Page 14 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

NEWS North America

B-1Bs A-10 may retire without replacement
respond
to North

Korean
missile
test

US AIR Force B-1Bs
conducted a mission in
the Pacific with South
Korean and Japanese
fighters in July. The ten-
hour flight was described
as “part of the continuing
demonstration of the Above: An A-10C of the Nellis-based 66th Weapons Squadron down low during training. Jamie Hunter
ironclad US commitment AIR FORCE Chief of Staff mission CAS platform Holmes recently spoke of acquisition programmes
to our allies against Gen David Goldfein has might disappear from the possibility of retiring that, instead of being
the growing threat confirmed that the service the inventory when a legacy fleet – the A-10C, executed in two or three
from North Korea’s
ballistic missile and may withdraw the A-10C the A-10C is retired, F-15C or F-16C/D Block years, are being spread
out over ten years. It
currently planned
Thunderbolt II without
30 – to meet budgetary
nuclear programmes”.
Two 9th Expeditionary a direct replacement. for the mid-2020s. demands. Addressing drives up cost, it means
Bomb Squadron (EBS) Interviewed by trade The USAF is currently an Air Force Association they arrive late.”
Gen Holmes also noted
Lancers – deployed journal Aviation Week on seeking additional event in Washington that the current 55 ACC
July 16, he said the USAF
DC, he said: “Right now
funds to fly its current
from Dyess AFB,
Texas – launched from was yet to commit to nine squadrons of [ACC is] too big for the squadrons (including 32
the close support
budget we have.
develop a so-called ‘A-X’ as
active duty) were “not
Andersen AFB, Guam,
“The consequences are
on July 7, four days after a like for like replacement aircraft after 2021. that I have squadrons that enough to meet the
Air Combat Command
for the Thunderbolt II,
demand that combatant
North Korea tested
an intercontinental and admitted the single- (ACC) chief Gen Mike are not ready, and I have commanders ask for”.
ballistic missile (ICBM).
After flying to the Production
Korean Peninsula
the bombers, joined order for
by Republic of Korea LRASM
Air Force F-15Ks and
USAF F-16s, released LOCKHEED MARTIN has
inert weapons at the received an $86.5m
Pilsung Range. Eagles train contract from the US
On returning to Guam, Navy and USAF for
the B-1Bs integrated in Romania production of the Long
with Japan Air Self- Range Anti-Ship Missile
Defense Force (JASDF) Above: Florida ANG F-15C 86-0162 from the 159th EFS takes off from Câmpia Turzii on July 18. (LRASM), the company
F-2s over the East China USAF/Tech Sgt Chad Warren announced on July 26.
Sea – the first time FLORIDA AIR National in late June in support of in Romania as part of The first production
US Pacific Command- Guard F-15Cs from the Operation Atlantic Resolve. a rotational European award for the air-
directed B-1Bs have 159th Expeditionary An element of the Theater Security Package launched variant of
conducted combined Fighter Squadron (EFS) 125th Fighter Wing at (TSP) deployment, its Eagles the LRASM includes 23
training with Japanese deployed to Câmpia Jacksonville ANG Base, the operating with Romanian missiles and engineering
fighters at night. Turzii air base, Romania, unit conducted training Air Force MiG-21 LanceRs. support. Low-rate initial
production Lot 1 is the
‘Flying Fiends’ F-16 marks 100 years first of several expected
annual production lots
of the anti-ship missile.
Longsword
joins OA-X
evaluation
L3 PLATFORM Integration
Division’s AT-802L
Longsword counter-
insurgency aircraft
has entered the US
Air Force’s Light Attack
Experimentation
Above: The 36th FS ‘Flying Fiends’ centennial Block 40E F-16C 89-2043 ‘OS’ alongside other F-16s at Osan AB on July 19. Col Andrew P Campaign, which began
Hansen, 51st FW, fl ew the freshly painted jet for the fi rst time during his fi nal fl ight at Osan. USAF/Staff Sgt Alex Fox Echols III at Holloman AFB, New
PART OF the USAF’s 51st F-16C was unveiled with histories,” said 36th the Korean War as we Mexico, in early August.
Operations Group at Osan a commemorative tail FS pilot Capt Wayne flew with [it] on our F-80 As well as the
Air Base, South Korea, the flash prepared by the 51st Mowery. “The red striped Shooting Stars and F-86 Longsword, the air force
36th Fighter Squadron Maintenance Squadron tail flash represents the Sabres. The chequered will assess the Sierra
(FS) ‘Flying Fiends’ is Corrosion Control Shop. history of the fabulous tail design [represents] the Nevada/Embraer A-29
celebrating its centenary. “What we see in the tail ‘Flying Fiends’. history of the 51st Fighter Super Tucano and Textron
During an event on July flash is the combination “The tail flash specifically Wing, which we officially Aviation’s Scorpion jet and
21, a newly refurbished of two distinctive became famous during became a part of in 1974.” AT-6 Wolverine turboprop.
14 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 www.airforcesmonthly.com