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‘Golden Swordsmen’ milestone

Patrol squadron VP-47 ‘Golden

Swordsmen’ formally completed

transition from the P-3C

Orion to the P-8A Poseidon

in November. The squadron,

which is based at NAS Whidbey

Island, Washington, will continue

training in preparation for its  rst

deployment with the P-8. The

safe for  ight (SFF) declaration

followed the unit’s completion

of a three-phase transition

that concluded with a series

of rigorous tests, drills and

inspections intended to ensure

that the squadron was fully

prepared to begin autonomous

P-8A operations. Once these

inspections were complete,

the squadron was deemed SFF,

which certi ed it to conduct

autonomous operations with

the Poseidon.

In preparation for its initial

deployment VP-47 will conduct

homeland defense operations,

participate in exercises and

re ne its anti-submarine warfare

war ghting capabilities. The

‘Golden Swordsmen’ had

operated several variants of the

Orion since receiving their  rst

P-3As in 1965.

In related news, the ‘Mad

Foxes’ of VP-5 carried out a P-8A

familiarization  ight for Icelandic

military and government o cials

as well as a USAF military

liaison o cer and an American

diplomat at Ke avík International

Airport on November 16. The

 ight, which was conducted

by combat air crew (CAC) 10,

was intended to showcase the

Poseidon’s wide-ranging mission

set. During the  ight, the crew

demonstrated di erent systems

used during an anti-submarine

warfare (ASW) mission. The

P-8A and four combat aircrews

were detached to Ke avík in

support of Commander, Task

Force 67 (CTF 67). VP-5 assets and

personnel are currently deployed

to Comlapa, El Salvador and NAS

Sigonella, Italy, in support of the

US 4th and 6th Fleets.

Although US Navy maritime

patrol aircraft ceased making

regular deployments to

Ke avík in February 2004 the

US and Icelandic governments

recently agreed to increase P-8A

rotations to the base next year.

Additionally, the 2018 National

Defense Authorization Act

(NDAA) includes $14.4 million in

funding to refurbish hangars at

the former NAS Ke avík so that

they can support the Poseidon.

The move follows an increase

of Russian submarine activity

between Greenland, Iceland, and

the United Kingdom in the so-

called GIUK Gap.

‘Black Sheep’ milestones

The 8th Fighter Squadron

‘Black Sheep’ completed its  rst

two-ship F-16 formation  ight

at Holloman AFB, New Mexico,

on November 27. Its initial four-

ship formation  ight followed

on November 29. The unit had

 own the F-117A until it was

inactivated at Holloman on

May 13, 2011. The ‘Black Sheep’

were reactivated to serve as a

Formal Training Unit (FTU) for the

F-16C/D on August 4, 2017. The

squadron is eventually expected

to operate around 45 F-16C/Ds in

that role.

MQ-8C OPEVAL PLANS

THE US NAVY expects to

conduct initial operational

test and evaluation (opeval) of

Northrop Grumman’s unmanned

MQ-8C helicopter in early 2018.

Subsequent sea-based testing

will follow during the summer

aboard a littoral combat ship.

Utilizing the airframe of the Bell

407, the unmanned helicopter is

a follow-on to the smaller MQ-8B

version, which was based on the

Sikorsky model S-433 (Schweizer

333) airframe. It provides a

greater payload, range, and

endurance when compared the

earlier MQ-8B. The two aircraft

share much of their software as

well as ground control station

equipment.

NIMITZ HOMECOMING

THE USS NIMITZ Carrier Strike

Group arrived in San Diego,

California, at the conclusion

of a six-month deployment in

support of the US 5th and 7th

Fleets on December 5. During

the deployment the embarked

Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11)

aircraft  ew more than 1,

combat sorties into Iraq and

Syria in support of Operation

‘Inherent Resolve’.

CAG BIRD CORNER

Elements of Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) were deployed to NAS Fallon,

Nevada, to augment the adversaries of the Naval Aviation Warfi ghting

Development Center (NAWDC) between November 27 and December

15. The deployed jets included F/A-18E BuNo 166776/AJ-100 of VFA-
    ‘Tomcatters’. Jim Dunn

Also present at NAS Fallon as part of the CVW-8 detachment was F/A-18E

BuNo 168912/AJ-302 of VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’ of VFA-87, pictured on

December 4 sporting its ‘kill’ marking from its June 18, 2017 Syrian Su-

shoot-down. Jim Dunn

Elements of CVW-1 have been at NAS Fallon as well, evidenced by the

smart EA-18G Growler BuNo 168266/AB-500 of VAQ-137 ‘Rooks’. Jim Dunn

[NEWS] UNITED STATES

12 February 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

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