Page 86 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

CF-188 IN ICELAND

(AIRCOM) at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. skies over Libya to enforce a ‘no-fly’ zone and
The crew from the 21st AC&W and 22 conduct bombing missions against Libyan
Wing worked closely together with the targets. A total of 946 sorties were flown.
ICG crew to ensure mission execution From October 2014 to February 2016 eight
and the transfer of accurate information Canadian Hornets deployed to Kuwait in
between ATF-Iceland and the Combined support of the global coalition fighting IS
Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, in Syria and Iraq. During this period 1,378
Germany. The CAOC oversees all traffic in missions were flown. In the meantime,
the Iceland area, analysing and assessing operations Ignition and later Reassurance
information from radar feeds and data were conducted on a rotational basis
links and acting as intercept controller. in Iceland, Lithuania and Romania.
Reliable platform Upgrades required
Although the CF-188 is older than most of During the Gulf War and Balkan deployments
the pilots that currently fly it, the aircraft is it became apparent the Hornet’s avionics and
well equipped for its task. The first CF-188 weapons systems had become outdated and
entered service with the Canadian Air Force a thorough upgrade was urgently needed
in 1982 and the type has participated in to keep the CF-188 ‘in the fight’ well into
many foreign operations. In 1991 Canada the next century. In 2000 funding became
sent 24 CF-188s to the Gulf for Operation available for the necessary upgrades under
Friction. This was the first combat the Incremental Modernization Project
deployment for the Canadian Air Force (IMP). This C$1.8bn project was divided
since the Korean War and the detachment into two phases over eight years starting
flew 2,700 combat air patrol missions, 56 in 2002. It covered 80 of the 119 aircraft
bombing missions and over 5,700 flying (62 CF-188A and 18 CF-188B) and was
hours. Between August and the end of conducted by McDonnell Douglas (later
November 1997 six aircraft deployed to Boeing) and L-3 Communications (later L3
Aviano AB in Italy for Operation Mirador Technologies). The first phase implemented,
in support of UN peacekeeping troops among others, the new Raytheon AN/APG-73
in the former Yugoslavia and from June radar, Rockwell Collins AN/ARC-210 RT-1556/
1998 to December 2000 Operation Echo ARC VHF and UHF radios, BAE Systems AN/
saw six Hornets sent to Aviano in support APX-111 IFF transponder, new mission
of SFOR (Stabilisation Force) and KFOR computers, GPS/INS navigation system and
(Kosovo Force) troops. In June 1999 18 an improved Smiths Aerospace AN/AYQ-9
CF-188s deployed to Europe, this time weapons stores management system to
to participate in NATO air strikes against carry the most modern air-to-air and air-
Serbian forces. They flew 10% of all NATO to-ground weapons. The cockpit layout
air strikes during 558 bombing missions. drastically changed with the implementation
Since the 9/11 terror attacks, CF-188s of full-colour LCD displays. At the same
have contributed enormously to Operation time the new Lockheed Martin Sniper XR
Noble Eagle and the NORAD mission. targeting pod was purchased, together with
Between March and August 2011 CF-188s the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile and laser/
were deployed again, this time to Trapani GPS-guided air-to-ground weapons.
in Italy as part of Operation Mobile. The The first phase of IMP was officially
air component of Mobile was Task Force concluded on August 31, 2006. The
Libeccio – seven CF-188s that patrolled the second phase, which started in 2005,
Above: A Canadian pilot starts up his aircraft
for another sortie to control the airspace above
and around Iceland. Below: A two-seat CF-188
taxies through the rain to the Keflavík shelters
after a long patrol flight. The harsh weather
conditions in Iceland can be a challenge for
flight operations.

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