C_A_M_2015_05_

http://www.combataircraft.net May 2015 3

06 Headline News

A-10 on the chopping block as USAF looks

at lower cost options

08 US News

E-2D makes maiden cruise, Air National

Guard seeks F-16 radar upgrade and new

F-35 basing plans outlined

16 World News

New Chinese AWACS breaks cover, Libya

receives additional MiG-21s and rare

‘Frogfoot’ photographed

22 Europe News

Typhoon tests aerodynamic enhancements,

 rst Italian F-35 rolled out and upgraded

NATO AWACS  ies

28 GUNNING FOR THE A

The US Air Force leadership says it no longer

needs the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It wants to strip

A-10 funding to help it fully support the newer

F-35 Lightning II. But have they all got it all

wrong, asks Ken Neubeck?

34 SAVE THE A10...

WHY BOTHER?

Jon Lake questions whether sentiment, misty-

eyed nostalgia and innate conservatism have

generated the storm of outrage at the US Air

Force’s plan to withdraw the A-10C Thunderbolt

II from service early

40 INDUSTRY REPORT: NEW

LIFE FOR CROATIA’S MIGS

Despite the receipt of additional ex-Algerian

aircraft and an avionics upgrade in Ukraine,

the Croatian Air Force has struggled to extend

the life of its venerable Soviet-era MiG-21s as

Antonio Prlenda reports

52 DRAGON FIGHTERS

Although certain elements of its  ghter force

remain dated in comparison to other modern

air arms, China has introduced an impressive

number of new types, with the next generation

already under test. Andreas Rupprecht reviews

the Chinese  ghter force

78 THE LAVI ARRIVES

With the arrival of the  rst pair of Alenia

Aermacchi M-346 Master jet trainers (named Lavi

in Israeli service) the  nal phase in the renewal of

the Israeli Air Force’s training  eet began.

Ofer Zidon reports

86 INDUSTRY REPORT: THE

DELTA MONGOOSE

In its latest guise the A129 Mangusta is a

formidable performer. Massimo Baldassini and

Daniele Mattiuzzo detail the type’s upgrades that

provide continued relevance on the battle eld

IN THE NEWS

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Aircraft Monthly and

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38 and 39 for details.

82

42

62

Special Report on latest developments for UK

helicopters, Robert F. Dorr’s Front Line column

and all the latest military Losses

ON THE COVER:

A VFC-111 ‘Sundowners’ F-5N streaks over

the Florida clouds near NAS Key West.

José M. Ramos

PLUS

helicopters, Robert F. Dorr’s Front Line column

Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye

(^08) embarks on its maiden cruise
May 2015 • Vol 16 • No 5
S AV E
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A day with The Fighter Collection plus
Flying Legends air show tickets. See page 27
90 COMBAT REPORT:
STARSHIP VINSON
A photo report from Mathias Leischner and
Ralf Peter Walter aboard USS Carl Vinson in
the waters of the Persian Gulf as the carrier’s
embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 takes the  ght
to Islamic State
96 CUTTING EDGE
Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting
from the front line of aerospace technology,
by David Axe
70
THE STELLAR PERFORMER
Tom Kaminski reviews the status of Air
Mobility Command’s mighty C-5 Galaxy and its
latest upgrade program
VIGILANTE
TRANSFORMERS
Jamie Hunter meets
the ‘Vigilantes’ of
the Montana ANG,
and looks at their new
mission, with exclusive
images by Jim Haseltine
AIR MOBILITY COMMAND: PART 1
THE ‘SUNDOWNERS’
Undisputed experts in the arena of US Navy air-to-air
training, José M. Ramos straps in with the ‘Sundowners’
of Fighter Composite Squadron One Eleven (VFC-111)
NAVY
FIREFIGHTERS
Barry D. Smith discovers
how the US Navy is now on
call and able to assist local
authorities when wild res
get out of hand
3 Contents C.indd 3 20/03/2015 16: