MILITARY NEWS
10 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft May 2016A pair of Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super
Hercules tankers have been delivered to
the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). The
aircraft, 3208 (callsign ‘RCH281’) and 3209(‘RCH282’), left the manufacturer’s facility in
Marietta, Georgia, on March 9 and routed via
St John’s International Airport, Newfoundland
and Labrador, Canada and Ramstein AB,Germany. They have joined the RSAF’s 32
Sqn at Al Kharj, which ies the older KC-130H
variant. The Saudis intend to purchase a total
of 20 C-130J-30s and ve KC-130J tankers.Royal Saudi Air Force KC-130J 3208
was one of the initial aircraft delivered.
Lockheed Martin/ Damien A GuarnieriSaudi KC-130Js
Handed Over
Apaches on Skis
The US Army’s 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment has permanently
attached skis to its AH-64D Apaches having been established at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The
helicopters have moved from Germany and are now part of the Alaska Aviation Task Force.
SSgt Sean Brady/US ArmyRussia Begins
Syrian
Withdrawal
A large number of Russian Air Force
(RuAF) aircraft have returned home from
Syria after President Vladimir Putin ordered
a wide-scale withdrawal.
Putin made the surprise announcement
on March 14, saying that the goals of
Russian intervention had been achieved.
The rst aircraft began returning home the
following day.
The move comes at the end of ve
months of RuAF operations from Latakia
Air Base, where ghters had begun
arriving last September to carry out air
strikes in support of Syrian President
Bashar Al-Assad. Types deployed to
Latakia had included Sukhoi Su-24s,
Su-25s, Su-30SMs, Su-34s and Su-35S
combat aircraft, plus Mi-17 and Mi-24/
helicopters. Although it has withdrawn the
majority of its combat aircraft some fast
jets are likely to remain. The RuAF’s two
latest attack helicopters, the Kamov Ka-
and Mil Mi-28N, have both been recently
deployed to the base.10-12_military.JR.mfDCJRDC.mfDC.mf.indd 10 08/04/2016 14: