War Machine 5

Volume I Issue 5

CONTENTS

Modern Fighter AircraftPanavia Tornado ADV

SaabJA3TViggen

Missions of Tornado F,Mk2

Dassault-Breguet Mirage IIUS/S0 seriesDassaultBreguet Mirage F. IDassar:lt-Breguet Mirage 2000

IAIl{firAir Wu over lebanon

McDonnell Douglas F- 15 Eagle

&neral Dynamics F.16 Fightrng Falcon

F- I 6 Fighting Fa.lcon in ActionNortluop F-SE/Tiger II,'F.20

YomKippurAirWuMcDonnellDouglas F-4 Phantom IIllikoyar-Guevich MiG-2 I'Fishbed'Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23'tloggelMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25'Foxbat'

Sukhoi Su- 15 'Flagon'

Tupolev Tu-128'Fiddler'

Armed Forces of the WorldUS Rapid Deployment Force (Part 1)

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Picture acknowledgementsCovet photograph: COI PaEe 8 l: Brihsh Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas. 82: Saab 84: Lrass:ll. : r

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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.

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Note: Binders and Back Numbers areobtainable subiect to availability of stocks.Whi st every attempt is made to keeo theprice of the issues and binders constant.the publishers reserye ihe r.': :: ^.reasethe stated prices:::-c!mstances a a'a'a -th's cub a:: r' j'r '- t:.UK market only : :

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Forthcomrng issues featue;.tWorld:lflu II submachine gus

AircraftA superb range of new-generation high-technology fighterchave recently takentothe sHes: not simply aircraftthatcanfly a few miles higher or a little faster than before, but whollynew concepts, highly equipped with computerized Ilight,tatget acqzkition and fire control systems. flere we reuiewthe land-based fighterc of today,

: -1:rter-interceptor, strike-fighter and fighter-bomber: where does oner1: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::-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.oeeds which would shake any other arrcraft tc preces

Whereas specialized qround-attack aLrcrait have been augmented in::e past by new fighters which have farled :c meet expectations or by:::se replaced as interceptors by more mcdern equipment, many..lhiers now in service or productron ha'..e been conceived as dual-role

TheTornado ADV (Air DefenceVariant) shows off its deadly pack oflour Sky Flash missiles. Unhke muchmore agile new-generatton fighterssucft as tfteF-JS and F-l€, th.eTornado ADV is desigm ed t o p a u a Ifor hours on end far out ove r B nt atn snorther n and weslern approa cl esand to intercept and desta',' e.en'r'aircraft attacbng NATa s s::pp::glanes and land targets.

effecttveness Thrs rs :-

fighter whrch can re!:

necessary to look n-Falklands war of 19!u

lncreasingly ther: :=':ground-attack strrl,e ,.- -: -. ..

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

fighler-rntercep'cr r:-.-:.... .

avionics developn.r :.. --':. .

tighter turnrng crr:i+ ::.: ' -elite band of fit and a-:: ..-: -eagles o[ the sky sul :. :.

attack and iormrda:,-

I Ct:.poini accuracy on:'.':'.';ithcut unaccept

=r.- -:r :eImS Of COSI

: ::..:: '.'.'here numbers.':.= -:rgest carriers,

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fl ffi E Panffi" rornado ADv-i.i the start of the Tornado programme:: was expected that alr-combatiightrng would be a role, but the domi-nant regutrement of the customers waslong-raage interdiction and other sur-face-duected roles (though with Rad-pac software and changed weaponsighter capability is considerable), TheRAF alone raised a reguirement for along-range all-weather interceptor topatrol the vast airspace for which theUK s resporsible (from Iceland to theBaltic), replacing the Lightning and la-ter the Phantom, and 165 are beingbought for RAF Strrke Command. Firstflown on 27 October 1979 the PanaviaTornado ADV (Air-Defence Version),designated Tornado F.Mk 2 by theRAF, has proved to have performancebeyond prediction, The new Marconi/Ferranti Foxhunter radar can pick in-drvrdual targets at over 185kn (115miles) and track several targets simul-taneously, and the longer radomeqives enhanced transonic accelera-tion, The firselage was lengrthened toaccommodate tandem paus of reces-sed missiles (the BAe Sky Flash, wrth arangre of more than 40 kn/25 miles a:rdthe ability to snap down on targets as

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-!ffiDesignatedTornadoF.Mk2 inseruice-with theRAF, the.ADVhad tobemade longer than theoriginallDsversion toaccommodate the new Foxhunter radar and four.S/<yFlas]r missiles

mented turbofarsPerformance: maximum speed overZ414kn/h (1,500mph) orMach2.27 athigh altitude; climb to gl50 m(30,000 ft) in 2 mrnutes; sewice ceilingmore than i5240m (50,000ft); patrolradius over 644 kn (400 miles) with 2hours on station plus I0 minutes ofcombatWeights: empty 14000 kq (30,865 Ib);maxrmum take-off more than 27270 kg(60,020Ib)Dirnensions: span (sruept) 8.6m (28ft27zin); Iength tB.06m (S9ft 3in),height 5.7 m ( lB ft 872 in); wingareanotstated

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low as 75 rn/245 ft despite Cround clut-ter and electroruc countermeasures),and thrs also increases internal fuel sothat in a demonstration an unrefuelledsodie was flown lastrng 4 hours 30 mi-nutes, with 2 hours 20 minutes patrol ata radius of 374 miles (602 kn) wrth fullamament. Other anomcs features ofthe Tornado F Mk 2 are ESM (electro-ntc surveillance measures), ECCM(electroruc coux:er- countermeasures)and an ECM-res:stant data link, By1983 the RAF :rac placed orders for 70of the 165 reqr-i3e a:rd these will en-ler sen'lce :::. -::i Performance ina.ll reqoece :.= ie::. so outstandingr

that irrther customers are confidentlypredicted, possibly includrng the ex-isting Tornado IDS users.

Specification:Tornado F.Mk 2Type: long-range all-weather inter-ceptorArmament: one 27-mm Mauser gnrn;four Sky Flash (later AMRAAM)medium-range AAMs pius two AIM-9LSidewinder (later ASRAAM) short-range AAMsPowerplant: two 7258 kg (16,000-lb)thrust T\ubo-Union RB, 199 Mk 103 aug-

Effi H't lAs? vissenWhen Sweden planned lrs r_=r::.generation combat aircraft, Systen: 3:in the early I960s the most urgent needwas for attack and multi-sensor recon-nalssance versions to replace typessuch as the Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 35Draken and Saab 105. A total of IBO ofthese models, the AJ37 attack aucraft,SF37 and SH37 overland and overwa-ter reconnaissance platforms, andSK37 trau:rer, were delivered by I9Bl,By this trne production was centled onthe Saab JA3? Viggen interceptor,which uses the same affiame (ex-ceptfor having the extra swept tip to the frnhrst seen on the SK) but has totally newsensors (includrng L.M. Ericsson UAP-I 023 pu.lse-Doppler high-perfornancelong-range radar feeding rnformationto a Singer-Kearfott SKC-2037 digitalcentral computer, which in tum keepsthe pilot in the picture by means of aSmiths head-up display) and weapons,rncluding the hrgh-velocity OerhkonKCA 30-mm cannon, whose shell has avery flat trajectory and a kinetic ener-qry affer a flight of 1500 m (1,640 yards)equrvalent to that of a DEFA or Adencannon (of the same calibre) at themuzzle, Even the engine has drfferentfan/compressor blading and otherchanges to increase thrust, and likeother versions has a giant afterburnerand thrust reverser for pulling the air-craft up quickly, STOL operations,facilitated by the canard confignlatron,are routinely made from straightstretches of country highway, wlth no-flare landings on the tandem-wheelmain grears, in order to prevent thesquadrons being destroyed on therrhxed air bases. The Swedish Flyg-vapen (air force) ordered 149 to equipeight squadrons over the penod lg79-85. The JA37 was the fust frghter in anypart ofEurope to enter seryice wrth anadvanced pulse-Doppler radar, and its

The JA37 Viggen in its new airsu E€no nty grey scieme, carrying afuJl complentent of BAe Sky Flash air-to-arr missiles, Al M -9L S idewindersand vental fuel tank. TheJA 37 is theonly version of the Viggen still inprduclion, and is by far the mostastly model so far.

Specification:Saab JA37 VisgenType: interceptor anifighterArmament: one ixed 3O-mrc Ce::<:.'.cannon with I50 rou::ds, and D::'.--s-:.--for stores carried on tirree u:rie-:s=.-age and fow underwrng hardp::-'sthese stores can include up to sx P.E- -(Sky Flash) medium-range ano iE21

5Z

l'lissions of Tornado F.1-1k2

Tornado's Foxhunterradarcan pickupintruders at 100 milesand the aircraft canintercePt at extremelow level if necessary

The Hurricane and Spitfire did not alone win the Battle of Britain. lt is moreaccurate to say that the deliverance of the British lsles from the Luftwaffe in1940 was brought about by a finely integrated team comprising the Hurricane,Spitfire, radar and associated plotting and direction centres. Though aircraftperformance and capabilities have advanced manyfold in the subsequent fourdecades, the basic principle still holds true: the world's best fighter is no moreuse against an enemy airattack than a Sopwith Camel if it is in the wrong place orairborne 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 NATOair 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 highover France before setting course for Kent. A future attack could involve smallgroups or perhaps single aircraft streaking n at low level: Tupolev fu-22M'Backfire' bombers operating from Arctic bases and entering British airspacethrough the'back door'after a flight over the Atlantic Ocean, and Sukhoi Su-24'Fencer' interdictors operating with their terrainjollowing radar to make use ofground features to conceal their deadly approach. In the last Battle of Britain,south-east England was the principal area of operations; now the area ispotentially 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 itsdefensive strategy. ln future, enemy aircraft will be conf ronted by fighters as faraway as possible from the British lsles, preferably before they have had oppor-tunity to fan out for their attacks. New aircraft and new systems are required forsuch an undertaking, and these are now becoming available in the forms of thePanavia Tornado F.Mk 2 and BAe Nimrod AEW.Mk 3.

