Page 28 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

NEWS Asia Pacifi c

Medevac Z-8JH on Liaoning Final FA-50PHs

delivered to
Philippines
KOREA AEROSPACE
INDUSTRIES (KAI) has
completed delivery of all
12 FA-50PH light attack
aircraft ordered by the
Philippine Air Force
(PAF). KAI said this had
been completed on July
4, three months ahead of
schedule, and that it was
hopeful the PAF would
place an additional order
for the type in the future.
An event to mark the
induction into service of
the final two aircraft was
held at Clark Air Base on
July 4, although they had
actually arrived at the
base some weeks earlier,
Gordon Arthur on May 31. During
the event, Philippine
THIS MEDICAL evacuation accompanied by three comprised Type 052D helicopter (‘381’) was President Rodrigo
(medevac) version of the other warships from the destroyer Yinchuan, Type noted below decks. The Duterte confirmed that
Z-8 helicopter was noted People’s Liberation Army 052C destroyer Jinan and rarely seen Z-8JH is his government would
on board the aircraft Navy (PLAN) to celebrate Type 054A frigate Yantai. intended for medevac consider purchasing
carrier Liaoning (CV 16) the 20th anniversary of As well as eight J-15 and combat search and a further 12 FA-50PHs
during its maiden visit the territory’s handover fighters the Liaoning rescue. The aircraft at some point during
to Hong Kong on July to China during a five-day embarked a Z-9S plane on Liaoning was ‘9516’, his six-year term of
7. The carrier entered port call. The remainder guard helicopter, while the only example office, which began
Hong Kong waters of the task force a Z-18 VIP transport noted to date. on June 30 last year.
The FA-50PHs were
Final South Korean Malaysia’s MRCA ordered under a contract
signed on March 28,
AW159s commissioned programme in doubt 2014, and the first
pair was delivered
THE REPUBLIC of was handed over by A REPORT from Reuters the story, which cited an on November 28,
2015. Dave Allport
Korea Navy (RoKN) Leonardo’s Helicopter dated July 13 suggests unidentified source from
has introduced its final Division last November. the Tentera Udara Diraja the Malaysian Ministry of
batch of AW159 anti- South Korea’s Defence Malaysia (TUDM, Royal Defence (MINDEF). The Indonesia
submarine helicopters. Acquisition Programme Malaysian Air Force) report said that funds are
The commissioning of Administration ordered has abandoned its instead being allocated plans to buy
the last four aircraft eight AW159s in 2013. much-delayed Multirole to counter-terrorist
was confirmed by the The first batch of four Combat Aircraft (MRCA) operations and that the
Republic of Korea Armed AW159s was delivered programme. Air force MRCA may be re-launched 11 Su-35s
Forces on July 5. The to South Korea in officials have neither after Malaysia’s general INDONESIAN DEFENCE
final batch of helicopters June last year. confirmed nor denied election next year. Minister Ryamizard
Ryacudu has confirmed
Maiden fl ight for production CH-5 drone plans to purchase 11 Su-35
fighters for the Tentara
THE SERIES production revised compared with Intended primarily for Science and Technology Nasional Indonesia –
Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU,
version of the CH-5 – the UAV that was first export, the CaiHong Corporation (CASC). Indonesian Air Force).
or CaiHong (Rainbow) flown in August 2015 family of UAVs is being The series includes He made the statement
5 – unmanned aerial before being unveiled at developed by the the CH-3 operated by during a press conference
vehicle (UAV) performed the Zhuhai Airshow in Academy of Aerospace Myanmar, Nigeria and at the Presidential Office
its maiden flight in November last year. The Aerodynamics, also Pakistan (as the locally on July 26 after a Cabinet
north China’s Hebei new CH-5 features more known as the 11th built Burraq) and the meeting on military
Province on July 14. aerodynamically refined Academy or 701st CH-4, used by Egypt, procurement. The aircraft
The current model has lines that will improve its Research Institute, part Iraq and Saudi Arabia. will replace the F-5E/Fs
been comprehensively stealth characteristics. of the China Aerospace Andreas Rupprecht of Skadron Udara 14 at
Madiun/Lanud Iswahjudi.
He also said that purchase
of unmanned air vehicles
was being discussed. Rear
Admiral Leonardi, Chief
of the Defence Facilities
Board, said China had
expressed its willingness to
supply UAVs to Indonesia
and that these would have
an attack capability and be
customised to Indonesia’s
specifications. Initially
only six will be purchased
via Chinese internet for trials. Dave Allport

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