Airforces phantoms at andravida

Subscribe to http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team

at [email protected]

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #369 DECEMBER 2018 // 9

AN RAF C -17A Globemaster

III from No 99 Squadron

at RAF Brize Norton,

Oxfordshire has arrived

in Mali for the first time,

the service announced

on October 11. The

transport aircraft touched

down at Gao airfield in

Mali to deliver supplies

to the RAF Chinook HC

detachment currently

deployed supporting

French operations there

(see RAF Chinooks begin

operations with French

in Mali, November, p9).

Previously, supplies were

flown to Niamey air base

in neighbouring Niger and

then transhipped. The RAF

now plans to support the

detachment with monthly

direct flights as part of

Operation Newcombe.

“Flying directly into Gao

significantly shortens the

logistics chain, which until

now has relied on onward

movements of freight

US approves

possible

Chinook sale

to RAF

THE US has granted

approval for the

UK’s long-expected

procurement of additional

CH-47F Block II heavy-

lift helicopters. The

ratification covers the

potential sale of up to 16

Chinooks in an extended-

range configuration and

was outlined in a Defense

Security Cooperation

Agency (DSCA)

notification on October 19.

The proposed Foreign

Military Sale deal is valued

at $3.5bn and includes

training and support. The

DSCA announcement

also specifies weapons,

including 7.62mm

M134D-T Miniguns

and M240H machine

guns, suggesting the

helicopters would be

delivered in a special

forces configuration

similar to the US Army’s

MH-47G. They would

also feature an extensive

countermeasures

suite, multi-mode radar

and ‘fat’ extended-

range fuel tanks.

The RAF has a

requirement for additional

Chinooks to replace some

of the oldest examples

in service, including

airframes that are now

almost 40 years old.

The RAF currently

operates 60 Chinooks,

with the most recent 14

HC6 versions originating

from a 2011 order and

delivered between

December 2013 and

December 2015.

Eight older, long-

range HC3R models

were upgraded with

new avionics to the HC

standard beginning

in March last year.

from Niamey. Being able

to fly to Gao has made

an immense difference to

supporting operations,”

said Fg Off Matt Nowicki,

the detachments

logistics of ficer.

As well as carrying mission

equipment and aircraft

spares, the C-17 also

transported RAF personnel

to and out of Mali, to

complete the first rotation

of airmen supporting the

French Opération Barkhane.

Sea Dragon operates from

HMS Queen Elizab eth

Above: While the Royal Navy reported that an MH-53E from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 ‘Vanguard’
landed on board ‘Queen Elizabeth’, accompanying photos indicate an aircraft from sister squadron HM-15 ‘Blackhawks’ was
involved – both units are based at Naval Station Norfolk. Crown Copyright
THE US Navy’s largest
helicopter, the MH-53E
Sea Dragon, touched
down on the Royal Navy
aircraft carrier HMS Queen
Elizabeth during the first
phase of the Westlant 18
deployment. The Royal
Navy announced on
October 11 that the MH-53E
had debuted on the deck
of the carrier, followed by

initial operations involving

the US Marine Corps’

MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor.

The activities were part

of flight trials off the east

coast of the United States.

“Proving we can operate

with yet more US aircraft

on board gives us more

flexibility and adds to our

own capability,” explained

Cdr James Blackmore,

the Commander Air on

board the warship.

The Sea Dragon flew

to the carrier from Naval

Station Norfolk, Virginia.

The Osprey, which had

previously flown from the

decks of HMS Illustrious

and Ocean, was from

Marine Medium Tiltrotor

Squadron (VMM) 264 ‘Black

Knights’ based at Marine

Corps Air Station New

River in North Carolina.

In related news, the

Commando Helicopter

Force recently landed a

Commando Merlin HC

from the carrier on another

ship for the first time. The

Merlin took off from Queen

Elizabeth and landed on the

flight deck of the Type 23

frigate HMS Monmouth.

Sub-

hunting

trials for

Merlin

HM

A ROYAL Navy

detachment deployed

on board the aircraft

carrier HMS Queen

Elizabeth (R08) has taken

part in anti-submarine

warfare (ASW) trials

with the US Navy.

The recent campaign

at the Atlantic Undersea

Test and Evaluation

Center (AUTEC), located

180nm southeast of West

Palm Beach, Florida,

was intended for tactical

development and training.

It involved a pair of Merlin

HM2 helicopters from

820 Naval Air Squadron

(NAS) normally based at

Royal Naval Air Station

Culdrose, Cornwall.

No 820 NAS is currently

supporting F-35B

flying trials on board

Queen Elizabeth off

the US east coast.

RAF C-17 arrives in Mali

The fi rst No 99 Squadron C-17 arrives at Gao, Mali, direct from RAF Brize Norton on October 6. Crown Copyright