is by far the most astly model so far. The JA37 Viggen

su

Specification: Saab JA37

Visgen

Type: interceptor ani fighter

ixed 3O-mrc Ce::<:.'. cannon with I50 rou::ds, and D::'.--s-:.-for stores carried on tirree u:rie-:s=.-

Armament: one

age and fow underwrng hardp::-'s these stores can include up to sx P.E- (Sky Flash) medium-range ano iE21

l'lissions of Tornado F.1-1k2

,'1

,>4-.' .

N mrod AE!', \4< 3 w patrcl Br la n s approaches and w I control Tornado f gnters onto therr tarqets

Tornado's Foxhunter radarcan pickup intruders at 100 miles and the aircraft can intercePt at extreme low level if necessary

-,--.

't't' ;: z/

Soviet intruders are likely to be Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer' or Tupolev Tu-22M 'Backfires' flying in lowf rom both eastern and western approaches.

The Hurricane and Spitfire did not alone win the Battle of Britain. lt is more accurate to say that the deliverance of the British lsles from the Luftwaffe in 1940 was brought about by a finely integrated team comprising the Hurricane, Spitfire, radar and associated plotting and direction centres. Though aircraft performance and capabilities have advanced manyfold in the subsequent four decades, the basic principle still holds true: the world's best fighter is no more use against an enemy airattack than a Sopwith Camel if it is in the wrong place or airborne at the wrong time. ln the event of a European war, the UK will resume its former role as the 'unsinkable aircraft-carrier' of the f ree world, holding some 40 per cent of NATO air strength and thus presenting a prime target f or Soviet attack. Gone, however, are the days when vast fleets of Heinkels and Junkers would join formation high over France before setting course for Kent. A future attack could involve small

groups or perhaps single aircraft streaking n at low level: Tupolev fu-22M 'Backfire' bombers operating from Arctic bases and entering British airspace through the'back door'after a flight over the Atlantic Ocean, and Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer' interdictors operating with their terrainjollowing radar to make use of ground features to conceal their deadly approach. In the last Battle of Britain, south-east England was the principal area of operations; now the area is potentially almost everywhere and anywhere in the islands. Radical solutions are demanded for such apparently insuperable problems, and therefore the RAF is about to implement a fundamental change in its defensive strategy. ln future, enemy aircraft will be conf ronted by fighters as far away as possible from the British lsles, preferably before they have had opportunity to fan out for their attacks. New aircraft and new systems are required for such an undertaking, and these are now becoming available in the forms of the Panavia Tornado F.Mk 2 and BAe Nimrod AEW.Mk 3. Choke-points for incoming air attacks will be the lceland-Faroes gap and the North Sea, and these are to be patrolled by the 11 Nimrod AEW.Mk 3s scheduled to be stationed at Waddington; each of these aircraft can spend some seven hours on watch up to 1600 km (1.000 miles) from base. Sensitive aerials mounted in bulbous fairings at the Nimrod's nose and tailwill scan the seas for ntruders bent on eluding ground-based systems by flying at low level. Acting in parallel to the airborne aircraft of the NATO force of 18 Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft, and exchanging data with that fleet, the Nimrod's six-man iactical team will constantly update the picture at No. 11 Group headquarters rhe nerve centre of British air defence), taking control of fighters if required in crder to vector them towards a distant enemy. The Nimrod AEW.Mk 3 is to be the anvil of U K air security; the hammer is the -ornado F.Mk 2. Armed with four Sky Flash radar-guided AAMs (a British :evelopment of the Sparrow), two Sidewinder infra-red missiles and a 27-mm

::,

Mauser cannon, the potent Tornado F.Mk 2 has been developed spec' :: the requirements of the RAF. Operating f rom advanced bases n the r : a- ... : : : ':-:-: such as Macrihanish and Stornoway, and refuelled by aerialtankers, ire : and its two-man crew will be capable of long patrols far f rom lanc :e -: '. targets over 160 km (100 miles) distant with the advanced Fo\^--:=Once located, the enemy will have little chance of escape, := superb aerodynamics the Tornado F.Mk 2 can fly at low, leve ai ... - -would provoke structural failure in any other aircraft. -:::=-Though the Tornado F.Mk 2 and Nimrod AEW.Mk 3 are :e:=: = dent action, it is in combination that they will achieve { i"= :: . =each complementing the remarkable capabilities of tre :-= =- : :' :decade, this unparalleled team will have ensured tna::-e -(. 3 ,: securely bolted. i

-: ':::: '.r:-:-r: :: s::-:. :' r: -,:.' ::':- i, : ::-. :::-

Due to enter squadron sewice with the RAF in late 1984, the Tornado F.Mk will, teamed with Nimrod AEW.Mk 3s, VC I 0s and TriStar tankers, offer an enormous improvement in Britain's air defence capability.

2

lt

Dassault-Bregruet Mirage III/5/50 series

l.=,= -: ::.e most famous flghters in his-

.::.'

::.e basrc Dassault Mirage delta

=;t*:l*:*?fl,#,;lrJ*"-';;

i'G j#ii'+i"i"fi":iF*:"'fi1",*';:: -:.e MLraqe III-001 prototyp

-- )iovember 1956 and the first pro:::rron Mirage IIIC fighter for l'fum6e := lAr flew in tgoo, t6 ne followed by

::re

than 1,400 basically similar MiragelllEofthetheFrenchArm6edel'AirEscadredeChasse2/4'LaFayette'. :-aclunes for 2l countrres, Early mod-

..*,,,--.ff{$K.-'r i''

:s

could have a booster rocket enelne -::Cer the rear in place of gmn ammuni-

:.:r. and a fuel tank. The large main

=.:ffiHT'%1r"J'f,"r1'1:.X'lft1li$?lu :

r:;l*ti"ii=i;;;,r,,;*;"_la;;;

'6 000 ft) on attack missions. age-lllB and Mirage IIID are tandem Cual versrons, the Mirage IIIE series

are fighter-bomneiJ wltn

eitri

,veapon-delivery systems (French

\ fr;.;:"W

€_S;€--(O

-.-

MiragelllEEof

Mrrage IIIEs carry the AN52 nuclear bomb) and Mirage IIIR reconnaissance arrcraft have a distinctive camera nose replacing the Cyrano II radar, The Mirage IIIO rs the Australian verston of the Mirage IIIE. South Afrrcan Mirage III CZ, DZ and RZ Mirages have the 7200-kg (15,873Jb) thrust Atar 9K5O engine which rs standard in the Mirage--50 first flown rn 1979 and with up-

graded avionics (so far bought

+_-

,-r theEryptianArabairtorce.

by

Chile), In contrast the popular Mirage ARoyalAustralianAirForceMiragelllOotNo.TSSqn. 5 rs a clear-weather day attack aircraft wrth extra fuel and weapons replacing the radar and other avionics (various

.' '*,:r,ii,.re

ffi*m'ffi*'ffi'*mffi avionics. -

MiragelllCZof

No.2Sqn,SouthAtricanAirForce.

Specification:

plus turo Sidewinder or Magic AAMs,

Mirage IIIE Type: fighter-bomber Armament: tvvo 30-mm cannorr each with 125 rounds (no rocket); three ex-

Powerplant: one 6200-kg (13,670-1b) afterburning thrust SNECMA Atar 9C

ternal pylons for 454-kg (1 000-lb)

bombs or equivalent stores including pods, tanks, AS,30 missiles or, for airto-air role, an R.530 or Super 530 AAM

E4

turbojet

Two-seatMirage trainers of the Escadre de Chasse de Transformation 2/2 'C6te d'Or' based atDiion.

''*:tr*{Aible"

12000m (39,370ft) 2350km/h

mph) Mach 2,2, or ciean at sea 1390 km/h (863 mph); servtce ceiling i7000 m (55,775 ft); radius on a hr-lo-hi attack mission with one or two tanks 1200 lcn (745 miles) Weights: empty 7050ks (15,540 lb); maximum take-off 13700 kg (30,200 lb) (1,460

level

#

ru

Performance: maximum speed, clean

at

-S,Sii#ilffi*k**r"

{

:lti"#*:a:r'**shl,r#+: aid dophrsticated

,,

f,-,*"..,.*.=.*-r"*',

Dimensions: span 8,22 m (26

fi

I IVz in),

length 15,03m (49ft 3/zin): herght 4,5m (l4ft 9in); wing area 34,85m2 (374.6 sq ft)

Mirage of the Argentine air force prior totheFalklandswar of 1982. Mostwere held backfor air defence of the Argen tine m ainland. A

IE

: RANCE

-^<sqE

Dassault-Bregruet Mirage F. I

,.

a.rrevLng rn the endurrng appeal '.-.= \{rraqe IIl, .Dassault sought a suc=.: -: from 1961 and settled on a much .:;=: lypb powered by the brg TF3O6 .-:::.ented turbofan and flown with a r-..: ,,vrng, a hrgh wrng and tail (Mrr.:- : 2) and even VTOL hft jets. The :..:.;e F.2 was a qood aircraft but -.:sault eventually, in 1965, per ., :.d lfumee de l'Au to buy a srmt-

MirageF.lC of

the Armee de

based at Orange-Caritat.

44,::.

I'Air's Escadron de Chasse EC 2iS 'lle de France

I

.i

rrrcraft scaled back to Atar stze, .- r :hrs, the Dassar:lt Mirage F.I, flrst

..=.'.' Ln 1966. Though the

Mrages, but wrth SABCA./Sonaca of Belgurn, which builds the rear fixelaqe. Armaments Development and

: =: oent more rnternal fuel rn a smaller

Production Corporatlon of South Afrrca holds a manufacturrng hcence, and its models are rndicated by a Z suffix to the basrc desiqnatron. French Mirage F.lC interceptors have by 1983 been updated to carry the R,530F radarhomrng air-to-aL mtssile.

wing is much .:.aller than the delta, it rs so much :.'. re efficient (wrth double-slotted :.-ring-edge flaps and a drooping ,=.ing edge) that, comblned wrth 40 r-rirame, the Mirage

F.

I

has a much

..-.,rter field lengrth, three tlmes the .-cersonic endurance, twice the tac-

-.:al radiLrs at low level and all round - . "er manoeuvrability The avronrcs : : le of the serres is the Thomson-CSF l:'rano IV fire-control radar, which rn --.e Mrrage F. 1E versron has modiflca.-:ns for air-to-surface ranging and to

::rmit low-altitude penetration

Specification: Mirage F.lC Tlpe: flghter bomber Armament: two 30 mm DEFA cannon

'.'.:e :eiling

20000

lp E'

:!!GFH,

m (65,600 ft) radrus

::. = ,'-lo mrssron wrth 1600 kg :::-.c of weapons 644km (400

Weights: :mpty 7400 kq (16,314 lb); :.r',,:.-r:. iake-off 15200 kq (33,510Ib) Drmensiors: span 8.40 m (27 ft 63/e rn), ,=:.; .-, -: , m (49 lt 272 rn); hetqht - : - : = .: : tn). wrng area 25.0 m2

afterburntng thmsr Sl.: -_ 50 turbolet Performance : maii-t--- -i_-, at hrgh altrtude 2-1:- .:.,:

or Mach 2.2 or 1450

kn/h

(9OO

lr;'a

:s just one of the dozen nations :.a: :1',' ,jLe commercially very -.:::essfu / and capable Mirage F. l.

:',=-:_

nc: . r i.

of

=:.emy arr space under any weather

::ndrtions. More advanced radar is ::rng developed. The Mirage F.lC all,'.'eather interceptor reached l'Arm6e I Arr squadrons rn 1973, and by l9B3

::

\.

.::al Mirage F.l orders reached over --C, almost 500 of them for export. '.'arrants

,f,mE.

include the Mirage F.IA srm : ined attack alrcraft, Mirage F.IB duat ::arner, Mirage F.IE comprehensive ..1 weather attack atrcraft and Mirage F. lR multi-sensor reconnaissance plat-:lm. The Mirage F.lC-200 rs a French '..erLant wrth an infhght'refuellinq :robe for overseas deployment. Qurck s:ramble is enhanced by a ground .ruck whrch cools the mssrle seekers

1".

s

: ,dar and cockprt, hears 16y1g311611 =nd weapon-aiming systems and slelds the cockptt wrth a sunshadel iroductron is shared not only wrth :iher French companres,

lru

wtth other

Dassault-Bregruet Mirage 2000

-:.iter the Mrrage F

,

as

I was ordered

assault spent much effort on the large

arLable-sweep Mirage G series. Thrs

.-d to the ACF

(Avron de Combat l:tur) wrth a wing fixed at 55" but rn ,.:cember i975 thrs too was cancel.:d. In rts place came another of the .nall single Atar machrnes, and it ::-arked a return to the tailless delta :,

nfiguration. It was, however,

a

totally

The prototype Dassault-Bregnret Mirage 2000 flew on l0 March l97B and follov.lng successful development, the first productron frghter flew in Decem ber ]982 'n/rth 1983 productron rncludrng tandem seal Mirage 20008 trarn ers A total of 127 was expected then to be on order (48 by l9B2), all in basrc atr-defence confiQuratton Inltlal pro-

_ .. machrnesfromno.Sl-.',.-, t--- = ..= srderably more cap:: .- : - . .. terceptlon equrpme.= : : -from 1986. The puls:-- : . - radarrsdesrgned to c:t. - r,':i - . 5mz 154 sq lr) ai a r-: . : . duction examples of ::,= 1.1:.:have the RDM

mult r:.

r:

: .:

.

mrles) RDM radar .:

: - _ ::

_,

-:.- l.l-:--;e

2000. De

: | =.: t.. 'r.:: -e sard bv - - i.:: ::.---,:.perarrcrafi,

=. -.. ; -:.-t-- =r;) and plans ., --- ..- : : '-: '.':= i: be built under ,:- : :,-:. t,-:tlries tf negotia : . .r.-=__.';l Inora has now :,..:- tc burld Peru

has

r.iferent aircraft, desrgned to CCV

:ontrol-confi gured vehicle) technolowrth varrable camber wings having .nged leading and trarhng edges, -.ectrically srgnalled controls and arti..rral stabilrty. Structure was entrrely :.aw, as was the engtne whose ex 'r:mely low bypass ratio was de ..gned for Mach 2 at high altitudes, :'lhng for small frontal area, rather

,;

-:.an for subsonrc fuel economy. -rorce of a srngle-shaft engrne also :.eatly lncreased weight; the basrc -:.grne werghrng l450kq (3, 195 lb). I he very pretty but very expensive )4irage 2000 has chalked up an '-:npressive export sales total even crior to the type entering service sitlt the French air force. Egrypt, ,.ndiaand Peruwere among the early auyers.

85

E

ffi

l:c:gh similar to the eailier Mirage ) *e Mtage 2000 is a completely

'"E!

.. :.

e'*' atrcr aIt, equipped with I

:

-,'

:

e.

s

9

80s

tu cture and aerodynamics.

,.,.,€ Specification: Mirage 2000 Type: flghter Armament: hvo 30-mm cannon each with 125 rounds; normal mrssile load tvvo Super 530 AAlvls inhoard under wings and hvo Magic AAMs outboard (Mirage 2000N attack version rs plan-

ned to carry heavy and varied weapon loads)

Powerplant: one 9000-kg (19,840-lb) afterburnrng thrust SNECMA M53-5 bypass turbojet Performance: maximum speed, clean at high altrtude 2350 km/h (1,460 mph) or Mach 2.2; sewice ceiling 20000 m

(65,600ft) range at high altrtude wit:. two tanks l4B0kn (1,1i8 miles) Weights: empty 7400k9 (16,315 Ib. maximum take-off 16500 kg (36,375 lb

Dimensions: span 9,0m (29ft 6 Ln.

lengrth 14 35 m (47 ft I in), height 5 30 r. (17 ft 6 in); wing area 41.0 mz(441 3 si ft)

ISRAEL

Yt

IAI Kfir

French cut off military sup-: -,:-. :cthe Israel in June the decision ',',-.-.=:

The orange triangles

distupting the

ettective desert camouflage of this Kfir is to ensure visual recogmition by

other Israeli pilots

Egptians device!

-

although the

have adopted the same

1967,

'.'.'- :aken for Israel to become self:-::-:rent rn Mirage-type aircraft. A

:.-::---opy wlth the Atar engine was : --1r as the IAI Nesher (available

l.:shers were bought secondhand by -::;:entrna and named Dagger, being '.-::-,' active in the Falklands cam:.-3n) Israel Arrcraft Industries then =:kled the much greater task of build-

,:,1 a development with the more :.:werful and also shorter J79 engrine.

srmilar to those in Israeli Phanwas flown in a tv\ro-seat Mlrage

-:- .T79,

::ns

-.lB rn September 1971, A prototype IAI Kfir (Lion Cub) was flown in 1973 -:d publicly revealed in April 1975. In -:ly 1976 the definitive Kfir-C2 was sro'nrn, with fixed canard foreplanes :n the inlets, small strakes aiong the :edesigned nose and a new dogrtooth i,.adrng edge to the wing. The object of ::e exerclse (achieved most success-

:Jly) was improvement in field per:-rmance coupled with a great rn-

:rease in combat capability (especiallower end of the speed range :: which dogrfights almost invariably :escend) by bettering the sustained ::ln rate; collateral benefits are re.',' at the

n duced gnxt response at low altrtude and better handhng at hlqh anqles of attack. The drffereni enEdne installation had previousl"'requrred total redesrgn of the rear Lselage and a cooling inlet in the dorsal hn. The new for-

s

extended to house various avionic rten:s rncludrng the Elta

ward fuselage

Ecuador being the frrst export customer. In 1982 Kirs saw extensive action

over the Lebanon, and in l9B3 IAI announced the Kfir-Cz wrth rmproved weapons capabillty and provrsion for tnflight-refuelling,

200lB target-acq.i,srircn and tracking

Doppler radar, anC enremely comprehensive navrga'. ::- :ommunication

Type: multi-role fighter and attack aircraft Armament: two 30-mm IAl-built DEFA

identrfication, nangra::cn and weapondelivery systems are ::rstalled, as well as a Martin-Baker L& 1l seat In early l9BI IAI reveaiec rhe tandem-seat

Kfrr-TC2 with lcrge: and downslopinq nose; ths s a',';eapon-system trainer and EW (eLe:t:onrc warfare)

platform. About 25C ,';e:e estimated to

have been delLverei by late

1982,

kg

(9,468

(58,000

m

ft); radius on hi-lo-hi mrssion

miles)

552 cannon each

4295

nutes; service ceilinq I7680

wrth seven 227-kq (500-lb) bombs, tvuo AAMs and two tanks 768 km (477

Specification: Illir-C2

air-to-air and arr-t:-ground pulse-

burning turbojet Performance: maxunum speed, clean at high altin:de 2440tun|h (1,516 mph); climb to 15250 m (50 000 ft) in 5-17 mi-

with

140 rounds; up to

lb) of stores on seven

hardpoints including bombs, rockets, Maverrck/Hobos/Durandal ASMs,

Shrike anti-radar missiles, Shafrrr 2 AAMs (or Sidewrnders), ECM pods and tanks

Powerplant: one B1 19-kg (17 900-lb) thrust General Electrrc J79-J1E after-

Weishts: empty 7285

take-of

ks

(16,060 lb);

kg (32,408 lb) Dimensions: span 8,22 m (26 ft I 172 in); length 15.65m (51ft 47sin); heisht maxrmum

4.55m

14700

(l4ft llTein); wing

area

34 Bm, (374.6 sq ft)

Acapable all-rounder, theKfir is seen here in low-visibility fighter markings, though itis being bombed up fot an attackmr'ssjon.

t

%qdl

Air Wqr over Lebqnon In 1982 Israel was once again involved in an atu wat in the skies of the Middle East. Thoagh her actiotts on the gtoundwonher

few adtnitets, her pilots and their new aircraft scoted devastating and spectaculaz vic'tortes ovet the opposing Syrians. :-' -5 l5 on

4

June 1982 the uneasypeace main-

.--:.ed between warring Palestinian and l:ristian forces by occupying Syrian troops ':s shattered as Israeli McDonnell Douolas :.a:rtoms and McDonnell Douglas Skyhairks , ared over Berrut, capital of Lebanon. ::elIllIIQ.ly uIltIOUOleO by Dy the tne barrage Oarlage Ol of =emingly untroubled 1::und-fire and SA-7 shoulder-launched SAMs

:'k \q

tc

. leaking up to meet them, the fighter::mbers pressed home their attacks

on

lalestinian refugee camps around the crty, a rassive exploston confirmtng a direct hit on an .mmunition dump. After 90 minutes the jets ,'.'rthdrew, leaving scenes of destruction and :haos in their wake. It was the day after the israeli ambassador in the UK had been gunned

iown in a terrorist attack. Israel was clearly .rient on massrve revenoe. But there was more to follow, Raids were

repeated on 5 June, and on the next day Israel's .roops advanced into Lebanon, bent on ehmi:atrng the Palestinian guerrilla forces whtch had been a thorn in lsrael's stde for so manv ;rears. The opportuntty was also taken to attack :he Syrian SAM sites recently instalied rn the Bekaa valley south east of Beirut, and the Syrian air force responded. Large-scale atr i:ailles followed, but Israel pressed on io her scal -r, and the Palcstrne Lrbera'ion Orqan.za:r.n rs banshed from Lebanon

Flying top cover for the ng:r:er-i-:ni:ers were two of the latest acidt:t:ns :c :re Israei Defence Force/Air Force :le l',l:t:i:ell Douglas F-15 Eagie and Ge:e:r- t'.':.anics f 16 Frghtrnq Falcon he la::-r r'..,:'.t. : .-i t€but in air-to-air warlare O; -.:..- . : '.: _ .::.ta' aqility (dogfighting) the F-l: .:.-:=: ,: :he \";k

t1.7" le

bv 7l u,

rllr

.;

amazing success of the IDF/AF over its Syrian

counterpart, accounttng for 44 of the 85 air-to air claims made by Israel, the malonty of them rn three days of intense fightrng on 9-11 June, The need for positive identification in the mdlee brought fighters tnto close contact before weapons were fired, and under such cir cumstances the F 16 is in its element. Using

marnly Sidewinder AAMs and the israehproduced Shafrir, the aircraft wrought havoc

A flight o{ Syrian M iG - 2. s :l; :: ;;,...- :. June I 982 to battle',+'::. :.= ) : :. : _ survived to fight anotn er := ;.

admittediyageing

\1.l -- ::

amongst the Soviet-supplted Mikoyan-

Gurevich MIG-Z1 'Fishbed'and MiG-23 'Flog, ger flghters of the Syrian air arm, losing not one

oi the 72 then in servrce wtth three squadrons.

Astounding victories Even after allowance for over-claims made good faith, the scale of the F-16's victory is Irttle short of astounding, particularly as the 1n

cated F-15s equa1,::

,F

\

'

:,-.=

cess, and were ti :., ..

,;r',

r *$;* -r*i{

a

II

=-F

::t -

.s

.':

::"q ?** !J

j'

,'l€-'

I I

Israeli F- I5 Eagles formate over-the desert. The F- 15 equalled lfte success of the F- I6, though fewer were i" nL !enlo.r^e^Q.lsr.ael's Eagles had often dominated the skies over Lebanon during ttle shrmiJ"es

June 1982 episode.

ili",

__

:

l.: , _l signiflcant posirron lr. -r.: -- .: Ceneral Dynamics mr;:.' :._ l-:' thrs is as it should be fol I - r..: t:i : i oeuvrable aircrafi ar-i:_-_=

- ---i--:---i: - -::- .j-:..::=^l:;r'.: rl-^..-r

i;:e;+

:-: -..s-'-.

:.t :;-: !-:: : .,, :: :

E

USA

-tt

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

Lke its predecessor in the St Lours factory (the F-4), the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle rs widely regarded as the best fighter in the world, though it has the dlsadvantages ofgreat size and hrgh operating cost. It was developed to rival the MiG-25, but unlike the

stand-of interceptor but a close-combat doqfighter

.,4wJ-: *-'-

820

-

Sovret aircra-ft it is not a

wing area and tvro extemely powerfi:l engdnes, The fow Sparrow AAMs are camed against the square corner edge along the bottom of the large inlet ducts, and the gun is mounted in the right inboard wtng, drawing ammunition from a large 940round drum in the fuselage, Hughes wrth

a vast

provide the AN/APG-63 pulse-

Doppler radar, with computerized data-processing to leave nothing on the pilot's head-up or head-down dispiays except the vital items of real interest. A-ll-round view is superb, and the F-IS pioneered the HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick) concept to ease the pilot's task in combat. Very heavy attack weapon loads can be carried, and the original F-l5A and tandemseat F-ISB have been followed by the F-ISC and hvo-seat F-ISD in which rnternal fuel is increased, FAST (fuel and

]Fi

A newly-delivered F- I 5 of the I sraeli air force (Heyl Ha'Avir).

sensor, tactical) pallets flttrng against the sides ofthe fuselage give 4422k9 (9,750 lb) of extra tuel with no extra drag, and avionics are updated. The

F-ISE Enhanced Eagle can carry a 10885-kg (24,000-1b) bombload, but had not been ordered in late 1983. By that time over 700 Eagles had been delivered to the USAF, Israel, Saudi fuabia and Japan, in which country the variants are the F-ISJ single- and FISDJ two-seater, The US Air Force plans to evaluate the Enhanced Eagle against the F-]6XL, and the unnner

may be ordered to the extent of 400 examples as the USAF's standard allweather strike fighter, a role to which the AN/APG-63's modried form, wrth SAR (synthetic apefture radar) configuration, is ideally suited: smali

radar.

(100,000f1); ferrv range with maximum fuel 5560 kn-. (3,450 miles)

loaded, clean 20l85kg (44,500 lb)

F-ISC Eagle

Type: fighter with secondary attack role Armament: one 20-mm M61A-1 cannon; four Sparrow (latter AMRAAM)

AAMs plus four Sidewinder (later ASRAAM) AAMs; option of 7258 kg pylons

cei[ng 30500m

Weights: empty 14334kg (31,600 lb)

Specification:

(16,000

mented turbofans Performance: maxrmum speed, clean except AAMs at hiqh altitude 2660 km h (l,650mph) or Mach 2,5; absolute

lb) attack weapon load on flve

Powerplant: rwo 10855-kg (23,930-lb) thrust Pratt & Whitney P100-100 auq-

maxrmum take-off 30845 kg (68,000 lb) Dimensions: span i3.05 m(42ft93/q tn). lenqth 19.43 m (63 ft 9 in); height 5.63 r, (18

ft

572

in); vnng area 56.5

m'

(608

C

sq f0 An F - I 5 of the 49 th Tactical F ighter W ing d ispl ays i ts potent weapon Ioad: four Sidewinders, four Sp

arrows and the

20-

mm cannon

housed in the wing root.

USA

General Dynamics F-I6 Fighting Falcon

lnitiated as an LWF (l,ight Weight

Fiqhter) demonstrator in 1972, to see whether or not a fighter smaller and less costly than ttrc F-15 could have any value, the YF-16 flew in February 1974, won over a Northrop rival and was then developed into the larger and immensely more capable Generd Dynamics F-16A Fightinq Falcon, which was not only ordered in large numbers (650, later rncreased to 1,388

-

against a planned total of 2,333) by the USAF but also by Belgdum, Denmark,

the Netherlands and Norway to replace the F-104, Other buyers are

effect is a magnificent au-combat plat-

form with adequate performance but phenomenally good agnhty, roll, c[mb and acceleration. Important contdbutory factors are the unswept wing with automatically variable camber, and the pilot recliningr in an Aces II seat under a frameless canopy with his right hand gnaspingra small stick which senses any applied forces with nearzero movement. All combat controls

for the aircraft, weapons, Westing-

house APG-66 radar and Marconi HUD

combining CCV (control-confignrred vehicle) technoiogy and fly-by-wue signalling with an unprecedented

(head-up display) are on the stick or throttle, The APG-66 radar is a highly capable equipment: the look-up range is 74 kn (46 miles) while the look-dovrn range, even against grround clutter, is 56 km (35 miles), The set is of the pulse-Doppler type and has rangre and angle track modes, with information fed to the pilot via a Marconi head-up

thrust/weight ratio using a single F-IS type engine fed by a fixed ventral inlet upstream of the nose gear, The overall

optical display, Other key avionics are the Delco fire-control computer, ALR-

Israel, South Korea, Egypt, Pakstan and Venezuela. In structure, aerodynamics, avionics and systems the F-16

is outstandingly well engineered,

38

targets can be seen in any weather conditions (and at night) at a range of 32 kn (20 miles). The F-ISE will also have the 'Pave Tack' targeting pod, whose FLIR (forwardJooking rnfrared) sensor will be integrated with the

display and Kaiser radar electro-

69 radar warning receiver and Sperry air-data computer. The USAF buy includes 204 F-l68 combat-capable twoseaters with reduced fuel. The equivalent F-l6C and F-l6D single- and two-

seaters have progressively updated and augmented avionics rncluding AMMAM mrssiles, LANTIRN night/ all-weather pods and new cockpit displays. F-l6s have flown with J79 and F101 engnnes, the AFTVF-16 has advanced direct-force controls, and the F-I6XL (F-l6E) prototypes have dou-

ble the wing area and more fuel

to

carry qEeater weapon loads from shorter fields with even better manoeuwability, The J79-engined F- 16/79 is being offered as a lower-cost export model,

Specification: F-I6A Fighting Falcon Type: multi-role fighter Armament: one 20-mm M6I cannon with 515 rounds; nine hardpoints for

normal maximum load of 7802 kg (17,200 lb), with theoretical hmit of 9276 kg (20,450 1b) including all available tactical stores, 'Pave Penny'laser

tracker, ECM-EW pods (usually

ALQ-131) and special stores including ARIMs in 'Wild Weasel'role Powerplant: one lO8l4-kg (23,840-lb)

afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney

F100-200 turbofan Performance: maximum speed, clean except AAMs at 12190m (40,000ft)

2173km/h (l,350mph) or Mach 2,05; service ceiling more than 15240 m (50,000 ft); radius on a

hi-lo-hi mrssion

with six Mk 82 bombs and no tanks 547

hn

(340 miles)

Weights: empty 6866kg (15, I37 lb); maximum take-off U010 kg (37,500 lb) Dimensions: span 9.5 m (31 ft 0 in); length 14.52m (47ft 7/qin); heigh! 5,09 m (16 ft B7z in); wingarea27.B7 mz (300.0 sq ft)

t

F-16 Fi

lh

$

The tanned lsraeli prlot clrmbed up the specrally designed aluminium ladder and eased down into the F l6's comfortable cockpit. He seemed not so much to be sitting rn the arrcraft as lyrng down on top of it, and as he surveyed the advanced electronic displays facing hrm he could not help noticing the contrast wLih the

mass of dial instruments in his beloved old Phantom. Even when he had donned hrs bone dome helmet and moved the sw-itch to close:he enormous canopy, the pilot was ye: agaln tm pressed by the fantastic all round vre,..,' There was absolutely nothing to get in the way except for tvvo narrow blades on each stde of the HUD (head-up dlsplay) drrectly ahead, one of whrch indrcates whether or not NWS (nosewheel steering) rs engaged Turning to the rear the vast expanse of distortion-free polycarbon-

ate gives a view never before enjoyed by a fighter pilot, because wrthout the wind buffet of an open cockpit there rs a perfect view astern and eyes can twist, You have only to look to see if you are making a contrail, and there is no place for bad quys to hrde except down below. Onthisoccasion, rnearlyJuly 1982 therewas a fair chance there would be some bad guys, as far as the head

because unhke other operators of the F-16 Frghting Falcon the Heyl Ha'Avir (the lsraeli air force) has flown rt rn action, The first time this happened was on 7 June 1981, when eight aircraft were detailed to attack the Osirak nuclear

power station rn Iraq. This station's reactors had long been consrdered to be a source of weapons-grade plutonrum, and thuspotentrally a danger of the greatest magnitude to the beleaguered Jewish state. The eight F 16As, all Afterburner blazing, an F- l6 from the famed 9th Tactical Fighter Wing the 'Wolf Pack' thunders down the runway at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.

:.1

newly dehvered in the first He,: !-,:, of 75. were onty just readv:-r ..:._: missions (though the erght pr-::-- '.'.'=:= :-.::- :i vast experrence on the McD::'-:,=,- - : * -:-:.-< A-4 and McDonnell Douglas F-.i :: =:-. =::--:r 1en eratron). Qurckly rheyhad j--,r' -,:.-.-,'. -: manage the totally new technc-, f.' :- .:- : -16 so electronically based rt rs p:c'.-.:-'. :alled the electric frghter' On that nrs: =.,:r a::ack mrssion each arrcraft carrred :-.',', . - - .c (907-kg) Mk 84 bombs, plus an EClul r::: ard external

fuel. Flyrng from Etzrcr- .:-:

:r the then-

occupied Sinai, the route ,a'.' -,-r:ss more than 1000 km (620 miles) of iea:*::.:ss desert before reaching the target ..','-:-r ::-rch of the mis sion flown at low level Eve:'.- c:mb was placed exactly on target, and a1l air:rai: returned un damaged, Arr refuelling'.'.':s nci used. But rn the summer of l9E2 :he crrcumstances were drfferent. Missrcns '.','ere short. from

A high-flying Fighting Falcon lets go a Sidewinder, partof the deadly combination thatdevastated the Syrian air force in the skies over Lebanon.

bases rn Israel across the border to Beirut, the shattered capital of Lebanon, and then the flnal base of the army of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization), A-4s, F-4s and F l6s were used to bomb the PLO areas in west Beirut, but the F- I6 was also needed to maintain command

of the air in the face of Syrian Mikoyan-

Gurevich MrG-2ls and MiG-23s, Many combats ensued, all apparently visual at close rangre, and though no detailed figures have been published there rs plenty of evidence that the ascendancy of the US-built fighter was total,

Every hostrle arrcraft was detected at a dlstance of tens of kilometres, tracked automatically and outmanoeuvred so that it could never get within flring parameters. The F- l6s further

Genercrl Dgnctmics F-15 Fighting Fctlcon This aircraft is one of the I 50 F- I 6s purchased from the United States in two batches of 75 (each containing eight F- I 68 two-sea ters). The machines performed superbly during the Lebanon war, employing the full range-of this -akcraft's excellent weapons systems including AIM-9J Sidewinders, 20'mm M6l cannon, large groups of 1,000- or 2,000-Ib bombs, ECM iamming pods, and decoy fiIares.

ill

llt

..,.i,.:ffr*f""qlF

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dg. 1r-rjr

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protected themselves with ECM jammers and dispensed chaff and llare payloads, the latter being (for the flrst time) seen by the world on TV newsreels, Any hostile aircraft that became

imminently danqerous was promptly shot down, using gmns and either Shafrir or Srdewrnder missiles, That the General Dynamics flghter was an

attractive hrgh-performance machine was obvious from the roll-out of the orrgrnal Model 401 (YF-16) the two examples of which were smaller and much lighter than the productron versions. It was only after the F-16A qot into service rnJanuary 1979 (wrth the 388th TFW at H111 AFB) that its true capability became apparent, By 1980 gruelling intensive exercises simulat-

ing war conditions showed that this fighter

could fly from six to 10 sorties per day, quickly deploy to half way across the globe and then go strarght into action, and absolutely dominate its airspace no matter how good the opposing pilots mrght be, Put up against the famed F-4E Phantom, previously a yardstick against which other multr-role fighter-bombers were judged, the little F-16 not only flew rings round the older type rn air combat but also carried the same bombload twice as far, or double the bombload for the same distance,

F-16 a winner Even then there were doubters and disbelievers convrnced they could grve the F-16 a run for its money, but there were not many of these left afler 24 June 1981, A team from the 388th TFW flew to Scotland to take part rn the RAF inter-servlce tactical bombing competition, and to say the F-l6As swept the board is a considerable understatement, Flying under 97 Gearboxdrveshafr 98 GrGund pressure ref uelling 99

receptacle Fiaperon servo actuator

100 Rearfuselage franre constTuclron

101 Rearintegra fueltank 102 Main enqine mountino suspens on lrnk

103 UpperUHG/lFFaeria 104 Fuseagesknplatlng 1

1 Pitottube Glassf ibre radome Planar radarscanner

4 lLSglideslopeaenal 5 Scannerdriveunits 6 Radar mounting bulkhead 7

ADF aerial

24 SrdeconsoeDane 25 Cockprr frame construction 26 RearpressureDUlkhead 27 Ejectionseatne:drest 28 Seatarmrng saielv ever 29 Cockpit sea rng frame 30 Canopyhnqeponl 31 Ejectonseat aunchrirs 32 Rearelectronrcs

I FoMardelectronics equipmentbay 9WestinghouseAN/APG-66 equipmentbay(growth digital pulse doppler radar area) electronics 33 Boundary iaver spl tler

10 FoMard identification 1 1

1 2

l3 l4

light. Danish and Noryegian aircraft only Radarwarning antenna Cockpit front pressure bulkhead lnstrument panel shroud Weapons systems fire control electronics Fuselage forebody

plate

34

ntake LowerUHF/IFFaenal 36 Aftretractrng nosewheel

35

37 Shockabsorberscissor

38 39 I 5 strake 40 fairing 41 l6 Marconl-Elliotwlde-angle 42 rastetrvideo head-up 43 I

7

display (WARHUD) Side stick controller(fly-by wire control Cockpit f

Fixed geometry engine air

44

links Retraction strut

Nosewheeldoor FoMard position lighl lntaketrunking Cooiingairlouvres

hvdrau ic accumulalors

21 McDonnellDouglasACES

lzerozeroeiectionseat

22 Pilot's safety harness 23 Engine throttle

92

48

Forebodv blended wrno root

49 Upperposition ightand

fliqht refuellrng f ood ight

50 Fueltank bayaccesspanel 51 Rotary cannon barrc s 52 Forebodyframe construction

53 M

61 Vulcan

ca n

51 5

rounds drive shaft Leading-edge flap control shaft HVdraul

cequipment

serv ce bay

60 Pnmarysystem hydrau 61

rc

reservolT Lead ng edge manoeuvrc f lap drive motor

62 TACANaerial

64

external fuel tank (1400 litres)

e:l

eed and link

56 Ammunltion drum f lexiblc

nozzle Air condilroning system piping FoMard f uel tank, total

46 Canopyaftglazing 47 Starboard308lmpga

f

55 Ammunition drum,

59

63 No.2 hydrau icsystem reseruoir Leadrnq edqe ilapcontrol shaft lnboard py on

65 66 Pylonflxlng

67 Wrng cenlre py on 68 Triplc cjector bomb

69

:'.liAAMl

80 Ar.:ruihoncycomb

20mm

return chutes

57

::-^::rC

73 -r,:^aec nrcd um range : -::'a I m ss le

non

54 Ammunrtron

Gun gas suppression

system) l8 loor 45 l9Framelessbubblecanopy systemcapacltvS93lmp gal(40.60ltres) 20 Canopyfairing

Starboard side'body fainng

108 Anti-col ision light power

General Dynamics F-1 6 Fighting Falcon cutaway drawing key 2 3

05

106 Fnrootfrllet 107 Flight control system

High visibility in low visibility colours ! P ilot vision isunrivalled in theF-J,6's one-piece bubble canopy.

.g edge flap

-:.s1rlcr on 8i Slarboard navrgation light 82 Siatrc drscharges B3 : \ed tra I ng edge secl on 8.1 l\'1J I sparwrng conslruction B5 inlegralwing iue tank 86 Starboard flaperon 8l Fuel system piping Access pane s 89 Centre fuel lank bay access pane 90 ntake duct ng 91 Wrng mounting bulkheads 92 Un versal arr refuelling receptac e (UARSSI) l

93 Engrne compressor face 94 Pratt&Whrtnev F1 00'PW2i I 00 afterburn nq turbofan eng ne

rack

Mk 82 500 tb\227'kg) bombs

95 Jet fuel starter

96

Engine accessory gearbox airframe mounted

suppiV unit

'l

09

1

10 Tailplanesurfaces

Starboard tai plane (increased area'brg tarl

)

interchangeable port and starboard 111 Graphite epoxysk n panels 112 F n constr!ctron 113 Alum nium honcycomb leading edge panel Steel leading edge stnp VHF commun cations acr al Antr-colirsron lght Tai radarwarning anten nae

A umrn um honeycomb rudder construction Rudder seruo actuator Fadarwarnrng power SUPP Y

Brakc parachute housing

NoMegian a rcraft only 122 Tall navlgatron I ghl

simulated war conditions, the new Fighting Falcons operated intensively for two days pulting dornm free-fall 'iron bombs' on convoys of vehicles, Every bomb was delivered precisely on its assigned target, and the final score was a record 7,831 points out of the possible 8,000. A !LS_!]V_

experienced RAF squadron flying

SEPECAT Jaguars came second witn 6 +Ol points, followed by many other squadrons in-

cluding crack units flyinq F-llts and Buccaneers in the 16 competition sorties against

defending fighters (RAF Phantoms and Ligrht nings) the F-l6s scored 86 kills for no losses, The combined score of the other teams was one kill set against 42 losses! Based at RAF Lossiemouth, the F-16s in the competition proved their superb engineering design by averaging a turn-around time belween sorties of only 10.5 minutes. Included in each turn-around was complete refuelling, and rearming with 5 I5 rounds of 20-mm ammunitlon and six 227-kq (500-lb) Mk 82 bombs. The accuracy of navigation of the F-l6s also set a new record, and at the end of the meeting the general feeling of the opposing teams was that

they had suddenly become second-class citrzens, One of the fundamental design

'123 Electrontc

1

1 1

24 25 26

requirements

'144 Flaperon hrnqs5 145 Alumin um hcne\co-b flaperon constructro" 146 Staticd scharcers '147 Ftxed t13r /no edee

148 PortA

upperand owersurfaces

I I

27 A rbrake h!draul

28

149 Missilelaunchersroe .; 1 50 Wing t p launcher i'

lack Pon tar o ane { ncreased

area botat

l5l

)

129 Statrcdischaroers

I 1

32 i 33

3a -3, I

l6 '33 i

I

37

noe o vot frxrno

Ta Ji 6ns5srv66i1rr1., Nozzle seat ng farilng :ue drdulrc nozzle

j

,i2

Ventral ftn, port and starboard

-

Multnspar wrnq conStruction rib

155 Wing centre pylon '156 N/k842000-tb(got 1 '1

Rear fuselaqe bulkhedds

Rearengtnemounting ' 39 Ail posrtron lrght '10 Ponsde-bodyfarnnq 'll Runwayarrestorhook

chr

154 Centrepylonaltachme-:

aclualors

Allerburnertailprpe

Portnavioatron

152 Outboardpvlon fi, rc.: '153

l30

Graph re-epov-yta lplane skrn panels 131 Corrugaredaluminiumsub-

s::: iv SiSo6,..r;.

The phenomenal agility of the F- I 6 has earned the aircraft its adoption as the mount of the IISAF,s crack aerobatics feam,'The Thunderbirds,. Here they display the newcolour schemeunveiledfor tr\e 1983 season.

air-to-a rm ss es

c

struclure

oi the original LWF (Light-Weiqht Fighter)

143 Portfaperon

countermeasures aerials, pon and starboard (ECM) Fully variable exhaust nozzle Nozzte flaps Spirt trar ing edge airbrake

57 58


low-drag bomb Leadrng edge manoe:r.: flap Leading edge flap rclan, actuators

'a- ::-..:ro retract ng -iltseel ':i -: ::- -^::r -g I-ettank :: ''. i ": -:e.rernd r.et -. i - : ^ f, Jd 400 :':: -,i'::.':-:a:ca'c+rarC :.' ': -'-a -e3 cco EO-

173 WestinghouseAN/ ALoi]g_electronic suppressionsvstemradar 174 Snakev6boo_ib(227-ko) retarded

bomb

-'

175 cBU_10C/82000]b{908_ tg;taserguiOedbo;'6--

159 lnteqralwrna iue r:-r 160 lnboardpylonfl nq 161 Wngatrachmeni fishplates

162 Landrng lax .q a-c Marn undercai. :c: :- : -. -

163

absorber

strut

164 Mainwhee leo si-J: I

65

ReJract on srru;

166 Mdinwhee

lc:.

@ Pilot Press Limited

93

F-.c Fightrng Falcon in Action (continued) -. '-.:' :::l:l: j 're i-16 desrgn :: -.r'. _:-. :r:-,, .' :-.i:rlcr :c thatof exrstrng ' '-:l -:.1::::=:: lfJen

',

' '-:

-

-

-

desrgned to Hotas (hands on throttle and stick)

prrnciples. Every control the prlot needs in combat is to be found either on the handgrip of the single engine power lever or near the top of the stick with which the aircraft is flown, Like a concert pianist the pilot learns which finger or

_. :: L1633kg :.:::: ' - l-=r:--:---: :::.i::i:n and frOm

.- -,,--,i;i37300lb)wrth

-

thumb to use to change the HUD (head-up display) symbology, alter the operating mode

: : ::':-L=l .:I:S a: a CfUShing9g, ..:::=:: -: ire world (exCept ' =:.=: l.l-l -: --:lcrum) can accom. ..r..r. j i:,. relps lhe pilot to sur-

. '

: : - . r - -':, :. r:.: :.r',-res. Professional F- 16 . : . .- :..,::i :pLnrons on whether lying -: -- : ' :=: = a 3l' angle really does in. -=:::-l: but the general view of =::= ' .-. :--':s rs that rt gives a lVz to 2 g -: ': :.". -t =r. uprrght seal. with the abtlity ::: l ji:-r:eC turns at over 8g wlthout .or tunnel vision, which the .r::..'-:tr: r .

:-,-narraF.ed in Other airCraft at --!PtrrLrr\

-r

:a

::.',':.=::-; - ' '::

advantage is that, like all ll30s. lhe F 16 has a cockpit

of the radar, open the airbrakes, flre Sidewin der missiles, fire the 20-mm six-barrel gun, drop bombs or do anythinq else necessary to hit ground targets or shoot down enemy arrcraft, He need not look down inside the cockpit at all (unless something goes wrong inside the aircraft) or take his hands off the two vital hand grlps. Even the stick itself rs untque so far as regular in-service fighters are concerned. For one thing it is not a normal control column between the pilot's knees but a short stubby handgrip on the rrght-hand console of the cockptt. The pilot can grip it whrlst resting his arm rn a comfortable padded rest, and tf he wishes can also extend an extra rest for the wrist, so that even at

g his arm is supported along rts length. Moreover, the stick ts essentially fixed. If the prlot wishes to roll to the left he merely moves the handgrip to the left. The actual movement is microscoprc, but the force exerted by the prlot 9

lir.'i'J, {''r

t.':.':

,j:.i :;.

1

,{,.,.,

HL trLAb

t=gs1gf1r{"-l'! , i

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The F-16 has already chalkedup atremendous reputation, but there's a lotmore to come. The F-16XL doubles the basic aircraft's wing area, vastly improves space for avionr'cs and sensors, siorfens jts lake-off and landingdsfancet doubles theweapons load andincreases combat

radius by 45%. is measuredr the greater the force, the

greater

the rate of roll. At first this unique control column may cause overcorrections because it is so powerfully and rnstantly responsive. After a while it becomes the link in the most perfect symbrosrs between man and machrne there has yet been in avration. To quote an F- l6 pilot; 'A11 I have to do rs thrnk what I want the ship to do and it happens'

E

r

iiLnnrop F-SE/F Tiser II

Northrop's F-5 family of lightweight ighters has racked up a remarkable sales total of more than 2,700 aircraft to 30 countries in spite of the fact that it -,'ias never adopted (or even marketed) as a major type in its own coun-

:ryl The original Northrop N-I56F

'i

Freedom Fighter flew on 30 July 1959, r;rth two 1850-kg (4,080-lb) thrust JBS :ngrnes and armed with tvuo 20-mm :annon and two Sidewinder AAMs. AJ-

:er development, 1,040 were sold of :ie single-seat F-54 and trro-seat F-58

ersion (phs a few ofthe RF-54 recon:.assance version), and others were :urlt by Canadair, CASA and Fokker. - he F-SE Tiger II, flown on i I August -372, has uprated engines fed via im::cved inlets, a wider frrselage hous:.9 more fuel, IongTer wing-root strakes :.=-d much better avionics including a snall X-band radar. The tandem-seat F-SF flew on 25 September 1974. Sales :: the F-SE/F have been even brisker .:an those ofthe F-54"/8, and I,400 had :een bought by 19 air forces by 1983. -:ese are still rather limited aircraft, ',';lhout all-weather intercept or attack ::pability, but they are tough, simple, ::reap, beautiful to fly, extremely agile .-:d not only useful as advanced train:rs (the F-SE is used by the USAF and ,S Navy for Aggressors/Top Gun -3hter pilot training) but also quite =:ective in simple wars in visual con-

inexpensive and easily maintained multi-role fighter.

'.

rtions. There is an RF-58 Tigereye

'.'.'ith quick-chanqe day/night recon.-.alssnce equipment and Northrop is :lering such extras as a 30-mm under-

:elly

gmn pod, inertial navigation and '.-arious tactrcal sensors, The latest de-

'.'elopment of the series is the cons;derably more advanced F-20 Tiger-

shark (originally designated F-5G).

- hs changes to single-enqine powerplant (a single afterburninq General

:lectric

F4O4 turbofan rated at 7257-kg 16,000-lb thrust) and offers far more

:omprehensle avionics, These latter :nclude General Electric AN/APG-67 -cok-up/look-down multi-mode radar, Teledyne solid-state digital mission --omputer, AN/ALR-46 radar warning :eceiver and AN/ALE-4O countermea-

F

F-1A of the lranian air force. Iran was one of many nations to receJ:€ 3j5-

t

=4

F-1E of a IIS Navy aggressor unit, who simulate Soviet aircraft for the benefrt

o!

Navy pilot training.

-r

sures dispenser. More than 3630 kg (8,000 lb) of weapons can be carried, these including four AGM-65 Maverick missiles or three 30-mm cannon pods,

Specification: F-SE Tiger

II

Type: light tactical fiqhter Armament: two 20-mm M39A-2 cannon each with 280 rounds; up to 3175k9 (7,000 lb) of external weapons including numerous bombs, rockets, Maverick ASMs, clusters, pods and tanks

Powerplant: two 2268-kg (5,000-1b) thrust General Electric JBS-2IA after-

burmng turbojets Performance: maxtmum speed, clean at hish altitude 1734 hn/h (1,077 mph) or Mach 1.63; initial climb rate i0515 m (34,500ft) per minute; seruice ceilng 15790 m (51,800 ft); radtus on a lo-lo-lo mission with maximum weapons and resewes 222km (138 miles)

kg

length

Above:Touchingdownat Diibendod, this N orthrop F - 5 E is operated by the armedforcesof Switzerland. The original order in

ft)

F-SFs.

weights: empty

4392

(9,683 1b);

maximum take-off 1l i93 kg (24,676 lb)

B, 13 m (26 ft B in); 14 68 m (48 ft 2 in); herght 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in); wrnq area 17.3 m'(186.0 sq

Dimensions: span

I 97 6

calle d for

66 F-SEs

and srx

:

'--e Below: The F-20 Tigers:a:k thirdmajor stage o{Fdeve lopmen t. U niike i ts predecessors, if ftas a s.n!i.;€ a-.-_:=€ with rear tuselage widh ::a::'-z:---- :

j

by lateral'shelves'.

YomKippurAirWar For once, Israel was caught off its guard: tradi-

tional vigrlance relaxed for the celebration of Yom Krppur, the Day of Atonement fast, Intent

on regaining the territory so humiliatingly

seized from them in the 1967 conflict, Egyptian

and Syrian forces checked and rechecked their equipment, rmpatient for the order to move. It was 6 October 1973, and another Middle East war was about to begin. Throwing bridges over the Suez Canal, 70,000 Eqyptran troops and 400 tanks over-

whelmed the Israeir defences on the eastern bank and thrust into Sinai, whrlst in a srmultaneous onslaught in the north-east, Syria attacked positions on the strategically vital Golan Heights. israel was trapped in a war on two fronts, and there \iias little doubt that the Arabs would not stop at reclaiming lost areas. It would be a flght for Israel's survrval,

Galvanized into action, Israeli McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms, McDonnell Douglas A4 Skyhawks and Dassauit Mirage IIIs launched counterstrikes agarnst the advancing armies and their rearward bases, but it soon became apparent that they were fightrng a new kind of air war, The Arabs had taken pains to protect their forces against air attack, having iearnt from bitter experience in the Six-Day War of six years earlier, and as IDF/AF arrcraft cros-

sed the Suez Canal they were greeted by a barrage of Soviet-made SA-2 and SA-3 SAMs from well-prepared sites. Mobile 5A'-6 mrssrlelaunchers and the highly-effective ZSU-23-4 cannon were also depioyed, as were SA-7 infantry SAMs, and the Israells were horrified to find that their ECM were useless against the SA.6.

Losses to SAMs Compared with earher','.'ars the result of this

effrcient defence was :a:asirophe for Israei, which suffered the loss :i scme 90-lO0 aircraft to SAMs out of a total :l '2! irom all causes. Such was the effectrveness ci Arab SAMs that when an Israeli force crcssed :he Canal on the tenth day of the war ris r:--:-al cbjective was to

Heavyweight amongst the Israeli airpowerwas the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom I I, one of which is seen here attacking an Egyptian SAM site

eliminate the anti-arrcra:: ieiences. Outsrde the range of the deadly r--s:-.:s however, the IDF/AF proved that rt hac -rs: none of its prowess in air combat, deslr: _.--:- j scme 220 Syrran and 213 Egryptran aircra;. :r ralf of the Arab front-line strength, It was ::r-: -iabrlity to gain control of the air whrch lee .' :a..r.re of the Arab assault despite its prom.-.-:.: :e rrnnrng. The desperate nature :: ::: combat (and some measure of its ferc:-.-." -s indicated by the fact that 375 israeli a,r:ra-: '.','ere opposed by 310 from Eqypt and 42C :: -:. S,"rra, with lraq addrng 30 to the latter ear-'.' r:. :re conflict, No fewerlhan B1 ID|/AF dlrCr:. ,'.'-:e destroyed in the flrst four days of fig:r:.:-; Curing which

I

'.{ *

Camera-gan sequence shows the deathof anArab MiG-21 seen through the sights of an Israeli Mirage. 3,555 sortres

were flown, but losses fell drama-

tically thereafter as Israel slowly qained the upper hand, the overall total of I20 shot down being incurred during 12,271 mlssions, The IDF/AF thus suffered one loss per 102 sorties despite the Arab SAM menace, its opponents faring less well rn the face of determined Israeh action, Syria losing one per 28 and Egypt one per 24 sorties, it had been a close-run war, however, and Israel was quick to appreciate the lessons so

forcibly driven home. For the fighter, this

meant high pnority in provisions ol electronic countermeasures against enemy radars and emphasis on agility in new aircraft designs, Now the IDF/AF is equipped with the hrghly manoeuvrable General Dynamics F-16 Fiqhting Falcon, and its Phantoms and Skyhawks appear able to jam the SA-6's gmidance systems at will, The observance of Yom Kippur has taken on an addrtronal meaning in Israel, its air force being strongrer and better equipped as a result. SAMs accounted for a large

proportion of Israel's

losses, butler pilots soon evolved tactics to deal with them. Here a Mirage III rolls into an attack on

anEgiyptianSAM site-

Modern Fighter Aucraft

McDorurell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

-

as a multr-role ai:ack a;:rar McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II :.'=:tually reached the US Nauy as a -==: Cefence fighter with no weapons =.-::pt AAMs (carried in a novel waY,

---.:ed --

=

...: foul large Sparrows recessed fuselage for minimum --.:?r the broad :::j) and just one pylon for a single r:p tank, Soon world records were :=:rg set for speed, climb and ceilinqt,

,:.i

when bombs were carried it was

:.:ar the Phantom was a world-beater, -:.e USAF bought the AN/APG-IOO ra-

:::ed F-4C minimum-change version -: the US Navy's F-48 (AN/APG-72

::Car), and then the F-4D more closely :Jored (particularly in avionics, with -:,VAPG-109A radar) to its own needs ',',irich were biased towards grround ::ack. The RF-4 family emerged as

::.e world's fastest and most fully :quipped unarmed tactical recon.=.arssance aircraft, in the form of the RF-4B for the US Marine Corps, RF-4C

::r the US Atr

Force and RF-4E for :xport. Vietnam experience led to the :nal and most important fighter model, ::e F-4E with improved radar (AN/ iPG-120 solid-state set in a smaller :adome), more power, more internal --rel, an internal 20-mm rotary-barrel ;un and a slatted wing for better man:euwability at high weights. The UK lought a largely redestgned version .rhe F-4K for the Fleet Air Arm and F-4M for the RAF, designated Phantom

I and Phantom FGR.Mk 2 respectively) with Rolls-Royce Spey tur-

FG.Mk

bofan engines, whose great power was largeiy dissipated tn increased arcraft drag. Germany's Luftwaffe is nodifying its slatted F-4F fleet to carry :he advanced AMRAAM mrssile, with a new radar, and its RF-4E fleet to drop bombs, japan built its own F-4EJ model. The last sub-type to emerge ts the

F-4G dedicated EW (electrontc-

warfare) aircraft, used by the USAF Tactical Air Command and USAi' Europe, and produced by conversLon cf F-4Es, It combines complex AN' APR-38 sensor, analyser and jammer systems with special air-to-grround rr'eapons includrng Shnke, Standard ARM, Maverick and HARM. The F-4J was the ultimate new-burld version for the US Navy and US Marine Corps, cased on the F-4B but fitted with more F -4C w as the origin al' minimum change' model for the US Air F orce. T hk 1 9 63 ex ample, with intr a- re d seeker under the nose, was serving with the 1 7 1 st FI S of the Michigan

RAF Phantom FGR.Mk 2 (F-4M) of No. 92 Sqnbased inGermany. AII MF air-defence Phantoms are now

painted in low-visibility grey. They usually fly with AIM-9L Sidewinders and BAe Sky Flasl mtsstTes.

powerful engrnes a slcitec :=-.:-.:.: drooping atlerons and trr.c: :'.':: avionics, includrng AN AWC--- .:=control radar and an AN/AJB-? bc::cing system. F-4Js were later upgrrai:: to F-4S standard with aviontcs :r,-.-

provements and leading-edge slais The F-4N was an upgrraded F-4B.

Specification:

F-4E Phantom II T1rye: multi-role figrhter Amament: one 20-mm M61 gmn under

nose; four Sparrow (later AMRAAM) AAMs recessed under fuselage (one may be replaced by ECM pod), and up to 7258kq (16,000Ib) of assorted stores on wing pylons including air{o-

E trio of F-4D Phantoms line up to take on fuelfrom a BoeingKC-135 tar,ker belore a strike intoNorth V ie tnam. The F -4 proved its worth

ground weapons, tanks, two more

Sparrows or four Sidewinder AAMs Powerplant: two Bl20-kg (17,900-lb) thrust General Electric J79-17 afterburnrngt turbojets Performance: maximum sPeed, clean

plus Sparrow AAMs

Vtetnam. emergring as

mulu-role fighter

2414 km/h

(l 500 mph) or Mach 2,27 at high altttude: rnrtial climb rate 18715 m

T he

ANG

F

in

1980.

U.S.AIR FORCE

E

inal model of fighter Phantom, the

F-4E introduced more power and [uel, andwas later given an internal grun andsJats. This F-4E was assigmed to lie 32ndTFS atCamP

Amslerdan (.Soes terbetg), Netfterlands.

Phantom FGR.Mk 2 (F-4M) of No' 23 RAf, base d atWattisham in I 97 6. This unit has now also adopted the air superiority greY.TheY are

Sgn,

now theFalklands air defence unit, renumbered from No. 29 Sqn.

* :'---

a

genuine

in

L In

1954

ifrtov"n-Gurevich MiG-21'Fishbed' the MiG and Sukhoi design

teams each went ahead with pro-

;[:4/

*d*

totypes to test tvvo new conflgmratrons for supersonic combat aircraft. Eventually the acutely swept wing plus swept tail was judgred best for attack arrcraft, resulting in the Sukhoi Su-7, while the tailed delta gave highest performance for a figrhter and was

adopted for what became the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21'Fishbed',

Early MiG-2ls reached the Soviet

Yugoslaviaoperates around 200 MiG-21s, of which this MiG-Z|MF complete with AA-2 'Atoll' air-to-air missiles is an example.

Frontal Aviation and PVO defence force in 1959, and were very srmple afcraft just able to carry two cannon

fairings which in some models contain fuel, and there are numerous options of

and two small AA-2 missrles. Powered by the R-1 I rated at 5750-kg (12,676-lb)

numbers continue to be built in India and China; the latter desrgnates the

(sometimes only one, to save weight)

thrust with afterburner, the MiG-21 reached Mach 2 and was a joy to fly,

Over the next quarter-century the MrG-21 became the most proliflc flghter in the world, with about 15,000 built in 15 major and over 100 mtnor versions, plus corresponding two-seat trarners, Each successive major model

has featured more thrust or better avionics or a gEeater or better spectrum of weapons. All recent versions have the R-11-300, or R-11F2S-300, or R- 13-300 or R-25 engine fed by an enlarged duct wrth an all-weather radar rn the centrebody cone. Drag rs reduced by progressrvely larger dorsal

L

reconnaissance sensors and EW (electronic warfare) systems. Larqe type the Xian J-7 for indigenous use and F-7 for export. Some of the major versions of the Sovret 'Fishbed' series

are the MiG-2IPF'Fishbed-D' Iimited

all-weather flghter with RIL radar; MiGzlFL export versions of the MiG2lPF with R2L radar and provision for a gnrn pod; MiG-2IPFM'Fishbed-F' improved version of the M1G-2IPF with

forward- rather than side-hinqeing canopy and R2L radar; MiG-2IPFMA 'Fishbed-J' multi-role version of the MiG-21PFM with four hardpoints and provision for a GSh-23 cannon pack;

MiG-2tR'Fishbed-H' tactical reconnaissance versron of the MrG-21PFMA:

MiG-zlMF'Fishbed-J' upengined version of the MiG-Z]PFMA; MiG-2lbis 'Fishbed-L' third-generation frghter with much improved avionics and structurei MiG-2lbis'Fishbed-N' definrtive third-generation fighter with more powerful R-25 engine; and MiG2lU'Mongol' tandem two-seat tralner in several variants.

Powerplant: one 7500-kg (16,535-1b) thrust T\rmansky R-25 afterburning

tw-

bojet Performance: maximum speed, clean at hish altitude 2285 kn/h (1,420 mph) or Mach 2, 15; initial climb rate 17700 m (58,070 ft) per minute; service ceiiing 15000 m (49,210 ft); nnge at hrgh alti-

tude (with internal tuel only)

1100

km

(683 miles)

Specification:

Weights: empty about 5715 kg

MiG-2lbis 'Fishbed-l{ Tlpe: multr-role flghter Armament: one 23-mm GSh-23 twinbarrel qnrn with 200 rounds; maxrmum of 1500 kg (3,307 Ib) of ordnance carried on four wrng pylons rncluding hvo

(12,600 lb); maximum take-off 9400 kg (20,725Ib) Dimensions: span 7.15 m (23 ft 572 in);

500-ks (1,102-lb) and two 250-kg (551lb) bombs or other stores ln attack mis-

length, exciuding probe typlcally 15.i0 m (49 ft 7 in); heisht 4.10 m (13 ft in); wing area 23.0 m2 (247.6 sq ft)

572

sions, or fow F,A.-2-2 Advanced Atoll'

Still in front-line servicewith the Soviet air forces, the MiG-21 is a

'Aphid' AAMs ::. a:t-to-arr role

versatile and potent weapon. About I 5,000 have been produced.

AAMs or two AA-2-2 and two AA-B

ifrtor"n-Gurevich MiG-23'Flogser'

The Soviet Union's standard shape for an optimized swing-wing a[craft was perfected in 1964 and assigned to Sukhoi for a large twin-engine aircraft and to the MiG OKB (design bureau) for a smaller arcraft with one engjne. The MiG prototype (designated E-231) was publicly flown in 1967, but consrderable redesign was needed and

*

production of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 'Flogger' series drd not start

MiG-23MF 'Flogger-B' in the standard air superiority overall light grey. Note

Srnce then the rate ofdelivery has surpassed that ofall other combat aircraft,

use MiG-23 interceptor vanants with large multi-mode nose radar ('High Lark' with a search range of 85 lan/53 miles and a tracking range of 54 km/34 miles), fully variable engine inlets and AAM armament. The FA also uses the MiG-27 attack aircraft ('Flogger-D' and 'Flogger-J') wrth a tapered downslop-

until 1970, with a different engine.

and l0 basic sub-families have been identified, all named 'Flogger' by NATO but divided by the Soviets into MrG-23 and MiG-27 fami[es. Both the FA (Frontal Aviation) and IA-PVO (AtrDefence Forces) of the Soviet Union

the rocketpods and AAM launchingsfioes.

ing nose packed wrth air-to-grround sensors, largte armour plates round the

cockpit and fixed inlets. All have fullspan flaps, outboard leading-edge flaps, roll control by spoilers and tailerons, rough-field maih qear folding into

the fuselage, and a largre ventral fin which folds sideways for take-off and

landing. Deliveries to

17

ar forces ex-

ceeded 2,600 by the spring of 1983, and the main operational variants of the MiG-23 series are the MiG23MF

'Flogger-B' single-seat air-combat fighter, with limited look dowr/shoot down capabilrty; the MiG-23U 'Flogger-C' two-seat combat-capable con-

Modern Fighter Arrcraft

version trarneri the MiG-23'Flogger-E' export version of the 'Flogrger-B' with

Iess capable avronics including Jay Bud' radar matched to AA-Z'Atoll' airto-air mrssrles; the MiG-238N'FloqgerF export close-support and Interdictor

afcraft combrntng the nose sectlon of the 'Flogger-D' wlth the powerplant, varrable-geometry Inlets and GSh-23 twin-barrel 23-mm cannon of the MiG23 series; the MiG-Z3MF 'Flogger-G' variant of the 'Floqger-B '';;:th a smalier

ffi

dorsal extensron to the fin; and the MiG-2SBN 'Flogger-H' varlant of the 'Floqqer-F wrth extra avtonics.

Specification:

MiG-23MF 'Flogger-B' Type: variable-Cfeometry air-combat

fighter Armament: one GSh-23 twin-barrel 23mm cannon, and up to 2000 kg (4,409 lb) of stores on five hardpoints; the most common air-to-air weapons

are the AA-7 'Apex' and AA-B 'Aphid' alr-to arr mrssrles Powerplant: one 12,475-kg (27,502-lb) afterburnrng thrust TumanskT R-29B turbolet Performance: maxlmurl speed about 2,500 km/h (1,553 mph) or Mach 2.35 at altrtudet servlce cerling 18600 m

(61,025 ft); combat radius about 1200 km (746 miles) Weight: maximum take-off 16000 kg (35,273 rb)

Dimensions: span spread 14.25 m (46 ft

9rn) and swept

Soviet pilots . This

=_

*#

Desrgned specifically to Intercept the B-70 Mach 3 bomber (which never

went into service) the Mikoyan-

Gurevich MiG-25 'Foxbat' was de-

signed for speed at the expense of such other attnbutes as short fleldIength, combat manoeuvrability modest weight and economtc cost. The E266 prototypes were drsplayed in 1967 and car.sed a Elreat st]r among West ern observers, a strr herghtened by a string of world records lor speed (often over long ranges wrth heavy payloads) and astonrshrnq rate of climb and high altrtude such as a chmb from rest to 35000 m

( I 14,829

ft)

I I seconds. The basic MiG25'Foxbat-A' interceptor, an ex-

in 4 minutes

ample of which was flown to Japan by a defector rn September i976, is made

mainly of steel, with titanium or

rts

alloys around the engdnes and on leading edges. The unswept wing rs thtn

and sharp-edqed, and has a ftxed

leading edge and plain flaps and atlerors. Large fuel tankage is provtded tn

I

welded steel tanks burlt into the airframe, and the low-pressure tur-

boiets have giant afterburners and fully variable inlets with water/alcohol sprays, The gnant radar is typical of 1959 technology and rs assoctated with comprehensive EW systems and va-

l7m (26ft

97zin),

Itr

k an interceptor

aiii,rx:xi!{::;ffi0

B.

lengrth 16.80 1rr (55 ft lrlz tn); wing atea about 37 0 mz (398 3 sq ft)

ifitoy"n-Gurevich MiG-25'Foxbat'

Libyareportedlyhas 36 MiG-ZSs of various kinds, probably tlown by

I

The MiG-23 is by far the most important aircraft in the Soviet inventory. Capable of a varietY of mr'ssions, if appears in manY versions, of which lits is lle 'Flogger-G'.

t-'--x5

nI{

tz7

,e th

s

-=---,'. .',-:=. - i'-:i l.-:-- - - Forca:'3 and 'Foxbat-D :=::-. .=: l: ::: j:: rnfra-red and raia: :a:::.-=-:-:::,-.-: rtous 25R

AAlvl.

-:-:

(identLf,ei

c;

systems, and the M.IG2SU 'Foxbai-C trainer has a secono :: :kl.' :-:.= --.:. ;

the radar. The Ia'est '.'::s.::. :: ':.= MiG-25 (possibly the MrG-231'l ' ::.= 'Foxbat-E', which ts the Foxba:-i.

::

:--

verted wlth a look-downshJ-''l- '':.

radar/weapon flt of hmrted capa:...:"' possibly comparable wlth that o: ihe 'Flogger'. The MiG-31 'Foxhourd' Ls a replacement with more thrust from

Tumansky R-15 engines and later

weapons and radar (and possrbly wrth a gmn and second seat); the mrssile fit comprises four radar-homrng AA-9 weapons under the wingTs and four shorter-ranqre AA-B'Aphid' weapons for self-defence

Specification: MiG-25 'Foxbat-A' Type: all-weather stand-off mterceptor Armament: fout AAMs (usuallY AA-6

2978

two I 1000-kq (24,250-Ib) thrust Turnansky R-3 I afterburning tur-

minute, servlce cerltng 24404m (80 000 ft) radlus at hrgh altrtude

'Acrid')

Powerplant:

bolets Performance: maximum sPeed, clean at hiqh altrtude (dash) 3400 km/h (2, 115 mph) or Mach 3 2, or (sustatned)

lffi/h ( 1 850 mph) or Mach 2 B; tnitral chmb rate 12480 m (40,950 ft) per

Early exposure to the MiG'25 caused grave cons ternation to W estern defence analysts.