Choke-points for incoming air attacks will be the lceland-Faroes gap and theNorth Sea, and these are to be patrolled by the 11 Nimrod AEW.Mk 3s sche-duled to be stationed at Waddington; each of these aircraft can spend someseven hours on watch up to 1600 km (1.000 miles) from base. Sensitive aerialsmounted in bulbous fairings at the Nimrod's nose and tailwill scan the seas forntruders bent on eluding ground-based systems by flying at low level. Acting inparallel to the airborne aircraft of the NATO force of 18 Boeing E-3A SentryAWACS aircraft, and exchanging data with that fleet, the Nimrod's six-maniactical team will constantly update the picture at No. 11 Group headquartersrhe nerve centre of British air defence), taking control of fighters if required incrder 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 i 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, '.r:-:-r: :: :=superb aerodynamics the Tornado F.Mk 2 can fly at low, leve ai s::-:. ... - --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 r: { -,- i"= :: . =- :.'each complementing the remarkable capabilities of tre ::':- i, :-= =- : :' :- :decade, this unparalleled team will have ensured tna::-e -(. 3 ::-. :::- ,:

securely bolted.

,'1 .,>4-.'N mrod AE!', \4< 3 wpatrcl Br la n s

approaches and w I

control Tornado f gntersonto therr tarqets

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Soviet intruders arelikely to be Sukhoi Su-24'Fencer' or TupolevTu-22M 'Backfires'flying in lowf rom botheastern and westernapproaches.

Due to enter squadron sewice with the RAF in late 1984, the Tornado F.Mk 2will, teamed with Nimrod AEW.Mk 3s, VC I 0s and TriStar tankers, offer anenormous improvement in Britain's air defence capability.

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

lt Dassault-Bregruet Mirage III/5/50 series

::re than 1,400 basically similar MiragelllEofthetheFrenchArm6edel'AirEscadredeChasse2/4'LaFayette'.:-aclunes for 2l countrres, Early mod-: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 : \ fr;.;:"Wr:;l*ti"ii=i;;;,r,,;*;"_la;;; €_S;€--(O +_-'6 000 ft) on attack missions.age-lllB and Mirage IIID are tandem -.- ,-rCual versrons, the Mirage IIIE series reare fighter-bomneiJ wltn eitri MiragelllEEof theEryptianArabairtorce. .' '*,:r,ii,. ,, -S,Sii#ilffi*k**r",veapon-delivery systems (FrenchMrrage IIIEs carry the AN52 nuclearbomb) and Mirage IIIR reconnaiss-ance arrcraft have a distinctive cameranose replacing the Cyrano II radar,The Mirage IIIO rs the Australian ver-ston of the Mirage IIIE. South AfrrcanMirage III CZ, DZ and RZ Mirages havethe 7200-kg (15,873Jb) thrust Atar 9K5Oengine which rs standard in the Mirage---50 first flown rn 1979 and with up-graded avionics (so far bought by {Chile), In contrast the popular Mirage ARoyalAustralianAirForceMiragelllOotNo.TSSqn. ''*:tr*{Aible"5 rs a clear-weather day attack aircraftwrth extra fuel and weapons replacingthe radar and other avionics (various:lti"#*:a:r'**shl,r#+: #ffi*m'ffi*'ffi'*mffi ruaid dophrsticated avionics. - MiragelllCZof No.2Sqn,SouthAtricanAirForce. f,-,*"..,.*.=.*-r"*',

Specification:Mirage IIIEType: fighter-bomberArmament: tvvo 30-mm cannorr eachwith 125 rounds (no rocket); three ex-ternal pylons for 454-kg (1 000-lb)bombs or equivalent stores includingpods, tanks, AS,30 missiles or, for air-to-air role, an R.530 or Super 530 AAM

plus turo Sidewinder or Magic AAMs,Powerplant: one 6200-kg (13,670-1b)afterburning thrust SNECMA Atar 9Cturbojet

Two-seatMirage trainers of theEscadre de Chasse deTransformation 2/2 'C6te d'Or' basedatDiion.

Performance: maximum speed, cleanat 12000m (39,370ft) 2350km/h(1,460 mph) Mach 2,2, or ciean at sealevel 1390 km/h (863 mph); servtceceiling i7000 m (55,775 ft); radius on ahr-lo-hi attack mission with one or twotanks 1200 lcn (745 miles)Weights: empty 7050ks (15,540 lb);maximum take-off 13700 kg (30,200 lb)

Dimensions: span 8,22 m (26 fi I IVz in),length 15,03m (49ft 3/zin): herght4,5m (l4ft 9in); wing area 34,85m2(374.6 sq ft)

A Mirage of the Argentine air forceprior totheFalklandswar of 1982.Mostwere held backfor air defenceof the Argen tine m ainland.

E4

IE: RANCE

,. 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 ar-..: ,,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-.i rrrcraft scaled back to Atar stze,.- r :hrs, the Dassar:lt Mirage F.I, flrst..=.'.' Ln 1966. Though the 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: =: oent more rnternal fuel rn a smallerr-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-CSFl:'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 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 include the Mirage F.IA srm: ined attack alrcraft, Mirage F.IB duat::arner, Mirage F.IE comprehensive..1 weather attack atrcraft and MirageF. lR multi-sensor reconnaissance plat--:lm. The Mirage F.lC-200 rs a French'..erLant wrth an infhght'refuellinq:robe for overseas deployment. Qurcks:ramble is enhanced by a ground.ruck whrch cools the mssrle seekers: ,dar and cockprt, hears 16y1g311611

=nd weapon-aiming systems andslelds the cockptt wrth a sunshadeliroductron is shared not only wrth:iher French companres, as wtth other

Dassault-Bregruet Mirage F. I -^<sqE44,::.

MirageF.lC of the Armee de I'Air's Escadron de Chasse EC 2iS 'lle de Francebased at Orange-Caritat.

lpE'I :!!GFH, E

Mrages, but wrth SABCA./Sonaca ofBelgurn, which builds the rear fixel-aqe. Armaments Development andProduction Corporatlon of South Afrrcaholds a manufacturrng hcence, and itsmodels are rndicated by a Z suffix tothe basrc desiqnatron. French MirageF.lC interceptors have by 1983 beenupdated to carry the R,530F radar-homrng air-to-aL mtssile.

Specification:Mirage F.lCTlpe: flghter bomberArmament: two 30 mm DEFA cannon

afterburntng thmsr Sl.: -_

50 turboletPerformance : maii-t--- -i_-,at hrgh altrtude 2-1:- .:.,:or Mach 2.2 or :',=-:_1450 kn/h (9OO nc: . r i.

'.'.:e :eiling 20000 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

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

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lru Dassault-Bregruet Mirage 2000-:.iter the Mrrage F I was ordered, assault spent much effort on the largearLable-sweep Mirage G series. Thrs

.-d to the ACF (Avron de Combatl: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 totallyr.iferent aircraft, desrgned to CCV:ontrol-confi gured vehicle) technolo-,; wrth 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 evencrior to the type entering servicesitlt the French air force. Egrypt,,.ndiaand Peruwere among the earlyauyers.

The prototype Dassault-Bregnret Mir-age 2000 flew on l0 March l97B andfollov.lng successful development, thefirst productron frghter flew in December ]982 'n/rth 1983 productron rnclud-rng tandem seal Mirage 20008 trarners A total of 127 was expected then tobe on order (48 by l9B2), all in basrcatr-defence confiQuratton Inltlal pro- mrles) RDM radar .: :,..:- tc burld Peru has

duction examples of ::,= 1.1:.:- _ : - _ : : _, -:.- l.l-:--;e 2000. Dehave the RDM mult r:. r: : .: .. : | =.: t.. 'r.:: -e sard bvmachrnesfromno.Sl-.',.-, t--- = ..= =. - - - i.:: ::.---,:.perarrcrafi,srderably more cap:: .- : - . .. .

terceptlon equrpme.= : : -- ., -.. ; -:.-t-- =r;) and plansfrom 1986. The puls:-- : . - - --- ..- : : '-: '.':= i: be built underradarrsdesrgned to c:t. - r,':i - . ,:- : :,-:. t,-:tlries tf negotia5mz 154 sq lr) ai a r-: . : . : . .r.-=__.';l Inora has now

85

l:c:gh similar to the eailier Mirage.. ) *e Mtage 2000 is a completely:. e'*' atrcr aIt, equipped with I 9 80s: -,' : e. s tu cture and aerodynamics.

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(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 lbDimensions: 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 sift)

Specification:Mirage 2000Type: flghterArmament: hvo 30-mm cannon eachwith 125 rounds; normal mrssile loadtvvo Super 530 AAlvls inhoard underwings and hvo Magic AAMs outboard(Mirage 2000N attack version rs plan-

ned to carry heavy and varied weaponloads)Powerplant: one 9000-kg (19,840-lb)afterburnrng thrust SNECMA M53-5bypass turbojetPerformance: maximum speed, cleanat high altrtude 2350 km/h (1,460 mph)or Mach 2.2; sewice ceiling 20000 m

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IAI Kfir',',-.-.=: the French cut off military sup-: -,:-. :c Israel in June 1967, the decision'.'.'- :aken for Israel to become self-:-::-:rent rn Mirage-type aircraft. A:.-::---opy wlth the Atar engine was: --1r as the IAI Nesher (availablel.: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.-:- .T79, srmilar to those in Israeli Phan-::ns was flown in a tv\ro-seat Mlrage-.lB rn September 1971, A prototypeIAI Kfir (Lion Cub) was flown in 1973-:d publicly revealed in April 1975. In-:ly 1976 the definitive Kfir-C2 wassro'nrn, with fixed canard foreplanes:n the inlets, small strakes aiong the:edesigned nose and a new dogrtoothi,.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 (especial-.',' at the lower end of the speed range:: which dogrfights almost invariably:escend) by bettering the sustained::ln rate; collateral benefits are re-

The orange triangles distupting theettective desert camouflage of thisKfir is to ensure visual recogmition by

other Israeli pilots - although theEgptians have adopted the samedevice!

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duced gnxt response at low altrtudeand better handhng at hlqh anqles ofattack. The drffereni enEdne installa-tion had previousl"'requrred total re-desrgn of the rear Lselage and a cool-ing inlet in the dorsal hn. The new for-ward fuselage s extended to housevarious avionic rten:s rncludrng the Elta200lB target-acq.i,srircn and trackingair-to-air and arr-t:-ground pulse-Doppler radar, anC enremely com-prehensive navrga'. ::- :ommunicationidentrfication, nangra::cn and weapon-delivery systems are ::rstalled, as wellas a Martin-Baker L& 1l seat In earlyl9BI IAI reveaiec rhe tandem-seatKfrr-TC2 with lcrge: and down-slopinq nose; ths s a',';eapon-systemtrainer and EW (eLe:t:onrc warfare)platform. About 25C ,';e:e estimated tohave been delLverei by late 1982,

Ecuador being the frrst export custom-er. In 1982 Kirs saw extensive actionover the Lebanon, and in l9B3 IAIannounced the Kfir-Cz wrth rmprovedweapons capabillty and provrsion fortnflight-refuelling,

Specification:Illir-C2Type: multi-role fighter and attack air-craftArmament: two 30-mm IAl-built DEFA552 cannon each with 140 rounds; up to4295 kg (9,468 lb) of stores on sevenhardpoints including bombs, rockets,Maverrck/Hobos/Durandal ASMs,Shrike anti-radar missiles, Shafrrr 2AAMs (or Sidewrnders), ECM podsand tanksPowerplant: one B1 19-kg (17 900-lb)thrust General Electrrc J79-J1E after-

burning turbojetPerformance: maxunum speed, cleanat high altin:de 2440tun|h (1,516 mph);climb to 15250 m (50 000 ft) in 5-17 mi-nutes; service ceilinq I7680 m(58,000 ft); radius on hi-lo-hi mrssionwrth seven 227-kq (500-lb) bombs, tvuoAAMs and two tanks 768 km (477miles)Weishts: empty 7285 ks (16,060 lb);maxrmum take-of 14700 kg (32,408 lb)Dimensions: span 8,22 m (26 ft I 172 in);length 15.65m (51ft 47sin); heisht4.55m (l4ft llTein); wing area34 Bm, (374.6 sq ft)

Acapable all-rounder, theKfir isseen here in low-visibility fightermarkings, though itis being bombedup fot an attackmr'ssjon.

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Air Wqr over LebqnonIn 1982 Israel was once again involved in anatu wat in the skies of the Middle East.Thoagh her actiotts on the gtoundwonherfew adtnitets, her pilots and their newaircraft scoted devastating and spectaculazvic'tortes ovet the opposing Syrians.

:-' -5 l5 on 4 June 1982 the uneasypeace main-.--:.ed between warring Palestinian andl:ristian forces by occupying Syrian troops':s shattered as Israeli McDonnell Douolas:.a:rtoms and McDonnell Douglas Skyhairks, ared over Berrut, capital of Lebanon.=emingly untroubled by the barrage of

amazing success of the IDF/AF over its Syriancounterpart, accounttng for 44 of the 85 air-toair claims made by Israel, the malonty of themrn three days of intense fightrng on 9-11 June,The need for positive identification in themdlee brought fighters tnto close contact be-fore weapons were fired, and under such circumstances the F 16 is in its element. Usingmarnly Sidewinder AAMs and the israeh-produced Shafrir, the aircraft wrought havocamongst the Soviet-supplted Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-Z1 'Fishbed'and MiG-23 'Flog,ger flghters of the Syrian air arm, losing not oneoi the 72 then in servrce wtth three squadrons.

Astounding victoriesEven after allowance for over-claims made

1n good faith, the scale of the F-16's victory isIrttle short of astounding, particularly as the

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

admittediyageing \1.l -- :: __ :oeuvrable aircrafi ar-i:_-_= l.: , _lsigniflcant posirron lr. -r.: -- .:Ceneral Dynamics mr;:.' :._ l-:'thrs is as it should be fol I - r..: t:i : i

cated F-15s equa1,:: :,-.=cess, and were ti :.,

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::elIllIIQ.ly uIltIOUOleO Dy tne Oarlage Ol1::und-fire and SA-7 shoulder-launched SAMs. leaking up to meet them, the fighter-::mbers pressed home their attacks onlalestinian refugee camps around the crty, arassive 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 theisraeli ambassador in the UK had been gunnediown in a terrorist attack. Israel was clearly.rient on massrve revenoe.

But there was more to follow, Raids wererepeated on 5 June, and on the next day Israel's.roops advanced into Lebanon, bent on ehmi-:atrng the Palestinian guerrilla forces whtchhad 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 theBekaa valley south east of Beirut, and the Sy-rian air force responded. Large-scale atr i:ai-lles followed, but Israel pressed on io her scaland the Palcstrne Lrbera'ion Orqan.za:r.n

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banshed from LebanonFlying top cover for the ng:r:er-i-:ni:ers

were two of the latest acidt:t:ns :c :re IsraeiDefence Force/Air Force :le l',l:t:i:ellDouglas F-15 Eagie and Ge:e:r- t'.':.anicsf 16 Frghtrnq Falcon he la::-r r'..,:'.t. : .-i t€-but in air-to-air warlare O; -.:..- . : '.: _ .::.ta'aqility (dogfighting) the F-l: .:.-:=: ,: :he

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,'l€-'Israeli F- I5 Eagles formate over-the desert. The F- 15 equalled lfte success of the F- I6, though fewer were!enlo.r^e^Q.lsr.ael's Eagles had often dominated the skies over Lebanon during ttle shrmiJ"es ili", i" nLJune 1982 episode.

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McDonnell Douglas F-15 EagleLke its predecessor in the St Loursfactory (the F-4), the McDonnell Doug-las F-15 Eagle rs widely regarded asthe best fighter in the world, though ithas the dlsadvantages ofgreat size andhrgh operating cost. It was developedto rival the MiG-25, but unlike theSovret aircra-ft it is not a stand-of inter-ceptor but a close-combat doqfighterwrth a vast wing area and tvro exteme-ly powerfi:l engdnes, The fow SparrowAAMs are camed against the squarecorner edge along the bottom of thelarge inlet ducts, and the gun ismounted in the right inboard wtng,drawing ammunition from a large 940-round drum in the fuselage, Hughesprovide the AN/APG-63 pulse-Doppler radar, with computerizeddata-processing to leave nothing onthe pilot's head-up or head-down dis-piays except the vital items of real in-terest. A-ll-round view is superb, andthe F-IS pioneered the HOTAS (handson throttle and stick) concept to easethe pilot's task in combat. Very heavyattack weapon loads can be carried,and the original F-l5A and tandem-seat F-ISB have been followed by theF-ISC and hvo-seat F-ISD in which rn-ternal fuel is increased, FAST (fuel and

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

sensor, tactical) pallets flttrng againstthe sides ofthe fuselage give 4422k9(9,750 lb) of extra tuel with no extradrag, and avionics are updated. TheF-ISE Enhanced Eagle can carry a10885-kg (24,000-1b) bombload, buthad not been ordered in late 1983. Bythat time over 700 Eagles had beendelivered to the USAF, Israel, Saudifuabia and Japan, in which country thevariants are the F-ISJ single- and F-ISDJ two-seater, The US Air Forceplans to evaluate the Enhanced Eagleagainst the F-]6XL, and the unnnermay be ordered to the extent of 400examples as the USAF's standard all-weather strike fighter, a role to whichthe AN/APG-63's modried form, wrthSAR (synthetic apefture radar) con-figuration, is ideally suited: smali

targets can be seen in any weatherconditions (and at night) at a range of32 kn (20 miles). The F-ISE will alsohave the 'Pave Tack' targeting pod,whose FLIR (forwardJooking rnfra-red) sensor will be integrated with theradar.

Specification:F-ISC EagleType: fighter with secondary attackroleArmament: one 20-mm M61A-1 can-non; four Sparrow (latter AMRAAM)AAMs plus four Sidewinder (laterASRAAM) AAMs; option of 7258 kg(16,000 lb) attack weapon load on flvepylonsPowerplant: rwo 10855-kg (23,930-lb)thrust Pratt & Whitney P100-100 auq-

mented turbofansPerformance: maxrmum speed, cleanexcept AAMs at hiqh altitude 2660 kmh (l,650mph) or Mach 2,5; absolutecei[ng 30500m (100,000f1); ferrvrange with maximum fuel 5560 kn-.(3,450 miles)Weights: empty 14334kg (31,600 lb)loaded, clean 20l85kg (44,500 lb)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 ighterW ing d ispl ays i ts potent weaponIoad: four Sidewinders, fourS p arrows and the 2 0 - mm cannonhoused in the wing root.

Dynamics F-I6 Fighting Falconlnitiated as an LWF (l,ight WeightFiqhter) demonstrator in 1972, to seewhether or not a fighter smaller andless costly than ttrc F-15 could haveany value, the YF-16 flew in February1974, won over a Northrop rival andwas then developed into the largerand immensely more capable GenerdDynamics F-16A Fightinq Falcon,which was not only ordered in largenumbers (650, later rncreased to 1,388against a planned total of 2,333) by theUSAF but also by Belgdum, Denmark,the Netherlands and Norway to re-place the F-104, Other buyers areIsrael, South Korea, Egypt, Pakstanand Venezuela. In structure, aerody-namics, avionics and systems the F-16is outstandingly well engineered,combining CCV (control-confignrredvehicle) technoiogy and fly-by-wuesignalling with an unprecedentedthrust/weight ratio using a single F-IStype engine fed by a fixed ventral inletupstream of the nose gear, The overall

38

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-

USA

Generaleffect is a magnificent au-combat plat-form with adequate performance butphenomenally good agnhty, roll, c[mband acceleration. Important contdbu-tory factors are the unswept wing withautomatically variable camber, andthe pilot recliningr in an Aces II seatunder a frameless canopy with hisright hand gnaspingra small stick whichsenses any applied forces with near-zero movement. All combat controlsfor the aircraft, weapons, Westing-house APG-66 radar and Marconi HUD(head-up display) are on the stick orthrottle, The APG-66 radar is a highlycapable equipment: the look-up rangeis 74 kn (46 miles) while the look-dovrnrange, even against grround clutter, is56 km (35 miles), The set is of thepulse-Doppler type and has rangre andangle track modes, with informationfed to the pilot via a Marconi head-updisplay and Kaiser radar electro-optical display, Other key avionics arethe Delco fire-control computer, ALR-

69 radar warning receiver and Sperryair-data computer. The USAF buy in-cludes 204 F-l68 combat-capable two-seaters with reduced fuel. The equiva-lent F-l6C and F-l6D single- and two-seaters have progressively updatedand augmented avionics rncludingAMMAM mrssiles, LANTIRN night/all-weather pods and new cockpit dis-plays. F-l6s have flown with J79 andF101 engnnes, the AFTVF-16 has adv-anced direct-force controls, and theF-I6XL (F-l6E) prototypes have dou-ble the wing area and more fuel tocarry qEeater weapon loads from shor-ter fields with even better manoeuwa-bility, The J79-engined F- 16/79 is beingoffered as a lower-cost export model,

Specification:F-I6A Fighting FalconType: multi-role fighterArmament: one 20-mm M6I cannonwith 515 rounds; nine hardpoints for

normal maximum load of 7802 kg(17,200 lb), with theoretical hmit of9276 kg (20,450 1b) including all avail-able tactical stores, 'Pave Penny'lasertracker, ECM-EW pods (usuallyALQ-131) and special stores includingARIMs in 'Wild Weasel'rolePowerplant: one lO8l4-kg (23,840-lb)afterburning thrust Pratt & WhitneyF100-200 turbofanPerformance: maximum speed, cleanexcept 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 mrssionwith six Mk 82 bombs and no tanks547 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)

F-16 Fi

The tanned lsraeli prlot clrmbed up the specral-ly designed aluminium ladder and eased downinto the F l6's comfortable cockpit. He seemednot so much to be sitting rn the arrcraft as lyrngdown on top of it, and as he surveyed theadvanced electronic displays facing hrm hecould not help noticing the contrast wLih themass of dial instruments in his beloved oldPhantom. Even when he had donned hrs bonedome helmet and moved the sw-itch to close:heenormous canopy, the pilot was ye: agaln tmpressed by the fantastic all round vre,..,' Therewas absolutely nothing to get in the way ex-cept for tvvo narrow blades on each stde of theHUD (head-up dlsplay) drrectly ahead, one ofwhrch indrcates whether or not NWS (nose-wheel steering) rs engaged Turning to the rearthe vast expanse of distortion-free polycarbon-ate gives a view never before enjoyed by afighter pilot, because wrthout the wind buffet ofan open cockpit there rs a perfect view asternas far as the head and eyes can twist, You haveonly to look to see if you are making a contrail,and there is no place for bad quys to hrdeexcept down below.

Onthisoccasion, rnearlyJuly 1982 therewasa fair chance there would be some bad guys,because unhke other operators of the F-16Frghting Falcon the Heyl Ha'Avir (the lsraeli airforce) has flown rt rn action, The first time thishappened was on 7 June 1981, when eight air-craft were detailed to attack the Osirak nuclearpower station rn Iraq. This station's reactorshad long been consrdered to be a source ofweapons-grade plutonrum, and thuspotentrallya danger of the greatest magnitude to the be-leaguered Jewish state. The eight F 16As, all

Afterburner blazing, an F- l6 from the famed 9thTactical Fighter Wing the 'Wolf Pack' thundersdown the runway at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.

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newly dehvered in the first He,: !-,:,of 75. were onty just readv:-r ..:._:missions (though the erght pr-::-- '.'.'=:= :-.::- :ivast experrence on the McD::'-:,=,- - : * -:-:.-< A-4and McDonnell Douglas F-.i :: =:-. =::--:r 1eneratron). Qurckly rheyhad j--,r' -,:.-.-,'. -: man-age the totally new technc-, f.' :- .:- : -16 soelectronically based rt rs p:c'.-.:-'. :alled theelectric frghter' On that nrs: =.,:r a::ack mrs-sion each arrcraft carrred :-.',', . - - .c (907-kg)Mk 84 bombs, plus an EClul r::: ard externalfuel. Flyrng from Etzrcr- .:-: :r the then-occupied Sinai, the route ,a'.' -,-r:ss more than1000 km (620 miles) of iea:*::.:ss desert be-fore reaching the target ..','-:-r ::-rch of the mission flown at low level Eve:'.- c:mb was placedexactly on target, and a1l air:rai: returned undamaged, Arr refuelling'.'.':s nci used.

But rn the summer of l9E2 :he crrcumstanceswere drfferent. Missrcns '.','ere short. from

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

bases rn Israel across the border to Beirut, theshattered capital of Lebanon, and then the flnalbase of the army of the PLO (Palestine Libera-tion Organization), A-4s, F-4s and F l6s wereused to bomb the PLO areas in west Beirut, butthe F- I6 was also needed to maintain commandof the air in the face of Syrian Mikoyan-Gurevich MrG-2ls and MiG-23s, Many com-bats ensued, all apparently visual at closerangre, and though no detailed figures havebeen published there rs plenty of evidence thatthe ascendancy of the US-built fighter was total,Every hostrle arrcraft was detected at a dls-tance of tens of kilometres, tracked automati-cally and outmanoeuvred so that it could neverget within flring parameters. The F- l6s further

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Genercrl DgnctmicsF-15 Fighting FctlconThis aircraft is one of the I 50 F- I 6s purchased from the United States in twobatches of 75 (each containing eight F- I 68 two-sea ters). The machinesperformed superbly during the Lebanon war, employing the full range-of this-akcraft's

excellent weapons systems including AIM-9J Sidewinders, 20'mmM6l cannon, large groups of 1,000- or 2,000-Ib bombs, ECM iamming pods,and decoy fiIares.

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High visibility in low visibility colours ! P ilot visionisunrivalled in theF-J,6's one-piece bubblecanopy.

General Dynamics F-1 6 Fighting Falconcutaway drawing key

1 Pitottube2 Glassf ibre radome3 Planar radarscanner

protected themselves with ECM jammers anddispensed chaff and llare payloads, the latterbeing (for the flrst time) seen by the world onTV newsreels, Any hostile aircraft that becameimminently danqerous was promptly shotdown, using gmns and either Shafrir or Srdewrn-der missiles,

That the General Dynamics flghter was anattractive hrgh-performance machine was ob-vious from the roll-out of the orrgrnal Model 401(YF-16) the two examples of which were smal-ler and much lighter than the productron ver-sions. It was only after the F-16A qot into ser-vice 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 fightercould fly from six to 10 sorties per day, quicklydeploy to half way across the globe and then gostrarght into action, and absolutely dominate itsairspace no matter how good the opposingpilots mrght be, Put up against the famed F-4EPhantom, previously a yardstick against whichother multr-role fighter-bombers were judged,the little F-16 not only flew rings round theolder type rn air combat but also carried thesame bombload twice as far, or double thebombload for the same distance,

F-16 a winnerEven then there were doubters and disbe-

lievers convrnced they could grve the F-16 arun for its money, but there were not many ofthese left afler 24 June 1981, A team from the388th TFW flew to Scotland to take part rn theRAF inter-servlce tactical bombing competi-tion, and to say the F-l6As swept the board is aconsiderable understatement, Flying under

97 Gearboxdrveshafr98 GrGund pressure ref uelling

receptacle99 Fiaperon servo actuator

100 Rearfuselage franreconstTuclron

101 Rearintegra fueltank102 Main enqine mountino

suspens on lrnk103 UpperUHG/lFFaeria104 Fuseagesknplatlng1 05 Starboard side'body fainng106 Fnrootfrllet107 Flight control system

