Airforces

Serial N-1004 (c/n 14554) is one of the original A-4KU Skyhawks, locally designated the AF-1. The operational status of the unit is poor, but the aircraft are
being extensively modernised, to serve at least until 2025. The special scheme was applied to mark 15 years of operations with VF-1.

74 // JANUARY 2018 #358 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

Force

Report

and firefighters. For firefighting,
the unit uses the 1,800-litre
(396-gallon) Bambi Bucket.
The Super Cougars are being
delivered with special equipment
for embarked operations, making
them different from those being
received by the army and air
force. The naval aircraft are fitted
with emergency floats and usually
operate with gunners at the side
windows, armed with MAG machine
guns. Three additional Super
Cougars are being tailored for
combat search and rescue (CSAR),
and are named UH-15A. The
first two were delivered in August

2017. These are equipped with
      a hoist, forward-looking infrared
      (FLIR), a personnel location system
      and Spectrolab searchlight. They
      also have radar, laser and missile
      warning receivers, a jet dilution
      device and chaff/flare launchers.
      In 2015 the unit started to train
      for night-vision goggle (NVG)
      operations using the Super Cougar,
      to expand its special operations
      and SAR capabilities. It is planned
      to add NVGs to the Super Pumas
      and Cougars and to upgrade
      their instruments for commonality
      with the Super Cougars.
      The original plan called for
      delivery of 16 Super Cougars, five
      of them AH-15Bs equipped with
      an APS-143 search radar and
      AM.39B2M2 Exocet missiles for
      anti-ship missions. These were to

be operated by a new squadron,

1º Esquadrão de Helicópteros de

Esclarecimento e Ataque (HA-1,

1st Reconnaissance and Attack

Helicopter Squadron). Currently,

integration tests for the Exocet

are being conducted in France

and Brazil, but these helicopters

will be the last to be delivered.

Due to budget restrictions, the

Brazilian government is looking to

renegotiate the contract to reduce

the quantity to 12 helicopters, but

no agreement has been reached.

The navy is also looking at the

possibility of creating a

Brazilian Naval Aviation

Serial N-1021 (c/n

14580), one of three

examples of the two-

seat TA-4KU, locally

designated AF-1A in

non-upgraded

form.

An aerial view

of São Pedro da

Aldeia, the main

Marinha do Brasil base,

located to the east of

Rio de Janeiro.