I125 km (700 miles) Weights: empty 20095 kq (44,300 lb); maxrmum take off 36200 kq (79,800 lb) Drmensions: span 13.95 m (45 ft 9 rn)

length 23.82 m (78 lt I ' n :.= ' : : 6 l0m(20tt0.a in) wlnoole. :

(611 7 sq ft)

L

Hutnoi Su-15 'Flagron'

The final operationalvariant of the J 5 rs fhe'F lagon-F'. I mmediately distingruishable by its more

{

Su-

a es

th e

tic ally p le asing

,*jf'"

ogival

radome, this version also inc orpor ates u prated T um-ansky R- 13F-300 engines, giving extremely high performance. Wrth a Soviet requirement for a Mach 2 5 rnterceptor in the 1960s, the Sukhoi :esrgn bureau adapted the existing

Su-ll to take twin

TumanskY R-11

afterburninq turbolets and a large radar nose. The result was the Su-15 'Flagron', the flrst prototype of which ilew in 1965 The original R-1 1 engines have since been replaced by more powerful R l3s, makrng these aircraft among the world's fastest fighters. The Su-15's original armament of AA-B 'Aphrd' close-range and tvvo or four AA-3 'Anab' longer-range missiles

are bernq replaced by a new missile beheved to be the AA-X-g. Despite some reports to the contrary there is no evrdence that the aircraft carries an

rnternal cannon, though thts could be f,tted as an external pod. Unlike Fron-

ffi-)I-.

Approximately 700 Su-l5s are still in service, but the type is steadily being replaced by the all-weather interceptor MiG-23 'Flogger-G' and MiG-25 'Foxbat'.

Specification: Sukhoi Su-15'Flagon-F

Tlpe: all-weather interceptor Armament: two AA-3'Anab' missiles; body pylons could carry two more but are usually empty or used for tanks Powerplant: two 6600-kg (14,550-lb) thn.rst T\rmansky R- 13F-300 afterburn-

ing turbojets Performance: maximum speed, clean at high altitude 2660 km/h (1,653 mph) or Mach 2.5; combat radius at high alti-

tude with two AAMs

725

km

(450

tal Aviation aircraft, which regularly

Weights: empty probably about

use roads as strips, the Su-15 needs a long paved runway of 2000-3000 m (6560-9840 ft), and streams its draqt chute on landing. The Su-15 carries a

l00OO kq (22,046 Ib); maximum take-off estimated at 16000 kq (35,274 lb) Dimensions: (estimated) span 10.53 m

comprehensive internal fit of hiqhly capable electronic warfare systems. Cufient service versions of the Su15

are the 'FIagon-E' and 'Flagon-F

single-seat interceptors, recently involved in the downing of a South Korean civil Boeing 747. Also operated

are 'FIagon-C' two-seat trainers.

L

flpot"u

(34ft 6in); lensth 20,5m (68ft 0in);

herghl 5.0 m (16 ft 6 in): wing area about 35 7 m'z (384.3 sq ft) The prototype Su- I 5 'Flagon-B', with lift-jets incorporated in the fuselage (used only on this variant), but also

showing the distinctive kinked delta p I anf o r m

of subsequen t mode ls.

Tu-128'Fiddler'

When first seen in 196], this large su-

personic twin-jet was thought

Tupolev Tu- 128 of the Soviet air force with four

M3

'Ash' anti-aircraft missiles'

bY

Western obseryers to be a Yakovlev

*a;i.r'$,F

t:"e

desigrn, In fact it was the Tupolev Tu-28

Iong-range suweillance fiqhter, from which was derived the Tu-28P'Fiddle/ interceptor. The Tupolev bureau numbers for these tvvo types were Tu-102 and Tu-I28. In many respects the largest fighter in the world, and certainly the biggest and most powerful ever put into service, the Tu-lZB has a

Iong fuselagre with enormous fuel

capacity to handle PVO (air defence force) missiors coveringT vast areas of the Soviet frontier. The oriqinal Tu-28 was intended to operate alrnost wrth-

.:.E*nlr

out ground help, but the Tu-128 is assrsted by ground radars and defence systems which gmrde it towards

hostile aircraft. Then the extremely large 'Big Nose' VJ-band radar takes

over until either a radar- or an IRhoming AA-3 missile can be fired, A pair of each type of AAM is carrted.

and no other rnterceptor has been seen armed mth these large weapons. The weight of ths fighter is spread by bogne landrnq gears which in flight retract backwards into fairrngs typical of

I\polev aucraft of the era. Capabiltty low-flying aircraft may have been rmproved since 1980, because aqrarnst

!

.....1!ri!M

not even the Su-27 (Ram-K) or an inter-

ceptor version of Su-24 could offer equal area defence, but the 100-odd still in use were being withdratrn in I

OO2

Specification: Tu-128'Fiddlet' Type: long-ranqe interceptor Armament: four AA-3 'Ash'AAMs, two radar-grurded and two lR-homing

Powerplant: two afterburningr turbojets, almost certainly Lyulka AL2lF-3 each rated at 11000-kg (24,250lb) thrust Performance: maximum speed at high

altitude 1900km/h (1,200mph) or Mach 1.8; service ceiling 20000m (65,615 ft); radius at

high altitude with

four AAMs 1250 l
world's biggest fighter, the

Tupolev Tu- I 28 , k in service with the Soviet air force. Deployed to remote areas, they have an incredible endu r ance of eight hour s.

ffi

Armed Forces of the World

US

Rapid DeploUment

Force Part I

As from 1 January 1983 the American Rapid Deolovment Joint Task Force became a new Coinniand known as US Central Command, or USCENTCOM, under the control of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. This upgrading to command level of a force that has grown in numbers and importance since its conception during the term of office of President Carter isi significant, for it marks the'coming of age' of a foice that had more than its f air share of being a political football, and it also marks the arrival on the global scene of a new factor on the chess board of world military power. The new command is still w dely known by its abbreviated designation of the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), and the new command title will gradually be assumed and become more familiar as time progresses. lts future is now certain, despite many political attempts either to do away with it entirely or to attenuate its numbers and scope; but it is still in the throes of organization and establishment, so some of the planned details given below may yet be altered. During'Exercise Bright Star '82' USAF Tactical Air Command deployed F- I 6 Fighting Falcons direct from H ill AFB, U tah, to Egtypt in a I 4 - hou r no n - s to p

flight.

!E8tE5-i

-=r*.,rr, -

Headouarters and tasks

The heiadquarters of the RDF is at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. The commander is a lieutenant general of the US Army, and under his command he has 230,000 personnel under a unified command that embraces US Army, US Navy, US Air Force and US Marine Corps units. The task of the RDF is wide and largely undefined, based mainly on the fact that the

RDF will be called upon to protect the interests of the United States and its allies in an area known as South West Asia (SWA). This operational area takes in 20 countries but spe-

cifically excludes lsrael. The main centre of interest centres on the area containing the Middle East oilfields and includes such sensitive nations as lran and lraq (already at war with each other) and the other smaller Persian Gulf states. Put bluntly in such terms the RDF appears to be but a force to protect American business interests, but the wider intention is to deter Soviet aggression in the area, for one of the more important Soviet foreign policy obiectives has for many decades been the esiablishment of a blue-water port as an outlet to the lndian Ocean. The headquarters is at present a long way from its intended theatre of operations and moves have already been made to establish a

Sikorsl
upto liHellfiremr'ssiles, andcancarry I I fully-

armed infantrymen.

forward headquarters somewhere in the SWA region. To date these efforts have been unsuccessful, mainly as a result of the political considerations that make the region such a source of potential conf lict. The plan for a f ull move to the region has now been replaced for the time being with a scheme to establish a much smaller forward headquarters of only about 200300 personnel in the SWA theatre, but in mid-

1983 negotiations for this were still in prog-

ress_

The USN component of the Rapid Deployment Force includes three Carrier Battle Groups, with one on station in the Indian Ocean at all times.

.fu:'r:eC Forces of the

:

I : : . :-e

World

US RDF

F-'

=--=

end of Fiscal Year 1 984,

' :^.se J. ts have been part of the :s on. Some of the unlts ^'. ":ept

e "ot Vet been f ully equipped or

' :^e r new role. Army

:-^: I v s on ' '.':o e Air Assault Division : -.^ zed lrfantry Division

r+

:---ecnnology Lrght

on (HTLD) :.3 ii Srgade Air Combat and other Special

L

s

rL

.a r. e"

see below

'^:ers

lperations Forces (SOF) various --. east one High Technology Light Division is :' ce assrgned to the RDF but division is not ,:: formed) US Marine Corps \!1ar ne Amphibious Force ;onsists of reinforced US Marine division plus -S Marine aircraft wing)

a

4-E,,

"r'g

r"

.'&ftia*

+

1

US Air Force Tactical Fighter Wings

7

Strategic Bomber

2

which is equipped with 68 McDonnell Douglas F 15C and F 15D Eagles with their special long-range FAST (Fuel And Sensor Tactical)

3

packs.

(TFW) Squadrons

US Navy

Carrier Battle Groups Surface Action Group Maritime Patrol Air Squadrons

1

5

Each of the three main forces (US Army, US Navy and US Air Force) has its own separate headquarters, while the US Marine Amphi bious Force operates under the control of the US Navy headquarters. For several reasons it is not possible to place precise unit allocations to the RDF. To date several units have been involved at one time or another, and the usual policy is to rotate units to and from the role for training and other commitments. lt is known that units involved to date have included the 82nd and lO1st Airborne Divisions, the 7th and 25th Infantry Divisions and for the US Marine Corps the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit. One known US Arr Force unit is the lst Tactical Fighter

Below:The Marines have beenusing the CH-46 Sea Knight for troop transport since 1965. Wilh modifications, they are Likely to be still in service at the end of the century.

Wing at Langley Air Force Base,

Virginra,

One other factor to be borne in mind ls that the US Army infantrv d,v,sion rs now r' a stdte of transrtion f rom its current to a new organiza

tional basis (lnfantry Division '86). lt rs planned to make all current US Army units conform to the new '86 pattern, which includes a siructure and equrpment revision to make all the units involved more flexible and mobrle while at the same time increasing therr combat potential and firepower. The High Techno ogy Light Division is a new concept being undertaken by the 9th lnfantry Division at Fort Lewis. Washington lt will be an air-

;:...Eii!"

Above : D emons

s.f!:dl

tr a ting U S long - d is a n c e deployment capabilities, men of the 82nd Airborne Division drop from C- I4I StarLtiters during'Exercise Bright Star'82'. They boarde: :.-.: aircraft in North Carolina. t

The Bradley FightingVehicle system. nav. e:::::: service, will act as the RDF's army persor..e.'

carrier ofthe 1990s.

transportable division, without tanks and based around 10 infantry battalrons, only two of which will have any vehicles lt will be an ideal addition to the RDF

To be continued

>

j

,-

]a ,*, {

1

a.

a4-G.

Below: The Anglo-Americar .:.'.' the M arine Cor p s .'. : : : areas where other j e ts wo u i. ..

provides

thanks loils unique V STC -

6 r-{iF'

: ='-

: