Combat Aircraft Monthly 2016-06.pdf

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EXERCISE REPORT
India’s ‘Iron Fist’
Volume
17
• Number
6
‘Cope Tiger’
Thailand’s secretive fighter meet
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June 2016
• Vol 17 • No 6
84
Combat Aircraft
ies with Detachment 1 of the 82nd ATRS at
Holloman AFB during its last year of QF-4 operations.
IN THE NEWS
06 Headline News
Russian ‘Fencers’‘buzz’ US Navy destroyer,
USAF looks at A-10 replacement options
and Kuwait nalizes Typhoon deal
Latest F-35 news, MC-130J tests winglets,
USAF told to price up Raptor production
re-start and all the latest US military unit
and deployment news
News from Europe and around the globe
including latest Iraqi ‘Frogfoot’ deliveries,
plus all the latest military losses
44
08 US News
Learning the pure art of air dominance
requires a very special training
environment. Jamie Hunter talks to the
173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon ANG, about
its important mission as the USAF’s F-15C
Formal Training Unit
EAGLE SCHOOL
IN THE LAND OF
NO SLACK
66
LITTLE BIRD, BIG BITE
Steven Valinski gets up close and personal with the
AH-6i, as Boeing o ers this potent yet a ordable light
attack and reconnaissance helicopter for operations in
a variety of roles
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is a key element of the
Joint Operational Test Team for the F-35A at Edwards
AFB. Frank Crébas/Bluelife Aviation joins the action in
the Mojave desert
Combat Aircraft’s
monthly column reporting from the
front line of aerospace technology, by David Axe
76
DIANA ASCENDANT
96
CUTTING EDGE
70
18 World News
24
THE TIP OF THE SPEAR
Multilateral interoperability remains a key
priority for the Indo-Asia-Paci c partners
participating in Exercise ‘Cope Tiger’, which
began at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base on
March 7. Giovanni Colla was granted rare access
COPE TIGER
Combat-proven F/A-18s ll Australia’s
front-line squadrons, and with the
fth-generation F-35A Lightning II now
working up towards initial operational
capability the Royal Australian Air Force’s
ghter eet is every inch a modern force,
as Nigel Pittaway explains
32
ONE HUNDRED
YEARS VIGILANT
Jamie Hunter visits the Royal Air
Force’s No 208 (Reserve) Squadron as it
marks two huge milestones: its 100th
anniversary and the end of Hawk T1
ying training at RAF Valley
The Indian Air Force has placed a
signi cant emphasis on live weapons
training for its combat units. Kedar
Karmarkar journeys to ‘Iron Fist’, an
impressive live re event
Prior to a full report next month,
Combat Aircraft
checks in at Andravida
for exercise ‘Iniohos’ that involved US
Air Force Europe, Israeli Air Force and
Hellenic Air Force teams
Following our coverage of the M-346
Master in the training role, Giovanni Colla
and Remo Guidi look at its debut as an
aggressor platform, which is considered
almost equally signi cant for its future
prospects
Thomas Newdick and Dimitry Pichugin
look at the advanced MiG-29SMT and
how the Russian Aircraft Corporation
MiG has now commenced delivery of an
additional batch of ghters
88
40
INDIA’S IRON FIST
Exactly 40 years ago, a US Air Force F-4 Phantom
II was credited with the rst con rmed aerial kill
against a North Vietnamese MiG-21 ‘Fishbed’.
Warren E. Thompson recounts how the two
famous jets would remain locked in battle for the
remainder of the Vietnam War
GLORY DAYS:
PHANTOM VERSUS FISHBED
54
INIOHOS 2016
56
MASTER TURNS NASTY
PLUS
Our ‘Eye on the East column’ looks at
the Indian Air Force’s ghter eet
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FULCRUM’S FORTUNES
A QF-4E Phantom II own by Lt Col
Ronald ‘Elvis’ King, commander of
Det 1 of the 82nd ATRS.
Jim Haseltine
ON THE COVER:
COMBAT EDGE |
FIND US ON
L
04
PHANTOM’S LAST CALL
IKE WEARY GUNSLINGERS,
the US Air Force’s nal F-4
Phantom IIs are riding o
into the sunset one last
time. This issue details
the two extremes of the
Phantom II’s distinguished service
to the US military, from the hostile
skies of South-east Asia to the test
environment of New Mexico.
As one would expect, it’s still about
trying to avoid being shot down.
Now, however, the QF-4s are trying to
evade the latest high-tech weapons
and helping young ghter pilots truly
appreciate what it’s like to go after a live,
full-scale target. The hunter has become
the hunted.
As the clock strikes midnight at the
end of this year the last F-4s will have left
the USAF inventory. Few other aircraft
draw the acclaim that the Phantom
has earned throughout its prestigious
career. If ever there was a ghter that
has earned the respect of generations of
pilots, it’s this one.
In recent exercises, surviving
operational F-4s in Europe, upgraded
with long-range AMRAAMs and modern
radars, have managed to hold modern
ghters at bay. The ability to look and
target at long ranges negates the
inability to turn on a dime, or the need to
be stealthy. Despite still earning its spurs,
the F-4 is showing its age.
In a bizarre repeat of the 1980s, once
again the USAF is replacing F-4s with
F-16s. This time around it is unmanned
QF-16s taking the place of unmanned
QF-4s. However, this time the ‘Viper’
is nally killing o the ‘Rhino’ — it will
be a day that many who have enjoyed
any sort of association with the F-4 will
struggle to come to terms with.
To keep track of the latest breaking
news and analysis in the world of military
air power you can visit our social media
sites and our website:
www.combataircraft.net
Jamie Hunter,
Editor
E-mail: jamie.hunter@keypublishing.com
CONTRIBUTOR
PROFILE GIOVANNI COLLA
xpressing an
interest in military
aviation from
a young age,
Giovanni Colla has worked
as both a photographer
and freelance journalist
specializing in military
aviation for the past 13 years. He is a regular
contributor to various aviation magazines
around the world.
E
The coverage he has provided in
this issue from Exercise ‘Cope Tiger 2016’
in Thailand was ‘a professional highlight
of his year’, he says, and provided a rare
chance to see the entire Royal Thai Air
Force front-line force at work. In addition,
Giovanni reports for us on the new role of
the Italian Air Force T-346 as an aggressor
at the Tactical Leadership Programme in
Spain. There is little doubt that the Master
is earning itself a strong reputation.
www.combataircraft.net
June 2016
JUNE 2016
| COMBAT EDGE
05
A pair of
QF-4Es from
the 82nd ATRS
ies o into
the sunset near
Holloman AFB.
Jim Haseltine
June 2016
www.combataircraft.net

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