Page 16 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

NEWS North America

Navy commissions USS Gerald R Ford

Above: US Army MC-12S-4 11-00287 (c/n FL-834, ex N834ER)
at Belfast International Airport on July 13. Reported in
January as being operated by Company B of the 305th Military
Intelligence Battalion, it’s not known if it’s still attached to
the same unit. Colin Gordon
Below: US Army RO-6A (Dash 8 Srs 315) 16-00397 (c/n 397, ex
N308V) at Belfast International Airport on July 20. Colin Gordon

US Army ISR visitors

to Belfast
Above: An F/A-18F assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 approaches USS ‘Gerald TWO US Army intelligence, civilian registrations.
R Ford’ prior to the carrier’s fi rst arrested landing during test and evaluation operations in the surveillance and However, six were
Atlantic on July 28. US Navy/Erik Hildebrandt reconnaissance (ISR) bought from Dynamic
THE US Navy and island, which is higher – which, in combination, aircraft recently visited by the army under a
President Donald Trump and further aft than are expected to increase Belfast International contract awarded on
introduced the first of on previous Nimitz- sortie rates by around Airport in Northern April 7, 2015, since which
the Ford-class aircraft class vessels. 30% compared to Ireland en route to they’ve all been allocated
carriers, USS Gerald R Ford It also incorporates Nimitz-class carriers. deployment in theatre. US military serials and
(CVN 78), to active service General Atomics’ An F/A-18F of VX-23 ‘Salty The first, MC-12S-4 designated as RO-6As.
in a ceremony in Newport Electromagnetic Aircraft Dogs’ at NAS Patuxent 11-00287 – callsign All are in either
News, Virginia, on July 22. Launch System (EMALS) River, Maryland made ‘DRAGN87’ – an EMARSS- Desert Owl or Saturn
Completed by and Advanced Arresting the first arrested landing V-configured aircraft, Arch configuration,
Huntington Ingalls Gear (AAG) as well as an with the new AAG and passed through on July incorporating aircraft-
Industries (HII), the Ford enhanced flight deck with subsequent take-off 13, heading east. The mounted counter-IED
features a relocated space for more aircraft with EMALS on July 28. Enhanced Medium systems that have been
Altitude Reconnaissance employed on various
550th FS activated and Surveillance System aircraft for operations
in Afghanistan.
(EMARSS) provides a
persistent airborne ISR
The RO-6A seen at
capability to detect, Belfast is not one of the
locate, classify, identify six, but an extra aircraft
and track surface targets acquired by Dynamic, to
with high accuracy during which it was registered
the day, night and nearly in September last year
all weather conditions. after being bought from
The aircraft visiting DAC Aviation, which
Belfast was an EMARSS-V had previously used it
version: Vehicle and on UN operations.
Dismount Exploitation Modified for its new
Radar (VADER) Moving airborne ISR role at
Target Indication (MTI) the company’s base at
with signals intelligence Bridgewater Air Park,
and high-definition Virginia, it was reported
full motion video. test flying there on July
Above: The Oregon ANG’s 75th anniversary F-15C 79-041 leads an F-35A representing the 56th The second visitor, on 6. Its US civil registration
OG at Luke AFB over Oregon. Jim Haseltine July 20, was Dash 8 Srs was cancelled on June
THE US Air Force Field for the first time and Silver Eagles and the 315 16-00397 (c/n 397, 22 when it transferred
activated the 550th engaged in Eagle training. 173rd Fighter Wing will ex N308V), operated on to the US Army with
Fighter Squadron (FS) at “As a combined continue to produce the behalf of the US Army military markings.
Kingsley Field, in Klamath operations, maintenance best air-to-air F-15C pilots by Dynamic Aviation. Its The US Army has
Falls, Oregon, on July 21. and support squadron, for the Combat Air Force.” next stop was in Romania selected the Dash 8-315
Prior to becoming a full the 550th ‘Silver Eagles’ The 550th FS will before continuing as the platform for its new
squadron, it had been will be one of the continue to come on into theatre. Airborne Reconnaissance
activated as Detachment largest squadrons in Air under the command Dynamic Aviation has Low-Enhanced (ARL-
2, 56th Operations Group Education and Training of the 56th OG at Luke been operating ISR- E) programme to
(OG) – part of the Total Command,” said Lt AFB, Arizona, but will configured Dash 8-315s replace the current
Force Integration (TFI) Col Brad Orgeron, the operate at Kingsley Field for some years on lease EO-5B/C (Dash 7-based)
which brought active- squadron commander. alongside the Oregon to the US Army but, until ARL-M (Multifunction)
duty airmen to Kingsley “Together, the 550th Air National Guard. recently, they all carried fleet. Dave Allport

16 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 www.airforcesmonthly.com