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suppiV unit'l 09 Starboard tai plane

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I 7 Side stick controller(fly-by

Pilot's safety harnessEngine throttle

24 SrdeconsoeDane25 Cockprr frame construction26 RearpressureDUlkhead

plate34 Fixed geometry engine air

ntake35 LowerUHF/IFFaenal36 Aftretractrng nosewheel37 Shockabsorberscissor

links38 Retraction strut39 Nosewheeldoor

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44 Air condilroning system

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50 Fueltank bayaccesspanel51 Rotary cannon barrc s52 Forebodyframe

construction53 M 61 Vulcan 20mm

ca n non54 Ammunrtron f eed and link

return chutes55 Ammunition drum, 51 5

rounds56 Ammunltion drum f lexiblc

drive shaft57 Leading-edge flap control

shaft59 HVdraul cequipment

serv ce bay60 Pnmarysystem hydrau rc

reservolT61 Lead ng edge manoeuvrc

f lap drive motor62 TACANaerial63 No.2 hydrau icsystem

reseruoir64 Leadrnq edqe ilapcontrol

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95 Jet fuel starter96 Engine accessory gearbox

airframe mounted

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equipmentbay 32 Rearelectronrcs9WestinghouseAN/APG-66 equipmentbay(growth

digital pulse doppler radar area)electronics 33 Boundary iaver spl tler

10 FoMard identificationlight. Danish andNoryegian aircraft only

1 1 Radarwarning antenna1 2 Cockpit front pressure

bulkheadl3 lnstrument panel shroudl4 Weapons systems fire

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simulated war conditions, the new FightingFalcons operated intensively for two days pul-ting dornm free-fall 'iron bombs' on convoys ofvehicles, Every bomb was delivered preciselyon its assigned target, and the final score was arecord 7,831 points out of the possible 8,000. A!LS_!]V_ experienced RAF squadron flyingSEPECAT Jaguars came second witn 6 +Olpoints, followed by many other squadrons in-cluding crack units flyinq F-llts and Buc-caneers in the 16 competition sorties againstdefending fighters (RAF Phantoms and Ligrhtnings) the F-l6s scored 86 kills for no losses,The combined score of the other teams wasone kill set against 42 losses!

Based at RAF Lossiemouth, the F-16s in thecompetition proved their superb engineeringdesign by averaging a turn-around time be-lween sorties of only 10.5 minutes. Included ineach turn-around was complete refuelling, andrearming with 5 I5 rounds of 20-mm ammunitlonand six 227-kq (500-lb) Mk 82 bombs. Theaccuracy of navigation of the F-l6s also set anew record, and at the end of the meeting thegeneral feeling of the opposing teams was thatthey had suddenly become second-classcitrzens,

One of the fundamental design requirementsoi the original LWF (Light-Weiqht Fighter)

'123 Electrontccountermeasures aerials,pon and starboard (ECM)

1 24 Fully variable exhaustnozzle

1 25 Nozzte flaps1 26 Spirt trar ing edge airbrake

upperand owersurfacesI 27 A rbrake h!draul c lackI 28 Pon tar o ane { ncreased

area botat )

129 Statrcdischaroersl30 Graph re-epov-yta lplane

skrn panels131 Corrugaredaluminiumsub-

struclureI 32 i noe o vot frxrno1 33 Ta Ji 6ns5srv66i1rr1.,I 3a Nozzle seat ng farilng-3, :ue drdulrc nozzle

aclualorsi l6 AllerburnertailprpeI 37 Rear fuselaqe bulkhedds'33 Rearengtnemounting' 39 Ail posrtron lrght'10 Ponsde-bodyfarnnq'll Runwayarrestorhookj ,i2 Ventral ftn, port and

starboard

143 Portfaperon'144 Flaperon hrnqs5145 Alumin um hcne\co-b

flaperon constructro"146 Staticd scharcers'147 Ftxed t13r /no edee s::: i-148 PortA v SiSo6,..r;.

air-to-a rm ss es149 Missilelaunchersroe1 50 Wing t p launcher i' .;l5l Portnavioatron chr -152 Outboardpvlon fi, rc.:'153 Multnspar wrnq

conStruction154 Centrepylonaltachme-:

rib155 Wing centre pylon'156 N/k842000-tb(got <c

low-drag bomb1 57 Leadrng edge manoe:r.:

flap'1 58 Leading edge flap rclan,

actuators159 lnteqralwrna iue r:-r160 lnboardpylonfl nq161 Wngatrachmeni

fishplates162 Landrng lax .q a-c163 Marn undercai. :c: :- : -.

absorber strut -164 Mainwhee leo si-J:I 65 ReJract on srru;166 Mdinwhee lc:.

The phenomenal agility of the F- I 6 has earned theaircraft its adoption as the mount of the IISAF,scrack aerobatics feam,'The Thunderbirds,. Herethey display the newcolour schemeunveiledfortr\e 1983 season.

'a- ::-..:ro retract ng 173 WestinghouseAN/-: -iltseel ALoi]g_electronic':i ::- -^::r -g I-ettank suppressionsvstemradar

:: . i ": -:e.rernd r.et 174 Snakev6boo_ib(227-ko)'' -. i - : ^ f, Jd 400 retarded bomb -':':: 175 cBU_10C/82000]b{908_-,i'::.':-:a:ca'c+rarC tg;taserguiOedbo;'6--:.' ': -'-a -e3 cco EO-

@ Pilot Press Limited93

F-.c Fightrng Falcon in Action (continued)

-. '-.:' :::l:l: j 're i-16 desrgn:: -.r'. _:-. :r:-,, .' :-.i:rlcr :c thatof exrstrng' '-:l -:.1::::=:: lfJen_.', :.:::: -:---: :: L1633kg' '-: ' - l-=r:- :::.i::i:n and frOm- - .- -,,--,i;i37300lb)wrth

- - : : ::':-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

.- .r::..'-:tr: or tunnel vision, which the- r r :-,-narraF.ed in Other airCraft at--!PtrrLrr\

:a

::.',':.=::-; advantage is that, like all- ' ':: ll30s. lhe F 16 has a cockpit

desrgned to Hotas (hands on throttle and stick)prrnciples. Every control the prlot needs incombat is to be found either on the handgrip ofthe single engine power lever or near the top ofthe stick with which the aircraft is flown, Like aconcert pianist the pilot learns which finger orthumb to use to change the HUD (head-updisplay) symbology, alter the operating modeof the radar, open the airbrakes, flre Sidewinder missiles, fire the 20-mm six-barrel gun,drop bombs or do anythinq else necessary tohit ground targets or shoot down enemy arr-craft, He need not look down inside the cockpitat all (unless something goes wrong inside theaircraft) or take his hands off the two vital handgrlps.

Even the stick itself rs untque so far as regularin-service fighters are concerned. For onething it is not a normal control column betweenthe pilot's knees but a short stubby handgrip onthe rrght-hand console of the cockptt. The pilotcan grip it whrlst resting his arm rn a comfort-able padded rest, and tf he wishes can alsoextend an extra rest for the wrist, so that even at9 g his arm is supported along rts length.Moreover, the stick ts essentially fixed. If theprlot wishes to roll to the left he merely movesthe handgrip to the left. The actual movement ismicroscoprc, but the force exerted by the prlot

The F-16 has already chalkedup atremendousreputation, but there's a lotmore to come. TheF-16XL doubles the basic aircraft's wing area,vastly improves space for avionr'cs and sensors,siorfens jts lake-off and landingdsfancetdoubles theweapons load andincreases combatradius by 45%.

is measuredr the greater the force, the greaterthe rate of roll. At first this unique control col-umn may cause overcorrections because it isso powerfully and rnstantly responsive. After awhile it becomes the link in the most perfectsymbrosrs between man and machrne therehas yet been in avration. To quote an F- l6 pilot;'A11 I have to do rs thrnk what I want the ship todo and it happens'

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rE iiLnnrop F-SE/F Tiser IINorthrop's F-5 family of lightweightighters has racked up a remarkablesales total of more than 2,700 aircraft to30 countries in spite of the fact that it-,'ias never adopted (or even mar-keted) as a major type in its own coun-:ryl The original Northrop N-I56FFreedom 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 asnall X-band radar. The tandem-seatF-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-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 con-s;derably more advanced F-20 Tiger-shark (originally designated F-5G).- hs changes to single-enqine power-plant (a single afterburninq General:lectric F4O4 turbofan rated at 7257-kg16,000-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-1A of the lranian air force. Iran was one of many nations to receJ:€ 3j5-inexpensive and easily maintained multi-role fighter.

'i Ft=4

-r

F-1E of a IIS Navy aggressor unit, who simulate Soviet aircraft for the benefrt o!Navy pilot training.

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

Specification:F-SE Tiger IIType: light tactical fiqhterArmament: two 20-mm M39A-2 cannoneach with 280 rounds; up to 3175k9(7,000 lb) of external weapons includ-ing numerous bombs, rockets, Maver-ick ASMs, clusters, pods and tanksPowerplant: two 2268-kg (5,000-1b)thrust General Electric JBS-2IA after-burmng turbojetsPerformance: maxtmum speed, cleanat hish altitude 1734 hn/h (1,077 mph)or Mach 1.63; initial climb rate i0515 m(34,500ft) per minute; seruice ceilng15790 m (51,800 ft); radtus on a lo-lo-lomission with maximum weapons andresewes 222km (138 miles)weights: empty 4392 kg (9,683 1b);maximum take-off 1l i93 kg (24,676 lb)Dimensions: span B, 13 m (26 ft B in);length 14 68 m (48 ft 2 in); herght 4.06 m(13 ft 4 in); wrnq area 17.3 m'(186.0 sqft)

Above:TouchingdownatDiibendod, this N orthrop F - 5 E isoperated by the armedforcesofSwitzerland. The original order inI 97 6 calle d for 66 F-SEs and srxF-SFs.

Below: The F-20 Tigers:a:k : '--ethirdmajor stage o{F- jdeve lopmen t. U niike i tspredecessors, if ftas a s.n!i.;€ a-.-_:=€with rear tuselage widh ::a::'-z:---- :by lateral'shelves'.

YomKippurAirWarFor once, Israel was caught off its guard: tradi-tional vigrlance relaxed for the celebration ofYom Krppur, the Day of Atonement fast, Intenton regaining the territory so humiliatinglyseized from them in the 1967 conflict, Egyptianand Syrian forces checked and recheckedtheir equipment, rmpatient for the order tomove. It was 6 October 1973, and another Mid-dle 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 easternbank and thrust into Sinai, whrlst in a srmul-taneous onslaught in the north-east, Syriaattacked positions on the strategically vitalGolan Heights. israel was trapped in a war ontwo fronts, and there \iias little doubt that theArabs would not stop at reclaiming lost areas. Itwould be a flght for Israel's survrval,

Galvanized into action, Israeli McDonnellDouglas F-4 Phantoms, McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and Dassauit Mirage IIIs launchedcounterstrikes agarnst the advancing armiesand their rearward bases, but it soon becameapparent that they were fightrng a new kind ofair war, The Arabs had taken pains to protecttheir forces against air attack, having iearntfrom bitter experience in the Six-Day War ofsix years earlier, and as IDF/AF arrcraft cros-

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

sed the Suez Canal they were greeted by abarrage of Soviet-made SA-2 and SA-3 SAMsfrom well-prepared sites. Mobile 5A'-6 mrssrle-launchers and the highly-effective ZSU-23-4cannon were also depioyed, as were SA-7 in-fantry SAMs, and the Israells were horrified tofind that their ECM were useless against theSA.6.

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

effrcient defence was :a:asirophe for Israei,which suffered the loss :i scme 90-lO0 aircraftto SAMs out of a total :l '2! irom all causes.Such was the effectrveness ci Arab SAMs thatwhen an Israeli force crcssed :he Canal on thetenth day of the war ris r:--:-al cbjective was toeliminate the anti-arrcra:: ieiences. Outsrdethe range of the deadly r--s:-.:s however, theIDF/AF proved that rt hac -rs: none of its pro-wess in air combat, deslr: _.--:- j scme 220 Syrranand 213 Egryptran aircra;. :r ralf of the Arabfront-line strength, It was ::r-: -iabrlity to gaincontrol of the air whrch lee .' :a..r.re of the Arabassault despite its prom.-.-:.: :e rrnnrng.

The desperate nature :: ::: combat (andsome measure of its ferc:-.-." -s indicated bythe fact that 375 israeli a,r:ra-: '.','ere opposedby 310 from Eqypt and 42C :: -:. S,"rra, with lraqaddrng 30 to the latter ear-'.' r:. :re conflict, Nofewerlhan B1 ID|/AF dlrCr:. ,'.'-:e destroyedin the flrst four days of fig:r:.:-; Curing which

Camera-gan sequence shows the deathof anArabMiG-21 seen through the sights of an IsraeliMirage.

3,555 sortres were flown, but losses fell drama-tically thereafter as Israel slowly qained theupper hand, the overall total of I20 shot downbeing incurred during 12,271 mlssions,

The IDF/AF thus suffered one loss per 102sorties despite the Arab SAM menace, itsopponents faring less well rn the face of deter-mined Israeh action, Syria losing one per 28and Egypt one per 24 sorties,

it had been a close-run war, however, andIsrael was quick to appreciate the lessons soforcibly driven home. For the fighter, thismeant high pnority in provisions ol electroniccountermeasures against enemy radars andemphasis on agility in new aircraft designs,Now the IDF/AF is equipped with the hrghlymanoeuvrable General Dynamics F-16 Fiqht-ing Falcon, and its Phantoms and Skyhawksappear able to jam the SA-6's gmidance sys-tems at will, The observance of Yom Kippur hastaken on an addrtronal meaning in Israel, its airforce being strongrer and better equipped as aresult.

SAMs accounted for a large proportion of Israel'slosses, butler pilots soon evolved tactics to dealwith them. Here a Mirage III rolls into an attack onanEgiyptianSAM site-

*

I'.{

Modern Fighter Aucraft

E trio of F-4D Phantoms line up totake on fuelfrom a BoeingKC-135tar,ker belore a strike intoNorthV ie tnam. The F -4 proved its worth inVtetnam. emergring as a genuinemulu-role fighter

- McDorurell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

---.:ed 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,...: foul large Sparrows recessed--.:?r the broad fuselage for minimum:::j) and just one pylon for a singler: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 theRF-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 UKlought a largely redestgned version.rhe F-4K for the Fleet Air Arm andF-4M for the RAF, designated PhantomFG.Mk I and Phantom FGR.Mk 2 re-spectively) with Rolls-Royce Spey tur-bofan engines, whose great powerwas largeiy dissipated tn increasedarcraft drag. Germany's Luftwaffe isnodifying its slatted F-4F fleet to carry:he advanced AMRAAM mrssile, witha new radar, and its RF-4E fleet to dropbombs, japan built its own F-4EJ mod-el. The last sub-type to emerge ts theF-4G dedicated EW (electrontc-warfare) aircraft, used by the USAFTactical Air Command and USAi'Europe, and produced by conversLoncf F-4Es, It combines complex AN'APR-38 sensor, analyser and jammersystems with special air-to-grroundrr'eapons includrng Shnke, StandardARM, Maverick and HARM. The F-4Jwas the ultimate new-burld version forthe US Navy and US Marine Corps,cased on the F-4B but fitted with more

RAF Phantom FGR.Mk 2 (F-4M) of No.92 Sqnbased inGermany. AII MFair-defence Phantoms are nowpainted in low-visibility grey. Theyusually fly with AIM-9L Sidewindersand BAe Sky Flasl mtsstTes.

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

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

Specification:F-4E Phantom IIT1rye: multi-role figrhterAmament: one 20-mm M61 gmn undernose; four Sparrow (later AMRAAM)AAMs recessed under fuselage (onemay be replaced by ECM pod), andup to 7258kq (16,000Ib) of assortedstores on wing pylons including air{o-ground weapons, tanks, two moreSparrows or four Sidewinder AAMsPowerplant: two Bl20-kg (17,900-lb)thrust General Electric J79-17 after-burnrngt turbojetsPerformance: maximum sPeed, cleanplus Sparrow AAMs 2414 km/h(l 500 mph) or Mach 2,27 at high altt-tude: rnrtial climb rate 18715 m

T he F -4C w as the origin al' minimumchange' model for the US Air F orce.T hk 1 9 63 ex ample, with intr a- re dseeker under the nose, was servingwith the 1 7 1 st FI S of the MichiganANG in 1980.

F inal model of fighter Phantom, theF-4E introduced more power and[uel, andwas later given an internalgrun andsJats. This F-4E wasassigmed to lie 32ndTFS atCamPAmslerdan (.Soes terbetg),Netfterlands.

U.S.AIR FORCEE

*:'---

-Phantom FGR.Mk 2 (F-4M) of No' 23Sgn, RAf, base d atWattisham inI 97 6. This unit has now also adoptedthe air superiority greY.TheY arenow theFalklands air defence unit,renumbered from No. 29 Sqn.

L ifrtov"n-Gurevich MiG-21'Fishbed';[:4/ *d*

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

MiG-zlMF'Fishbed-J' upengined ver-sion of the MiG-Z]PFMA; MiG-2lbis'Fishbed-L' third-generation frghterwith much improved avionics andstructurei MiG-2lbis'Fishbed-N' de-finrtive third-generation fighter withmore powerful R-25 engine; and MiG-2lU'Mongol' tandem two-seat tralnerin several variants.

Specification:MiG-2lbis 'Fishbed-l{Tlpe: multr-role flghterArmament: one 23-mm GSh-23 twin-barrel qnrn with 200 rounds; maxrmumof 1500 kg (3,307 Ib) of ordnance car-ried on four wrng pylons rncluding hvo500-ks (1,102-lb) and two 250-kg (551-lb) bombs or other stores ln attack mis-sions, or fow F,A.-2-2 Advanced Atoll'AAMs or two AA-2-2 and two AA-B'Aphid' AAMs ::. a:t-to-arr role

In 1954 the MiG and Sukhoi designteams each went ahead with pro-totypes to test tvvo new conflgmratronsfor supersonic combat aircraft. Even-tually the acutely swept wing plusswept tail was judgred best for attackarrcraft, resulting in the Sukhoi Su-7,while the tailed delta gave highestperformance for a figrhter and wasadopted for what became theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21'Fishbed',Early MiG-2ls reached the SovietFrontal Aviation and PVO defenceforce in 1959, and were very srmpleafcraft just able to carry two cannon(sometimes only one, to save weight)and two small AA-2 missrles. Poweredby the R-1 I rated at 5750-kg (12,676-lb)thrust with afterburner, the MiG-21reached Mach 2 and was a joy to fly,Over the next quarter-century theMrG-21 became the most proliflcflghter in the world, with about 15,000built in 15 major and over 100 mtnorversions, plus corresponding two-seattrarners, Each successive major modelhas featured more thrust or betteravionics or a gEeater or better spec-trum of weapons. All recent versionshave the R-11-300, or R-11F2S-300, orR- 13-300 or R-25 engine fed by an en-larged duct wrth an all-weather radarrn the centrebody cone. Drag rs re-duced by progressrvely larger dorsal

fairings which in some models containfuel, and there are numerous options ofreconnaissance sensors and EW(electronic warfare) systems. Larqenumbers continue to be built in Indiaand China; the latter desrgnates thetype the Xian J-7 for indigenous useand F-7 for export. Some of the majorversions of the Sovret 'Fishbed' seriesare the MiG-2IPF'Fishbed-D' Iimitedall-weather flghter with RIL radar;MiGzlFL export versions of the MiG-2lPF with R2L radar and provision for agnrn pod; MiG-2IPFM'Fishbed-F' im-proved version of the M1G-2IPF withforward- rather than side-hinqeingcanopy and R2L radar; MiG-2IPFMA'Fishbed-J' multi-role version of theMiG-21PFM with four hardpoints andprovision for a GSh-23 cannon pack;MiG-2tR'Fishbed-H' tactical recon-naissance versron of the MrG-21PFMA:

Powerplant: one 7500-kg (16,535-1b)thrust T\rmansky R-25 afterburning tw-bojetPerformance: maximum speed, cleanat hish altitude 2285 kn/h (1,420 mph)or Mach 2, 15; initial climb rate 17700 m(58,070 ft) per minute; service ceiiing15000 m (49,210 ft); nnge at hrgh alti-tude (with internal tuel only) 1100 km(683 miles)Weights: empty about 5715 kg(12,600 lb); maximum take-off 9400 kg(20,725Ib)Dimensions: span 7.15 m (23 ft 572 in);length, exciuding probe typlcally15.i0 m (49 ft 7 in); heisht 4.10 m (13 ft572 in); wing area 23.0 m2 (247.6 sq ft)

Still in front-line servicewith theSoviet air forces, the MiG-21 is aversatile and potent weapon. AboutI 5,000 have been produced.

L ifrtor"n-Gurevich MiG-23'Flogser'The Soviet Union's standard shape foran optimized swing-wing a[craft wasperfected in 1964 and assigned toSukhoi for a large twin-engine aircraftand 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 con-srderable redesign was needed andproduction of the Mikoyan-GurevichMiG-23 'Flogger' series drd not startuntil 1970, with a different engine.Srnce then the rate ofdelivery has sur-passed that ofall other combat aircraft,and l0 basic sub-families have beenidentified, all named 'Flogger' byNATO but divided by the Soviets intoMrG-23 and MiG-27 fami[es. Both theFA (Frontal Aviation) and IA-PVO (Atr-Defence Forces) of the Soviet Union

MiG-23MF 'Flogger-B' in the standard air superiority overall light grey. Notethe rocketpods and AAM launchingsfioes.

*

landing. Deliveries to 17 ar forces ex-ceeded 2,600 by the spring of 1983,and the main operational variants ofthe MiG-23 series are the MiG23MF'Flogger-B' single-seat air-combatfighter, with limited look dowr/shootdown capabilrty; the MiG-23U 'Flog-ger-C' two-seat combat-capable con-

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

ing nose packed wrth air-to-grroundsensors, largte armour plates round thecockpit and fixed inlets. All have full-span flaps, outboard leading-edgeflaps, roll control by spoilers and tailer-ons, rough-field maih qear folding intothe fuselage, and a largre ventral finwhich folds sideways for take-off and

Modern Fighter Arrcraft

version trarneri the MiG-23'Flogger-E'export version of the 'Flogrger-B' withIess capable avronics including JayBud' radar matched to AA-Z'Atoll' air-to-air mrssrles; the MiG-238N'Floqger-F export close-support and Interdictorafcraft combrntng the nose sectlon ofthe 'Flogger-D' wlth the powerplant,varrable-geometry Inlets and GSh-23twin-barrel 23-mm cannon of the MiG-23 series; the MiG-Z3MF 'Flogger-G'variant of the 'Floqger-B '';;:th a smalier

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

Specification:MiG-23MF 'Flogger-B'Type: variable-Cfeometry air-combatfighterArmament: one GSh-23 twin-barrel 23-mm 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 mrssrlesPowerplant: one 12,475-kg (27,502-lb)afterburnrng thrust TumanskT R-29BturboletPerformance: maxlmurl speed about2,500 km/h (1,553 mph) or Mach 2.35 ataltrtudet servlce cerling 18600 m(61,025 ft); combat radius about1200 km (746 miles)Weight: maximum take-off 16000 kg(35,273 rb)

The MiG-23 is by far the mostimportant aircraft in the Sovietinventory. Capable of a varietY ofmr'ssions, if appears in manYversions, of which lits is lle'Flogger-G'.

Dimensions: span spread 14.25 m (46 ft9rn) and swept B. l7m (26ft 97zin),lengrth 16.80 1rr (55 ft lrlz tn); wing ateaabout 37 0 mz (398 3 sq ft)

ffi ifitoy"n-Gurevich MiG-25'Foxbat'

Libyareportedlyhas 36 MiG-ZSs ofvarious kinds, probably tlown bySoviet pilots . This k an interceptor

aiii,rx:xi!{::;ffi0 *#Desrgned specifically to Intercept theB-70 Mach 3 bomber (which neverwent into service) the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 'Foxbat' was de-signed for speed at the expense ofsuch other attnbutes as short fleld-Iength, combat manoeuvrability mod-est weight and economtc cost. The E-266 prototypes were drsplayed in 1967and car.sed a Elreat st]r among Western observers, a strr herghtened by astring of world records lor speed(often over long ranges wrth heavypayloads) and astonrshrnq rate ofclimb and high altrtude such as achmb from rest to 35000 m ( I 14,829 ft)in 4 minutes I I seconds. The basicMiG25'Foxbat-A' interceptor, an ex-ample of which was flown to Japan by adefector rn September i976, is mademainly of steel, with titanium or rtsalloys around the engdnes and on lead-ing edges. The unswept wing rs thtnand sharp-edqed, and has a ftxedleading edge and plain flaps and atler-ors. Large fuel tankage is provtded tnI I welded steel tanks burlt into theairframe, and the low-pressure tur-boiets have giant afterburners and ful-ly variable inlets with water/alcoholsprays, The gnant radar is typical of1959 technology and rs assoctated withcomprehensive EW systems and va-

rtous AAlvl. -:-: -=---,'. .',-:=. - i'-:i

25R (identLf,ei c; l.-:-- - - Forca:'3and 'Foxbat-D :=::-. .=: l: ::: j::rnfra-red and raia: :a:::.-=-:-:::,-.-:systems, and the M.IG2SU 'Foxbai-Ctrainer 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 fromTumansky R-15 engines and laterweapons and radar (and possrbly wrtha gmn and second seat); the mrssile fitcomprises four radar-homrng AA-9weapons under the wingTs and fourshorter-ranqre AA-B'Aphid' weaponsfor self-defence

Specification:MiG-25 'Foxbat-A'Type: all-weather stand-off mterceptorArmament: fout AAMs (usuallY AA-6'Acrid')Powerplant: two I 1000-kq (24,250-Ib)thrust Turnansky R-3 I afterburning tur-boletsPerformance: maximum sPeed, cleanat hiqh altrtude (dash) 3400 km/h(2, 115 mph) or Mach 3 2, or (sustatned)

2978 lffi/h ( 1 850 mph) or Mach 2 B; tni-tral chmb rate 12480 m (40,950 ft) perminute, servlce cerltng 24404m(80 000 ft) radlus at hrgh altrtudeI125 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)

Early exposure to the MiG'25 causedgrave cons ternation to W esterndefence analysts.

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

(611 7 sq ft)

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L Hutnoi Su-15 'Flagron'The final operationalvariant of theSu- J 5 rs fhe'F lagon-F'. I mmediatelydistingruishable by its morea e s th e tic ally p le asing ogivalradome, this version also -inc or por ates u prated T um ans kyR- 13F-300 engines, giving extremelyhigh performance.

Wrth a Soviet requirement for a Mach2 5 rnterceptor in the 1960s, the Sukhoi:esrgn bureau adapted the existingSu-ll to take twin TumanskY R-11afterburninq turbolets and a largeradar nose. The result was the Su-15'Flagron', the flrst prototype of whichilew in 1965 The original R-1 1 engineshave since been replaced by morepowerful R l3s, makrng these aircraftamong the world's fastest fighters.

The Su-15's original armament ofAA-B 'Aphrd' close-range and tvvo orfour AA-3 'Anab' longer-range missilesare bernq replaced by a new missilebeheved to be the AA-X-g. Despitesome reports to the contrary there is noevrdence that the aircraft carries anrnternal cannon, though thts could bef,tted as an external pod. Unlike Fron-tal Aviation aircraft, which regularlyuse roads as strips, the Su-15 needs along paved runway of 2000-3000 m(6560-9840 ft), and streams its draqtchute on landing. The Su-15 carries acomprehensive internal fit of hiqhlycapable electronic warfare systems.

Cufient service versions of the Su-15 are the 'FIagon-E' and 'Flagon-Fsingle-seat interceptors, recently in-volved in the downing of a South Ko-rean civil Boeing 747. Also operatedare 'FIagon-C' two-seat trainers.

Approximately 700 Su-l5s are still inservice, but the type is steadily beingreplaced by the all-weather intercep-tor MiG-23 'Flogger-G' and MiG-25'Foxbat'.

Specification:Sukhoi Su-15'Flagon-FTlpe: all-weather interceptorArmament: two AA-3'Anab' missiles;body pylons could carry two more butare usually empty or used for tanksPowerplant: two 6600-kg (14,550-lb)thn.rst T\rmansky R- 13F-300 afterburn-ing turbojetsPerformance: maximum speed, cleanat high altitude 2660 km/h (1,653 mph)or Mach 2.5; combat radius at high alti-tude with two AAMs 725 km (450

Weights: empty probably aboutl00OO kq (22,046 Ib); maximum take-offestimated at 16000 kq (35,274 lb)Dimensions: (estimated) span 10.53 m(34ft 6in); lensth 20,5m (68ft 0in);herghl 5.0 m (16 ft 6 in): wing area ab-out 35 7 m'z (384.3 sq ft)

The prototype Su- I 5 'Flagon-B', withlift-jets incorporated in the fuselage(used only on this variant), but alsoshowing the distinctive kinked deltap I anf o r m of subsequen t mode ls.

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L flpot"u Tu-128'Fiddler'When first seen in 196], this large su-personic twin-jet was thought bYWestern obseryers to be a Yakovlevdesigrn, In fact it was the Tupolev Tu-28Iong-range suweillance fiqhter, fromwhich was derived the Tu-28P'Fiddle/interceptor. The Tupolev bureau num-bers for these tvvo types were Tu-102and Tu-I28. In many respects thelargest fighter in the world, and cer-tainly the biggest and most powerfulever put into service, the Tu-lZB has aIong fuselagre with enormous fuelcapacity to handle PVO (air defenceforce) missiors coveringT vast areas ofthe Soviet frontier. The oriqinal Tu-28was intended to operate alrnost wrth-

Tupolev Tu- 128 of the Soviet air force with four M3 'Ash' anti-aircraft missiles'

out ground help, but the Tu-128 isassrsted by ground radars and de-fence systems which gmrde it towardshostile aircraft. Then the extremelylarge 'Big Nose' VJ-band radar takesover until either a radar- or an IR-homing AA-3 missile can be fired, Apair of each type of AAM is carrted.

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and no other rnterceptor has beenseen armed mth these large weapons.The weight of ths fighter is spread bybogne landrnq gears which in flight re-tract backwards into fairrngs typical ofI\polev aucraft of the era. Capabilttyaqrarnst low-flying aircraft may havebeen rmproved since 1980, because

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!not even the Su-27 (Ram-K) or an inter-ceptor version of Su-24 could offerequal area defence, but the 100-oddstill in use were being withdratrn inI OO2

Specification:Tu-128'Fiddlet'Type: long-ranqe interceptorArmament: four AA-3 'Ash'AAMs, tworadar-grurded and two lR-homingPowerplant: two afterburningr tur-bojets, almost certainly Lyulka AL-2lF-3 each rated at 11000-kg (24,250-lb) thrustPerformance: maximum speed at highaltitude 1900km/h (1,200mph) orMach 1.8; service ceiling 20000m(65,615 ft); radius at high altitude withfour AAMs 1250 l<n (777 miles)Weights: (estimated) empty 24500 kg(54,012 lb); maximum take-off 40000 kg(88,183 rb)Dimensions: span 18, I0 m (60 ft 0 in);lensrth 27.20 m (89 ft 3 m); hgight 7,0 m(mh 0 in)i wrng area 80,0 m'z (860 sq ft)

The world's biggest fighter, theTupolev Tu- I 28 , k in service with theSoviet air force. Deployed to remoteareas, they have an incredibleendu r ance of eight hour s.

Armed Forces of the World ffi!E8tE5-i

-

US Rapid DeploUmentForce -=r*.,rr,Part I

As from 1 January 1983 the American RapidDeolovment Joint Task Force became a newCoinniand known as US Central Command, orUSCENTCOM, under the control of the USJoint Chiefs of Staff. This upgrading to com-mand level of a force that has grown in num-bers and importance since its conception dur-ing the term of office of President Carter isisignificant, for it marks the'coming of age' of afoice that had more than its f air share of beinga political football, and it also marks the arrivalon the global scene of a new factor on thechess board of world military power.

The new command is still w dely known byits abbreviated designation of the Rapid De-ployment Force (RDF), and the new commandtitle will gradually be assumed and becomemore familiar as time progresses. lts future isnow certain, despite many political attemptseither to do away with it entirely or to attenu-ate its numbers and scope; but it is still in thethroes of organization and establishment, sosome of the planned details given below mayyet be altered.

During'Exercise Bright Star '82' USAF Tactical AirCommand deployed F- I 6 Fighting Falcons directfrom H ill AFB, U tah, to Egtypt in a I 4 - hou r no n - s to pflight.

Headouarters and tasksThe heiadquarters of the RDF is at MacDill AirForce Base in Florida. The commander is a

lieutenant general of the US Army, and underhis command he has 230,000 personnel undera unified command that embraces US Army,US Navy, US Air Force and US Marine Corpsunits. The task of the RDF is wide and largelyundefined, based mainly on the fact that theRDF will be called upon to protect the in-terests of the United States and its allies in anarea known as South West Asia (SWA). Thisoperational area takes in 20 countries but spe-cifically excludes lsrael. The main centre ofinterest centres on the area containing theMiddle East oilfields and includes such sensi-tive nations as lran and lraq (already at warwith each other) and the other smaller PersianGulf states. Put bluntly in such terms the RDFappears to be but a force to protect Americanbusiness interests, but the wider intention isto deter Soviet aggression in the area, for oneof the more important Soviet foreign policyobiectives has for many decades been theesiablishment of a blue-water port as an outletto the lndian Ocean.

The headquarters is at present a long wayfrom its intended theatre of operations andmoves have already been made to establish a

Sikorsl<y UH-60 BlackHawks disembark troops.Air-transportable by C-5 Galaxy, C- 141 StarLifteror C- I 30 Hercules, the Black Hawk k armed withupto liHellfiremr'ssiles, andcancarry I I fully-armed infantrymen.

forward headquarters somewhere in the SWAregion. To date these efforts have been unsuc-cessful, mainly as a result of the political con-siderations that make the region such a sourceof potential conf lict. The plan for a f ull move tothe region has now been replaced for the timebeing with a scheme to establish a much smal-ler forward headquarters of only about 200-300 personnel in the SWA theatre, but in mid-1983 negotiations for this were still in prog-ress_

The USN component of the Rapid DeploymentForce includes three Carrier Battle Groups, withone on station in the Indian Ocean at all times.

.fu:'r:eC Forces of the World

: I : : . :-e end of Fiscal Year 1 984,' :^.se J. ts have been part of the:s ":ept on. Some of the unlts

^'. 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:---ecnnology LrghtL s on (HTLD) see below:.3 ii Srgade Air Combat

'^:ers and other Speciallperations Forces (SOF) various

1

--. east one High Technology Light Division is:' ce assrgned to the RDF but division is not,:: formed)

US Marine Corps\!1ar ne Amphibious Force 1

;onsists of reinforced US Marine division plus-S Marine aircraft wing)

US Air ForceTactical Fighter Wings (TFW) 7Strategic Bomber Squadrons 2

US NavyCarrier Battle Groups 3Surface Action Group 1

Maritime Patrol Air Squadrons 5

Each of the three main forces (US Army, USNavy and US Air Force) has its own separateheadquarters, while the US Marine Amphibious Force operates under the control of theUS Navy headquarters.

For several reasons it is not possible toplace precise unit allocations to the RDF. Todate several units have been involved at onetime or another, and the usual policy is torotate units to and from the role for trainingand other commitments. lt is known that unitsinvolved to date have included the 82nd andlO1st Airborne Divisions, the 7th and 25thInfantry Divisions and for the US Marine Corpsthe 31st Marine Amphibious Unit. One knownUS Arr Force unit is the lst Tactical Fighter

Below:The Marines have beenusing the CH-46 SeaKnight for troop transport since 1965. Wilhmodifications, they are Likely to be still in service atthe end of the century.

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F-'US RDF =--=

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Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginra,which is equipped with 68 McDonnell DouglasF 15C and F 15D Eagles with their speciallong-range FAST (Fuel And Sensor Tactical)packs.

One other factor to be borne in mind ls thatthe US Army infantrv d,v,sion rs now r' a stdteof transrtion f rom its current to a new organizational basis (lnfantry Division '86). lt rs plannedto make all current US Army units conform tothe new '86 pattern, which includes a siruc-ture and equrpment revision to make all theunits involved more flexible and mobrle whileat the same time increasing therr combatpotential and firepower. The High Techno ogyLight Division is a new concept being under-taken by the 9th lnfantry Division at FortLewis. Washington lt will be an air-transportable division, without tanks andbased around 10 infantry battalrons, only twoof which will have any vehicles lt will be anideal addition to the RDF

To be continued

Above : D emons tr a ting U S long - d is t a n c edeployment capabilities, men of the 82ndAirborne Division drop from C- I4I StarLtitersduring'Exercise Bright Star'82'. They boarde: :.-.:aircraft in North Carolina.

The Bradley FightingVehicle system. nav. e:::::: :service, will act as the RDF's army persor..e.'carrier ofthe 1990s.

Below: The Anglo-Americar .:.'.'provides the M arine Cor p s .'. : : :areas where other j e ts wo u i. ..thanks loils unique V STC - : ='-

6 r-{iF'