F-16Cs Deploy
to Bagram
Combat operations in Afghanistan are
now being supported by F-16Cs operated
by the 20th Fighter Wing’s 77th Fighter
Squadron. They deployed from Shaw
AFB, South Carolina, to Bagram Air eld
on October 26. The ‘Gamblers’ replaced
the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron,
which returned to Aviano AB, Italy, after its
six-month deployment supporting Operation
Freedom’s Sentinel.
While deployed as the 77th Expeditionary
Fighter Squadron, the unit will be assigned
to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing/
Expeditionary Operations Group.
F-15Es assigned to the 336th
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to
an undisclosed location in southwest Asia in
late-October and replaced the 492nd EFS,
which returned to RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.The National Nuclear Security Administration’s 737-4YO(C) N990ST at Albuquerque, New
Mexico, on November 6. The aircraft, rarely spotted, has a livery similar to the one used by the
US Navy for its C-40s. Originally delivered to Asiana Airlines, N990ST later saw service with
Turkish Airlines and Adam Air. Joe G Walker‘Nuclear’ 737 Spotted
MILITARY NEWS
8 Aviation News Incorporating Jets January 2018The annual airshow at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Flight Test Center at Gifu AB featured a
display by a specially marked F-4 Phantom II. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the air eld- originally called Kakamigahara it began life as an army airship station – and Mitsubishi F-4EJ 87-
8409 (c/n M109) received this spectacular green ‘pixelated’ scheme in recognition of the centenary.
Orange details represent the work of the Flight Test Center. Dr Andreas Zeitler
Phantom Wows
Centenary Airshow
IN BRIEF
The Australian Helicopter Aircrew Training
System (HATS) project has received its nal
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC135T2+ training
helicopter.The Royal Australian Air Force’ sent a C-27J
SPARTAN to New Zealand for participation
in Exercise Southern Katipo 2017 on
October 18. The milestone marked the rst
deployment for the battle eld airlifter since
it entered service.
Britain will commit four RAF TYPHOONS
to the Southern Air Policing mission
in Romania next summer. Following a
successful rotation in 2017, the fast jets
will redeploy to the country to help police
the Black Sea skies.Raptors Attack Taliban
A new US offensive in Afghanistan,
which began on November 19, is being
supported by F-22A Raptors from the 95th
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. They are
operating from Al Dhafra AB, United Arab
Emirates.
Following an Increment 3.1 upgrade, the
F-22s have reportedly employed GBU-Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) against the
Taliban. The Raptor now has enhanced
air-to-ground mission capability including
geo-location of selected emitters, electronic
attack, air-to-ground synthetic aperture
radar mapping and designation of surface
targets, and the GBU-39.
One Raptor squadron has beenpermanently deployed to the Central
Command (CENTCOM) region in recent
years and has played a regular role in pre-
planned strikes in both Iraq and Syria. This
marked the rst time the type has been
pressed into action in Afghanistan, amid
an increase in combat air power activity
against the Taliban.Final Coast Guard Spartan Emerges
The US Coast Guard received the service’s
14th and nal C-27J at Davis-Monthan
AFB, Arizona, on October 19. Tail number
2705 had been in storage with the 309th
Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration
Group since August 2013.
Originally assigned the USAF serial
number 08-27014, the Spartan was the last of
13 C-27Js to be re-generated from storage.The Coast Guard HC-27J Asset Project
Office (APO) took custody of the aircraft
which had previously been assigned to the
Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing.
The C-27J was own to the Coast
Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile,
Alabama. Seven Spartans are currently
under the control of the APO with six
assigned to Coast Guard Air StationSacramento, California. A mission
package to integrate sensors, radar, and
command, control, communications,
computers, intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance equipment with the
aircraft, is being developed by the Naval
Air Systems Command. A prototype HC-
27J is undergoing ‘missionisation’ at NAS
Patuxent River, Maryland.06-08_military_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 8 04/12/2017 12: