Volume I Issue 5

CONTENTS
Modern Fighter Aircraft
Panavia Tornado ADV vo
SaabJA3TViggen 82
Missions of Tornado F,Mk2 83
Dassault-Breguet Mirage IIUS/S0 series 84
DassaultBreguet Mirage F. I 85
Dassar:lt-Breguet Mirage 2000 85
IAIl{fir 86
Air Wu over lebanon 87
McDonnell Douglas F- 15 Eagle 88
&neral Dynamics F.16 Fightrng Falcon
F- I 6 Fighting Fa.lcon in Action
88

89
Bindes ry be sulftct b iryrt drrtr; andlor
Nortluop F-SE/Tiger II,'F.20 95
Pub s.*: :, : :: - ---:a's are obtainable
YomKippurAirWu 96 -: ' -'.: l,:< Numbers. Gor
McDonnellDouglas F-4 Phantom II 97 --: _::'i4William Street,
llikoyar-Guevich MiG-2 I'Fishbed' 98
:- .- .r :a' '.'::,---e. Vic 3001.
Europe, Malta and New
::, ---:::s
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23'tloggel 98 :: :
are available at
' - . .-'\ewsagent. In case
: --: -: :re address in your
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25'Foxbat' 99 : r: - -: , '.' : ^iers South African
Sukhoi Su- 15 'Flagon' 100 :, :S IaX.
b in ders f or WAR
M:.!- --:---
ji -
Tupolev Tu-128'Fiddler' 100 Ed::
:- :- -cw to obtain your
Armed Forces of the World , : :: r a of{er)
':- :::^ce of 15.00 per
-
will be in

US Rapid Deployment Force (Part 1)

: ::.:: e to Orbis Pub-
T vce-:: -: :: '.'-3N NE Binders,
Picture acknowledgements --:::':'Cbury, London
Covet photograph: COI PaEe 8 l: Brihsh Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas. 82: Saab 84: Lrass:ll. : r j _ -.
=
V:-: : : :::: -:: e through your
Dassaull Brequet 85: Dassault Breguel/Dassdult-Breguet. 86i lsrael Atrctaft Industnes 8?i _ijj r., - :' :: -li 95 ln case of
PresvA$ocialed Press. 88: US Air Force 89: Raylheon Co /US Arr force 92: US Arr Force'US it: a: I : 9{
= ..,:: ..,::H NE Binders,
General Dynamrcvus Alr Force. 95: Peler Foster/Northrop 95: Assctated presyAssocla'et ::::: j :.: '.' - . =ss:l Street. Val-
tone Press Agency 9Z: MoD/US Air Force 98i US Navy/Klaus Nrska 99: Ulf Hugo Swedlsh ..rr :: I ri I O0:
Navy. (iii): US Armed Forces (iv)r US Armed ForcevBnlish Aerospace.

Note: Binders and Back Numbers are

obtainable subiect to availability of stocks.
Whi st every attempt is made to keeo the
price of the issues and binders constant.
the publishers reserye ihe r.': ::
^.rease
the stated prices:::- ' --': ,. -ef clr-
c!mstances a a'a'a - :-: ::: -ied in
th's cub a:: r' j'r '- t:. :t-.::'arthe
UK market only : : : -:=ssarily
Forthcomrng issues featue;.tWorld:lflu II submachine gus : -:':.sale
:,': t:'-: : , :; -ay be
: -. laxes,
::.= OrlCeS

:, Orbis
... rh the
3"ar'r--;4-- ' :y The
,( ! i-. : : Tputer
:'-nation
r 3tai ned
- e, Rise
-:.d
Aircraft
A superb range of new-generation high-technology fighterc
TheTornado ADV (Air Defence
Variant) shows off its deadly pack of
lour Sky Flash missiles. Unhke much
more agile new-generatton fighters
have recently takentothe sHes: not simply aircraftthatcan sucft as tfteF-JS and F-l€, th.e
Tornado ADV is desigm ed o p a u a I
fly a few miles higher or a little faster than before, but wholly t

for hours on end far out ove r B nt atn s

new concepts, highly equipped with computerized Ilight, norther n and weslern approa cl es
and to intercept and desta',' e.en'r'
tatget acqzkition and fire control systems. flere we reuiew aircraft attacbng NATa s s::pp::g
the land-based fighterc of today, lanes and land targets.

: -1:rter-interceptor, strike-fighter and fighter-bomber: where does one

r1:egory end and another begin? Such a question is more easrly asked
:--r answered, for whilst some aircraft are desrgned for a specifrc role, I Ct:.poini accuracy on
,:iers are capable of all three, or have alternative tasks allocated to :'.':'.';ithcut unaccept
::.em when they are no longer capable of meeting an opponent's top-line :eImS Of
=r.- -:r'.'.'here COSI
..:lriers on equal terms, Traditionally, however, the frghter is an inter- effecttveness Thrs rs :- : ::..:: numbers
,'=p:or. a lightweight, agile, hiqhly-tuned combat machine totally dedi- .':.= -:rgest carriers,
:-:ed to out distancing and out-manoeuvring any aircraft it is likely to
:.:et and, in recent times, of destroying it with cannon or an atr to atr fighter whrch can re!: :' : -: : ,: -- -: : .' -. : S:ftke Opefa
::-ssile, :--: lssertron lt is
Thrs definition has not always found acceptance with air force require necessary to look n- : : r::rrd Ln the
::-ents branches thror-rghout the world, and periodically the 'dogfighttnq' Falklands war of 19!u
::ncept has been abandoned in favour of the heavier, all-weather or lncreasingly ther: :=': ,:-.=r::piOr and
-:rg range interceptor until a fresh conflrct confirms once again the ground-attack strrl,e ,.- -: -. .. : : ::r:-'--.ns so fat
:-:ed for agrlity. New technology has enabled designers to develop as technology wrli :+::.. ,: - --- :ra',r€ lUIn€d
:.:rgle-seat fighters with many of the capabilities of their wetghtier full circle srnce air ci i- --- :' : : .:. -: I I Other
:'mpanrons, but the gap has nol yet been closed fully, so twin-seat, srmiiaritiesexist wrtr ':.= : ... ,,=: ,ge fcr the
-.'.'ln-engine interceptors wrll remarn in front-line service for the foresee- fighler-rntercep'cr r:-.-:.... . -: a-r:rafl and
-. -:---^t rL^
-ble future, The General Dynamrcs F 16 Fightrng Falcon can fly rings avionics developn.r :.. --':. . -i :!'l Ll le

.r:und any opponent, though unhke the heavrer Panavia Tornado F.Mk tighter turnrng crr:i+ ::.: ' - :,: : -:1,'n Dy an
: .: rs unable to loiter for hours at greal drslances from its base, then shoot elite band of fit and a-:: ..-: - :.= :lal nlade
-j--v'rn an intruder 40km (25 miies) an'a_r after a low level pursuit at eagles o[ the sky sul :. :. -:=:,i swift to
.oeeds which would shake any other arrcraft tc preces attack and iormrda:,-
Whereas specialized qround-attack aLrcrait have been augmented in
::e past by new fighters which have farled :c meet expectations or by
:::se replaced as interceptors by more mcdern equipment, many
..lhiers now in service or productron ha'..e been conceived as dual-role

Ar

-. LA
,.&.J- .
u'-'
.."--'.,!:*:-
 fl ffi E
-i.i the start of the Tornado programme
Panffi" rornado ADv
:: was expected that alr-combat
iightrng would be a role, but the domi-
nant regutrement of the customers was
long-raage interdiction and other sur-
face-duected roles (though with Rad-
pac software and changed weapons
ighter capability is considerable), The
RAF alone raised a reguirement for a
long-range all-weather interceptor to
patrol the vast airspace for which the
UK s resporsible (from Iceland to the
Baltic), replacing the Lightning and la-
ter the Phantom, and 165 are being
bought for RAF Strrke Command. First
flown on 27 October 1979 the Panavia
Tornado ADV (Air-Defence Version),
designated Tornado F.Mk 2 by the
RAF, has proved to have performance
beyond prediction, The new Marconi/
Ferranti Foxhunter radar can pick in-
drvrdual targets at over 185kn (115
miles) and track several targets simul-
taneously, and the longer radome
qives enhanced transonic accelera-
tion, The firselage was lengrthened to
accommodate tandem paus of reces-
sed missiles (the BAe Sky Flash, wrth a
rangre of more than 40 kn/25 miles a:rd
the ability to snap down on targets as
b',
-!ffi
DesignatedTornadoF.Mk2 inseruice-with theRAF, the.ADVhad tobemade longer than theoriginallDsversion
accommodate the new Foxhunter radar and four.S/<yFlas]r missiles
low as 75 rn/245 ft despite Cround clut-
ter and electroruc countermeasures),
and thrs also increases internal fuel so
that in a demonstration an unrefuelled
sodie was flown lastrng 4 hours 30 mi-
nutes, with 2 hours 20 minutes patrol at
a radius of 374 miles (602 kn) wrth full
amament. Other anomcs features of
the Tornado F Mk 2 are ESM (electro-
ntc surveillance measures), ECCM
(electroruc coux:er- countermeasures)
and an ECM-res:stant data link, By
1983 the RAF :rac placed orders for 70
of the 165 reqr-i3e a:rd these will en-
ler sen'lce :::. -::i Performance in
a.ll reqoece :.= ie::. so outstandingr
ffi
""- ."*
<3 ._.bF%*
'
-o'!
1l->
to
that irrther customers are confidently mented turbofars
predicted, possibly includrng the ex- Performance: maximum speed over
isting Tornado IDS users. Z414kn/h (1,500mph) orMach2.27 at
high altitude; climb to gl50 m
(30,000 ft) in 2 mrnutes; sewice ceiling
Specification: more than i5240m (50,000ft); patrol
Tornado F.Mk 2 radius over 644 kn (400 miles) with 2
Type: long-range all-weather inter- hours on station plus I0 minutes of
ceptor combat
Armament: one 27-mm Mauser gnrn; Weights: empty 14000 kq (30,865 Ib);
four Sky Flash (later AMRAAM) maxrmum take-off more than 27270 kg
medium-range AAMs pius two AIM-9L (60,020Ib)
Sidewinder (later ASRAAM) short- Dirnensions: span (sruept) 8.6m (28ft
range AAMs 27zin); Iength tB.06m (S9ft 3in),
Powerplant: two 7258 kg (16,000-lb) height 5.7 m ( lB ft 872 in); wingareanot
thrust T\ubo-Union RB, 199 Mk 103 aug- stated

Effi H't lAs? vissen

When Sweden planned lrs r_=r::.
generation combat aircraft, Systen: 3:
in the early I960s the most urgent need
was for attack and multi-sensor recon-
nalssance versions to replace types
such as the Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 35
Draken and Saab 105. A total of IBO of
these models, the AJ37 attack aucraft,
SF37 and SH37 overland and overwa-
ter reconnaissance platforms, and
SK37 trau:rer, were delivered by I9Bl,
By this trne production was centled on
the Saab JA3? Viggen interceptor,
which uses the same affiame (ex-cept
for having the extra swept tip to the frn
hrst seen on the SK) but has totally new
sensors (includrng L.M. Ericsson UAP-
I 023 pu.lse-Doppler high-perfornance

long-range radar feeding rnformation

to a Singer-Kearfott SKC-2037 digital
central computer, which in tum keeps
the pilot in the picture by means of a
Smiths head-up display) and weapons,
rncluding the hrgh-velocity Oerhkon
KCA 30-mm cannon, whose shell has a
very flat trajectory and a kinetic ener-
qry affer a flight of 1500 m (1,640 yards)
equrvalent to that of a DEFA or Aden
The JA37 Viggen in its new air
su E€no nty grey scieme, carrying a
cannon (of the same calibre) at the fuJl complentent of BAe Sky Flash air-
muzzle, Even the engine has drfferent
to-arr missiles, Al M -9L S idewinders
fan/compressor blading and other
and vental fuel tank. TheJA 37 is the
changes to increase thrust, and like
only version of the Viggen still in
other versions has a giant afterburner prduclion, and is by far the most
and thrust reverser for pulling the air-
craft up quickly, STOL operations, astly model so far.
Specification:
facilitated by the canard confignlatron, Saab JA37 Visgen
are routinely made from straight Type: interceptor ani
stretches of country highway, wlth no- fighter
flare landings on the tandem-wheel Armament: one ixed 3O-mrc Ce::<:.'.
main grears, in order to prevent the cannon with I50 rou::ds, and D::'.--s-:.--
squadrons being destroyed on therr for stores carried on tirree u:rie-:s=.-
hxed air bases. The Swedish Flyg- age and fow underwrng hardp::-'s
vapen (air force) ordered 149 to equip these stores can include up to sx P.E- -
eight squadrons over the penod lg79- (Sky Flash) medium-range ano iE21
85. The JA37 was the fust frghter in any
part ofEurope to enter seryice wrth an
advanced pulse-Doppler radar, and its

5Z
l'lissions of Tornado F.1-1k2 ,'1
,>4-.'
.

N mrod AE!', \4< 3 w

patrcl Br la n s
approaches and w I
control Tornado f gnters
onto therr tarqets

Tornado's Foxhunter
radarcan pickup
intruders at 100 miles
and the aircraft can
intercePt at extreme
low level if necessary

't't' ;:
z/ -,--.

Soviet intruders are

likely to be Sukhoi Su-24
'Fencer' or Tupolev
Tu-22M 'Backfires'
flying in lowf rom both
eastern and western
approaches.

The Hurricane and Spitfire did not alone win the Battle of Britain. lt is more Mauser cannon, the potent Tornado F.Mk 2 has been developed spec' ::,::
accurate to say that the deliverance of the British lsles from the Luftwaffe in the requirements of the RAF. Operating f rom advanced bases n the r : a- ... : : :
i

1940 was brought about by a finely integrated team comprising the Hurricane, such as Macrihanish and Stornoway, and refuelled by aerialtankers, ire : ':-:-:
Spitfire, radar and associated plotting and direction centres. Though aircraft and its two-man crew will be capable of long patrols far f rom lanc :e -: '. -:
performance and capabilities have advanced manyfold in the subsequent four targets over 160 km (100 miles) distant with the advanced Fo\^--:=- '::::
decades, the basic principle still holds true: the world's best fighter is no more Once located, the enemy will have little chance of escape, '.r:-:-r: :: :=
use against an enemy airattack than a Sopwith Camel if it is in the wrong place or superb aerodynamics the Tornado F.Mk 2 can fly at low, leve ai s::-:. ... - --
airborne at the wrong time. would provoke structural failure in any other aircraft.
ln the event of a European war, the UK will resume its former role as the Though the Tornado F.Mk 2 and Nimrod AEW.Mk 3 are :e:=: = -:::=--
:'
'unsinkable aircraft-carrier' of the f ree world, holding some 40 per cent of NATO dent action, it is in combination that they will achieve r: -,-
{ i"= :: . =- :.'
air strength and thus presenting a prime target f or Soviet attack. Gone, however, each complementing the remarkable capabilities of tre ::':- i,:-= =- : :' :- :
are the days when vast fleets of Heinkels and Junkers would join formation high decade, this unparalleled team will have ensured tna::-e -(. 3 ::-. :::- ,:
over France before setting course for Kent. A future attack could involve small securely bolted.
groups or perhaps single aircraft streaking n at low level: Tupolev fu-22M
'Backfire' bombers operating from Arctic bases and entering British airspace
through the'back door'after a flight over the Atlantic Ocean, and Sukhoi Su-24
'Fencer' interdictors operating with their terrainjollowing radar to make use of
ground features to conceal their deadly approach. In the last Battle of Britain,
south-east England was the principal area of operations; now the area is
potentially almost everywhere and anywhere in the islands.
Radical solutions are demanded for such apparently insuperable problems,
and therefore the RAF is about to implement a fundamental change in its
defensive strategy. ln future, enemy aircraft will be conf ronted by fighters as far
away as possible from the British lsles, preferably before they have had oppor-
tunity to fan out for their attacks. New aircraft and new systems are required for
such an undertaking, and these are now becoming available in the forms of the
Panavia Tornado F.Mk 2 and BAe Nimrod AEW.Mk 3.
Choke-points for incoming air attacks will be the lceland-Faroes gap and the
North Sea, and these are to be patrolled by the 11 Nimrod AEW.Mk 3s sche-
duled to be stationed at Waddington; each of these aircraft can spend some
seven hours on watch up to 1600 km (1.000 miles) from base. Sensitive aerials
mounted in bulbous fairings at the Nimrod's nose and tailwill scan the seas for
ntruders bent on eluding ground-based systems by flying at low level. Acting in
parallel to the airborne aircraft of the NATO force of 18 Boeing E-3A Sentry
AWACS aircraft, and exchanging data with that fleet, the Nimrod's six-man
iactical team will constantly update the picture at No. 11 Group headquarters
rhe nerve centre of British air defence), taking control of fighters if required in
crder to vector them towards a distant enemy.
The Nimrod AEW.Mk 3 is to be the anvil of U K air security; the hammer is the Due to enter squadron sewice with the RAF in late 1984, the Tornado F.Mk 2
-ornado F.Mk 2. Armed with four Sky Flash radar-guided AAMs (a British will, teamed with Nimrod AEW.Mk 3s, VC I 0s and TriStar tankers, offer an
:evelopment of the Sparrow), two Sidewinder infra-red missiles and a 27-mm enormous improvement in Britain's air defence capability.
lt Dassault-Bregruet Mirage III/5/50 series
l.=,= -: ::.e most famous flghters in his-
.::.' ::.e basrc Dassault Mirage delta

=;t*:l*:*?fl,#,;lrJ*"-';;
i'G j#ii'+i"i"fi":iF*:"'fi1",*';::
-:.e MLraqe III-001 prototyp
-- )iovember 1956 and the first pro-
:::rron Mirage IIIC fighter for l'fum6e
:= lAr flew in tgoo, t6 ne followed by ..*,,,--.ff{$K.-'r i''
::re than 1,400 basically similar MiragelllEofthetheFrenchArm6edel'AirEscadredeChasse2/4'LaFayette'.
:-aclunes for 2l countrres, Early mod-
:s could have a booster rocket enelne
-::Cer the rear in place of gmn ammuni-
:.:r. and a fuel tank. The large main

=.:ffiHT'%1r"J'f,"r1'1:.X'lft1li$?lu : \ fr;.;:"W
r:;l*ti"ii=i;;;,r,,;*;"_la;;;
'6 000 ft) on attack missions.
age-lllB and Mirage IIID are tandem €_S;€--(O
-.- ,-r +_-
Cual versrons, the Mirage IIIE series
are fighter-bomneiJ wltn eitri MiragelllEEof theEryptianArabairtorce. .' '*,:r,ii,.re ,, -S,Sii#ilffi*k**r"
,veapon-delivery systems (French
Mrrage IIIEs carry the AN52 nuclear
bomb) and Mirage IIIR reconnaiss-
ance arrcraft have a distinctive camera
nose replacing the Cyrano II radar,
The Mirage IIIO rs the Australian ver-
ston of the Mirage IIIE. South Afrrcan
Mirage III CZ, DZ and RZ Mirages have
the 7200-kg (15,873Jb) thrust Atar 9K5O
engine which rs standard in the Mirage---
50 first flown rn 1979 and with up-
graded avionics (so far bought by {
Chile), In contrast the popular Mirage ARoyalAustralianAirForceMiragelllOotNo.TSSqn. ''*:tr*{Aible"
5 rs a clear-weather day attack aircraft
wrth extra fuel and weapons replacing

:lti"#*:a:r'**shl,r#+:
the radar and other avionics (various

#
ffi*m'ffi*'ffi'*mffi
aid dophrsticated
Specification:
Mirage IIIE
Type: fighter-bomber
avionics. - MiragelllCZof No.2Sqn,SouthAtricanAirForce.
plus turo Sidewinder or Magic AAMs,
Powerplant: one 6200-kg (13,670-1b)
afterburning thrust SNECMA Atar 9C
at
ru
Performance: maximum speed, clean
12000m (39,370ft) 2350km/h
(1,460 mph) Mach 2,2, or ciean at sea
f,-,*"..,.*.=.*-r"*',
Dimensions: span 8,22 m (26 fi
length 15,03m (49ft 3/zin): herght
4,5m (l4ft 9in); wing area 34,85m2
I IVz in),

Armament: tvvo 30-mm cannorr each
with 125 rounds (no rocket); three ex-
ternal pylons for 454-kg (1 000-lb)
bombs or equivalent stores including
pods, tanks, AS,30 missiles or, for air-
to-air role, an R.530 or Super 530 AAM
turbojet
Two-seatMirage trainers of the
Escadre de Chasse de
Transformation 2/2 'C6te d'Or' based
atDiion.
level 1390 km/h (863 mph); servtce
ceiling i7000 m (55,775 ft); radius on a
hr-lo-hi attack mission with one or two
tanks 1200 lcn (745 miles)
Weights: empty 7050ks (15,540 lb);
maximum take-off 13700 kg (30,200 lb)
(374.6 sq ft)
A Mirage of the Argentine air force
prior totheFalklandswar of 1982.
Mostwere held backfor air defence
of the Argen tine m ainland.

E4
 : RANCE

IE Dassault-Bregruet Mirage F. I -^<sqE

44,::.
,. a.rrevLng rn the endurrng appeal MirageF.lC of the Armee de I'Air's Escadron de Chasse EC 2iS 'lle de France
'.-.= \{rraqe IIl,
.- Dassault sought a suc- based at Orange-Caritat.
=.: -: from 1961 and settled on a much
.:;=: lypb powered by the brg TF3O6
.-:::.ented turbofan and flown with a
r-..: ,,vrng, a hrgh wrng and tail (Mrr-
.:- : 2) and even VTOL hft jets. The
:..:.;e F.2 was a qood aircraft but
-.:sault eventually, in 1965, per
.i
., :.d lfumee de l'Au to buy a srmt-
rrrcraft scaled back to Atar stze,
.- r :hrs, the Dassar:lt Mirage F.I, flrst '.'.:e :eiling
I :!!GFH,
lp E'

Mrages, but wrth SABCA./Sonaca of 20000 m (65,600 ft) radrus

wing is much
..=.'.' Ln 1966. Though the Belgurn, which builds the rear fixel- ::. = ,'-lo mrssron wrth 1600 kg
.:.aller than the delta, it rs so much aqe. Armaments Development and :::-.c of weapons 644km (400
:.'. re efficient (wrth double-slotted Production Corporatlon of South Afrrca
:.-ring-edge flaps and a drooping holds a manufacturrng hcence, and its Weights: :mpty 7400 kq (16,314 lb);
,=.ing edge) that, comblned wrth 40 models are rndicated by a Z suffix to :.r',,:.-r:. iake-off 15200 kq (33,510Ib)
: =: oent more rnternal fuel rn a smaller the basrc desiqnatron. French Mirage Drmensiors: span 8.40 m (27 ft 63/e rn),
r-rirame, the Mirage F. I has a much F.lC interceptors have by 1983 been ,=:.; .-, -: , m (49 lt 272 rn); hetqht
..-.,rter field lengrth, three tlmes the updated to carry the R,530F radar- - : - : = .: : tn). wrng area 25.0 m2
.-cersonic endurance, twice the tac- homrng air-to-aL mtssile. afterburntng thmsr Sl.: -_
-.:al radiLrs at low level and all round 50 turbolet
- . "er manoeuvrability The avronrcs Specification: Performance : maii-t--- -i_-,
: : le of the serres is the Thomson-CSF Mirage F.lC at hrgh altrtude 2-1:- .:.,: lr;'a :s just one of the dozen nations
l:'rano IV fire-control radar, which rn Tlpe: flghter bomber or Mach 2.2 or :',=-:_ :.a: :1',' ,jLe commercially very
--.e Mrrage F. 1E versron has modiflca- Armament: two 30 mm DEFA cannon 1450 kn/h (9OO nc: . r i. -.:::essfu / and capable Mirage F. l.
.-:ns for air-to-surface ranging and to
::rmit low-altitude penetration of
=:.emy arr space under any weather
::ndrtions. More advanced radar is
::rng developed. The Mirage F.lC all-
,'.'eather interceptor reached l'Arm6e
:: I Arr squadrons rn 1973, and by l9B3
\.
.::al Mirage F.l orders reached over
--C, almost 500 of them for export.
'.'arrants
include the Mirage F.IA srm
: ined attack alrcraft, Mirage F.IB duat
,f,mE.
::arner, Mirage F.IE comprehensive
..1 weather attack atrcraft and Mirage
F. lR multi-sensor reconnaissance plat-
1". s
-:lm. The Mirage F.lC-200 rs a French
'..erLant wrth an infhght'refuellinq
:robe for overseas deployment. Qurck
s:ramble is enhanced by a ground
.ruck whrch cools the mssrle seekers
: ,dar and cockprt, hears 16y1g311611
=nd weapon-aiming systems and
slelds the cockptt wrth a sunshadel
iroductron is shared not only wrth
:iher French companres, as wtth other

lru Dassault-Bregruet Mirage 2000

-:.iter the Mrrage F I was ordered The prototype Dassault-Bregnret Mir- duction examples of ::,= 1.1:.:- _ : - _ :: _, -:.- l.l-:--;e 2000. De
, assault spent much effort on the large age 2000 flew on l0 March l97B and have the RDM mult r:. ..r: : .: : | =.: t.. 'r.:: -e sard bv
arLable-sweep Mirage G series. Thrs follov.lng successful development, the machrnesfromno.Sl-.',.-, t--- = ..= - - i.:: ::.---,:.perarrcrafi,
.-d to the ACF (Avron de Combat first productron frghter flew in Decem srderably more cap:: .- : - . .. .
=. -
l:tur) wrth a wing fixed at 55" but rn ber ]982 'n/rth 1983 productron rnclud- terceptlon equrpme.= : : -- ., -.. ; -:.-t-- =r;) and plans
,.:cember i975 thrs too was cancel- rng tandem seal Mirage 20008 trarn from 1986. The puls:-- : . - - --- ..- : : '-: '.':= i: be built under
.:d. In rts place came another of the ers A total of 127 was expected then to radarrsdesrgned to c:t. - r,':i - . ,:- : :,-:. t,-:tlries tf negotia
.nall single Atar machrnes, and it be on order (48 by l9B2), all in basrc 5mz 154 sq lr) ai a r-: . : . : . .r.-=__.';l Inora has now
::-arked a return to the tailless delta atr-defence confiQuratton Inltlal pro- mrles) RDM radar .: :,..:- tc burld Peru has
:, nfiguration. It was, however, a totally
r.iferent aircraft, desrgned to CCV
:ontrol-confi gured vehicle) technolo-
,; wrth varrable camber wings having
.nged leading and trarhng edges,
-.ectrically srgnalled controls and arti-
..rral stabilrty. Structure was entrrely
:.aw, as was the engtne whose ex
'r:mely low bypass ratio was de
..gned for Mach 2 at high altitudes,
:'lhng for small frontal area, rather
-:.an for subsonrc fuel economy.
-rorce of a srngle-shaft engrne also
:.eatly lncreased weight; the basrc
-:.grne werghrng l450kq (3, 195 lb).

I he very pretty but very expensive

)4irage 2000 has chalked up an
'-:npressive export sales total even
crior to the type entering service
sitlt the French air force. Egrypt,
,.ndiaand Peruwere among the early
auyers.

85
 l:c:gh similar to the eailier Mirage
..
:.
) *e Mtage 2000 is a completely
e'*' atrcr aIt, equipped with I 9 80s
: -,' tu cture and aerodynamics.
: e. s
ISRAEL
Yt
IAI Kfir
-
',',-.-.=:
-: -,:-. :cthe French cut off military sup-
Israel in June the decision
1967,
'.'.'- :aken for Israel to become self-
:-::-:rent rn Mirage-type aircraft. A
:.-::---opy wlth the Atar engine was
: --1r as the IAI Nesher (available
l.:shers were bought secondhand by
-::;:entrna and named Dagger, being
'.-::-,' active in the Falklands cam-
:.-3n) Israel Arrcraft Industries then
=:kled the much greater task of build-
,:,1 a development with the more
:.:werful and also shorter J79 engrine.
-:- .T79, srmilar to those in Israeli Phan-
::ns was flown in a tv\ro-seat Mlrage
-.lB rn September 1971, A prototype
IAI Kfir (Lion Cub) was flown in 1973
-:d publicly revealed in April 1975. In
-:ly
1976 the definitive Kfir-C2 was
sro'nrn, with fixed canard foreplanes
:n the inlets, small strakes aiong the
:edesigned nose and a new dogrtooth
i,.adrng edge to the wing. The object of
::e exerclse (achieved most success-
:Jly) was improvement in field per-
:-rmance coupled with a great rn-
:rease in combat capability (especial-
lower end of the speed range
.',' at the
:: which dogrfights almost invariably
:escend) by bettering the sustained
::ln rate; collateral benefits are re-
- t
Specification:
Mirage 2000
Type: flghter
Armament: hvo 30-mm cannon each
with 125 rounds; normal mrssile load
tvvo Super 530 AAlvls inhoard under
wings and hvo Magic AAMs outboard
(Mirage 2000N attack version rs plan-
The orange triangles distupting the
ettective desert camouflage of this
Kfir is to ensure visual recogmition by
duced gnxt response at low altrtude
and better handhng at hlqh anqles of
attack. The drffereni enEdne installa-
tion had previousl"'requrred total re-
desrgn of the rear Lselage and a cool-
ing inlet in the dorsal hn. The new for-
ward fuselage s extended to house
various avionic rten:s rncludrng the Elta
200lB target-acq.i,srircn and tracking
air-to-air and arr-t:-ground pulse-
Doppler radar, anC enremely com-
prehensive navrga'. ::- :ommunication
identrfication, nangra::cn and weapon-
delivery systems are ::rstalled, as well
as a Martin-Baker L& 1l seat In early
l9BI IAI reveaiec rhe tandem-seat
Kfrr-TC2 with lcrge: and down-
slopinq nose; ths s a',';eapon-system
trainer and EW (eLe:t:onrc warfare)
platform. About 25C ,';e:e estimated to
have been delLverei by late 1982,
ffi '"E!
,.,.,€
ned to carry heavy and varied weapon (65,600ft) range at high altrtude wit:.
loads) two tanks l4B0kn (1,1i8 miles)
Powerplant: one 9000-kg (19,840-lb) Weights: empty 7400k9 (16,315 Ib.
afterburnrng thrust SNECMA M53-5 maximum take-off 16500 kg (36,375 lb
bypass turbojet Dimensions: span 9,0m (29ft 6 Ln.
Performance: maximum speed, clean lengrth 14 35 m (47 ft I in), height 5 30 r.
at high altrtude 2350 km/h (1,460 mph) (17 ft 6 in); wing area 41.0 mz(441 3 si
or Mach 2.2; sewice ceiling 20000 m ft)
other Israeli pilots - although the
Egptians
device!
have adopted the same
n
Ecuador being the frrst export custom- burning turbojet
er. In 1982 Kirs saw extensive action Performance: maxunum speed, clean
over the Lebanon, and in l9B3 IAI at high altin:de 2440tun|h (1,516 mph);
announced the Kfir-Cz wrth rmproved climb to 15250 m (50 000 ft) in 5-17 mi-
weapons capabillty and provrsion for nutes; service ceilinq I7680 m
tnflight-refuelling, (58,000 ft); radius on hi-lo-hi mrssion
wrth seven 227-kq (500-lb) bombs, tvuo
Specification: AAMs and two tanks 768 km (477
Illir-C2 miles)
Type: multi-role fighter and attack air- Weishts: empty 7285 ks (16,060 lb);
craft maxrmum take-of kg (32,408 lb)
14700
Armament: two 30-mm IAl-built DEFA Dimensions: span 8,22 m (26 ft I 172 in);
552 cannon each with 140 rounds; up to length 15.65m (51ft 47sin); heisht
4295 kg (9,468 lb) of stores on seven 4.55m (l4ft llTein); wing area
hardpoints including bombs, rockets, 34 Bm, (374.6 sq ft)
Maverrck/Hobos/Durandal ASMs,
Shrike anti-radar missiles, Shafrrr 2
AAMs (or Sidewrnders), ECM pods Acapable all-rounder, theKfir is
and tanks seen here in low-visibility fighter
Powerplant: one B1 19-kg (17 900-lb) markings, though itis being bombed
thrust General Electrrc J79-J1E after- up fot an attackmr'ssjon.
%qdl
 Air Wqr over Lebqnon
In 1982 Israel was once again involved in an
atu wat in the skies of the Middle East.
Thoagh her actiotts on the gtoundwonher
few adtnitets, her pilots and their new
aircraft scoted devastating and spectaculaz
vic'tortes ovet the opposing Syrians.
:-' -5 l5 on 4 June 1982 the uneasypeace main-
.--:.ed between warring Palestinian and
l:ristian forces by occupying Syrian troops
':s shattered as Israeli McDonnell Douolas :'k
:.a:rtoms and McDonnell Douglas Skyhairks
, ared over Berrut, capital of Lebanon.
::elIllIIQ.ly uIltIOUOleO by
=emingly untroubled Dy the
tne barrage
Oarlage Ol
of \q
1::und-fire and SA-7 shoulder-launched SAMs
. leaking up to meet them, the fighter-
::mbers pressed home their attacks
lalestinian refugee camps around the crty, a
on tc
rassive exploston confirmtng a direct hit on an
.mmunition dump. After 90 minutes the jets
,'.'rthdrew, leaving scenes of destruction and
:haos in their wake. It was the day after the
israeli ambassador in the UK had been gunned
iown in a terrorist attack. Israel was clearly
.rient on massrve revenoe.
But there was more to follow, Raids were amazing success of the IDF/AF over its Syrian A flight o{ Syrian M iG - 2. s :l; :: ;;,...- :.
repeated on 5 June, and on the next day Israel's counterpart, accounttng for 44 of the 85 air-to June I 982 to battle',+'::. :.= ) : :. : _
.roops advanced into Lebanon, bent on ehmi- air claims made by Israel, the malonty of them survived to fight anotn er := ;. -
:atrng the Palestinian guerrilla forces whtch rn three days of intense fightrng on 9-11 June,
had been a thorn in lsrael's stde for so manv The need for positive identification in the admittediyageing \1.l -- :: __ :
;rears. The opportuntty was also taken to attack mdlee brought fighters tnto close contact be- oeuvrable aircrafi ar-i:_-_= l.: , _l
:he Syrian SAM sites recently instalied rn the fore weapons were fired, and under such cir signiflcant posirron lr. -r.: -- .:
Bekaa valley south east of Beirut, and the Sy- cumstances the F 16 is in its element. Using Ceneral Dynamics mr;:.' :._ l-:'
rian air force responded. Large-scale atr i:ai- marnly Sidewinder AAMs and the israeh- thrs is as it should be fol I - r..: t:i : i
lles followed, but Israel pressed on io her scal produced Shafrir, the aircraft wrought havoc
-r,
and the Palcstrne Lrbera'ion Orqan.za:r.n rs amongst the Soviet-supplted Mikoyan-
banshed from Lebanon Gurevich MIG-Z1 'Fishbed'and MiG-23 'Flog,
Flying top cover for the ng:r:er-i-:ni:ers ger flghters of the Syrian air arm, losing not one
were two of the latest acidt:t:ns :c :re Israei oi the 72 then in servrce wtth three squadrons.
Defence Force/Air Force :le l',l:t:i:ell
Douglas F-15 Eagie and Ge:e:r- t'.':.anics Astounding victories
f 16 Frghtrnq Falcon he la::-r r'..,:'.t. : .-i t€- Even after allowance for over-claims made
but in air-to-air warlare O; -.:..- . : '.: _ .::.ta' good faith, the scale of the F-16's victory is
1n
aqility (dogfighting) the F-l: .:.-:=: ,: :he Irttle short of astounding, particularly as the
\";k t1.7" le
cated F-15s equa1,:: :,-.=
rllr .; cess, and were ti :.,
bv
7l u,
\ ,F ' ..
,;r',

r *$;*
-r-
*i{

II =-F ::t
-
.': .s
::"q
?**
!J
j'

,'l€-'
Israeli F- I5 Eagles formate over-the desert. The F- 15 equalled lfte success of the F- I6, though fewer were
I !enlo.r^e^Q.lsr.ael's Eagles had often dominated the skies over Lebanon during ttle shrmiJ"es ili", i" nL
^l:;r'.:
rl-^..-r
- ---i--:---i: - -::- .j-:..::=-

June 1982 episode. i;:e;+ :.t :;-: !-:: : .,, :: :

I :-: -..s-'-.
E USA
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Lke its predecessor in the St Lours
factory (the F-4), the McDonnell Doug-
las F-15 Eagle rs widely regarded as
the best fighter in the world, though it
has the dlsadvantages ofgreat size and
hrgh operating cost. It was developed
to rival the MiG-25, but unlike the
stand-of inter-
Sovret aircra-ft it is not a
ceptor but a close-combat doqfighter
wrth wing area and tvro exteme-
a vast
ly powerfi:l engdnes, The fow Sparrow
AAMs are camed against the square
corner edge along the bottom of the
large inlet ducts, and the gun is
mounted in the right inboard wtng,
drawing ammunition from a large 940-
round drum in the fuselage, Hughes
provide the AN/APG-63 pulse-
Doppler radar, with computerized
data-processing to leave nothing on
the pilot's head-up or head-down dis-
piays except the vital items of real in-
terest. A-ll-round view is superb, and
the F-IS pioneered the HOTAS (hands
on throttle and stick) concept to ease
the pilot's task in combat. Very heavy
attack weapon loads can be carried,
and the original F-l5A and tandem-
seat F-ISB have been followed by the
F-ISC and hvo-seat F-ISD in which rn-
ternal fuel is increased, FAST (fuel and
]Fi USA
General Dynamics F-I6 Fighting Falcon
lnitiated as an LWF (l,ight Weight
Fiqhter) demonstrator in 1972, to see
-
whether or not a fighter smaller and
less costly than ttrc F-15 could have
any value, the YF-16 flew in February
1974, won over a Northrop rival and
was then developed into the larger
and immensely more capable Generd
Dynamics F-16A Fightinq Falcon,
which was not only ordered in large
numbers (650, later rncreased to 1,388
against a planned total of 2,333) by the
USAF but also by Belgdum, Denmark,
the Netherlands and Norway to re-
place the F-104, Other buyers are
Israel, South Korea, Egypt, Pakstan
and Venezuela. In structure, aerody-
namics, avionics and systems the F-16
is outstandingly well engineered,
combining CCV (control-confignrred
vehicle) technoiogy and fly-by-wue
signalling with an unprecedented
thrust/weight ratio using a single F-IS
type engine fed by a fixed ventral inlet
upstream of the nose gear, The overall
38
.,4wJ--
*-'- :
-
A newly-delivered F- I 5 of the I sraeli
air force (Heyl Ha'Avir).
sensor, tactical) pallets flttrng against
the sides ofthe fuselage give 4422k9
(9,750 lb) of extra tuel with no extra
drag, and avionics are updated. The
F-ISE Enhanced Eagle can carry a
10885-kg (24,000-1b) bombload, but
had not been ordered in late 1983. By
that time over 700 Eagles had been
delivered to the USAF, Israel, Saudi
fuabia and Japan, in which country the
variants are the F-ISJ single- and F-
ISDJ two-seater, The US Air Force
plans to evaluate the Enhanced Eagle
against the F-]6XL, and the unnner
may be ordered to the extent of 400
examples as the USAF's standard all-
weather strike fighter, a role to which
the AN/APG-63's modried form, wrth
SAR (synthetic apefture radar) con-
figuration, is ideally suited: smali
effect is a magnificent au-combat plat-
form with adequate performance but
phenomenally good agnhty, roll, c[mb
and acceleration. Important contdbu-
tory factors are the unswept wing with
automatically variable camber, and
the pilot recliningr in an Aces II seat
under a frameless canopy with his
right hand gnaspingra small stick which
senses any applied forces with near-
zero movement. All combat controls
for the aircraft, weapons, Westing-
house APG-66 radar and Marconi HUD
(head-up display) are on the stick or
throttle, The APG-66 radar is a highly
capable equipment: the look-up range
is 74 kn (46 miles) while the look-dovrn
range, even against grround clutter, is
56 km (35 miles), The set is of the
pulse-Doppler type and has rangre and
angle track modes, with information
fed to the pilot via a Marconi head-up
display and Kaiser radar electro-
optical display, Other key avionics are
the Delco fire-control computer, ALR-
targets can be seen in any weather
conditions (and at night) at a range of
32 kn (20 miles). The F-ISE will also
have the 'Pave Tack' targeting pod,
whose FLIR (forwardJooking rnfra-
red) sensor will be integrated with the
radar.
Specification:
F-ISC Eagle
Type: fighter with secondary attack
role
Armament: one 20-mm M61A-1 can-
non; four Sparrow (latter AMRAAM)
AAMs plus four Sidewinder (later
ASRAAM) AAMs; option of 7258 kg
(16,000 lb) attack weapon load on flve
pylons
Powerplant: rwo 10855-kg (23,930-lb)
thrust Pratt & Whitney P100-100 auq-
69 radar warning receiver and Sperry
air-data computer. The USAF buy in-
cludes 204 F-l68 combat-capable two-
seaters with reduced fuel. The equiva-
lent F-l6C and F-l6D single- and two-
seaters have progressively updated
and augmented avionics rncluding
AMMAM mrssiles, LANTIRN night/
all-weather pods and new cockpit dis-
plays. F-l6s have flown with J79 and
F101 engnnes, the AFTVF-16 has adv-
anced direct-force controls, and the
F-I6XL (F-l6E) prototypes have dou-
ble the wing area and more fuel to
carry qEeater weapon loads from shor-
ter fields with even better manoeuwa-
bility, The J79-engined F- 16/79 is being
offered as a lower-cost export model,
Specification:
F-I6A Fighting Falcon
Type: multi-role fighter
Armament: one 20-mm M6I cannon
with 515 rounds; nine hardpoints for
-tt
820
mented turbofans
Performance: maxrmum speed, clean
except AAMs at hiqh altitude 2660 km
h (l,650mph) or Mach 2,5; absolute
cei[ng 30500m (100,000f1); ferrv
range with maximum fuel 5560 kn-.
(3,450 miles)
Weights: empty 14334kg (31,600 lb)
loaded, clean 20l85kg (44,500 lb)
maxrmum take-off 30845 kg (68,000 lb)
Dimensions: span i3.05 m(42ft93/q tn).
lenqth 19.43 m (63 ft 9 in); height 5.63 r,
(18 ft 572 in); vnng area 56.5 m' (608 C
sq f0
An F - I 5 of the 49 th Tactical F ighter
W ing d ispl ays i ts potent weapon
Ioad: four Sidewinders, four
Sp arrows and the 20- mm cannon
housed in the wing root.
normal maximum load of 7802 kg
(17,200 lb), with theoretical hmit of
9276 kg (20,450 1b) including all avail-
able tactical stores, 'Pave Penny'laser
tracker, ECM-EW pods (usually
ALQ-131) and special stores including
ARIMs in 'Wild Weasel'role
Powerplant: one lO8l4-kg (23,840-lb)
afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney
F100-200 turbofan
Performance: maximum speed, clean
except AAMs at 12190m (40,000ft)
2173km/h (l,350mph) or Mach 2,05;
service ceiling more than 15240 m
(50,000 ft); radius on a hi-lo-hi mrssion
with six Mk 82 bombs and no tanks
547 hn (340 miles)
Weights: empty 6866kg (15, I37 lb);
maximum take-off U010 kg (37,500 lb)
Dimensions: span 9.5 m (31 ft 0 in);
length 14.52m (47ft 7/qin); heigh!
5,09 m (16 ft B7z in); wingarea27.B7 mz
(300.0 sq ft)
 t
F-16 Fi lh

$ :.1

The tanned lsraeli prlot clrmbed up the specral- newly dehvered in the first He,: !-,:, A high-flying Fighting Falcon lets go a Sidewinder,
ly designed aluminium ladder and eased down of 75. were onty just readv:-r ..:._: partof the deadly combination thatdevastated the
into the F l6's comfortable cockpit. He seemed missions (though the erght pr-::-- '.'.'=:= :-.::- :i Syrian air force in the skies over Lebanon.
not so much to be sitting rn the arrcraft as lyrng vast experrence on the McD::'-:,=,- - : * -:-:.-< A-4
down on top of it, and as he surveyed the and McDonnell Douglas F-.i :: =:-. =::--:r 1en bases rn Israel across the border to Beirut, the
advanced electronic displays facing hrm he eratron). Qurckly rheyhad j--,r' -,:.-.-,'. -: man- shattered capital of Lebanon, and then the flnal
could not help noticing the contrast wLih the age the totally new technc-, f.' :- .:- : -16 so base of the army of the PLO (Palestine Libera-
mass of dial instruments in his beloved old electronically based rt rs p:c'.-.:-'. :alled the tion Organization), A-4s, F-4s and F l6s were
Phantom. Even when he had donned hrs bone electric frghter' On that nrs: =.,:r a::ack mrs- used to bomb the PLO areas in west Beirut, but
dome helmet and moved the sw-itch to close:he sion each arrcraft carrred :-.',', . - - .c (907-kg) the F- I6 was also needed to maintain command
enormous canopy, the pilot was ye: agaln tm Mk 84 bombs, plus an EClul r::: ard external of the air in the face of Syrian Mikoyan-
pressed by the fantastic all round vre,..,' There fuel. Flyrng from Etzrcr- .:-: :r the then- Gurevich MrG-2ls and MiG-23s, Many com-
was absolutely nothing to get in the way ex- occupied Sinai, the route ,a'.' -,-r:ss more than bats ensued, all apparently visual at close
cept for tvvo narrow blades on each stde of the 1000 km (620 miles) of iea:*::.:ss desert be- rangre, and though no detailed figures have
HUD (head-up dlsplay) drrectly ahead, one of fore reaching the target ..','-:-r ::-rch of the mis been published there rs plenty of evidence that
whrch indrcates whether or not NWS (nose- sion flown at low level Eve:'.- c:mb was placed the ascendancy of the US-built fighter was total,
wheel steering) rs engaged Turning to the rear exactly on target, and a1l air:rai: returned un Every hostrle arrcraft was detected at a dls-
the vast expanse of distortion-free polycarbon- damaged, Arr refuelling'.'.':s nci used. tance of tens of kilometres, tracked automati-
ate gives a view never before enjoyed by a But rn the summer of l9E2 :he crrcumstances cally and outmanoeuvred so that it could never
fighter pilot, because wrthout the wind buffet of were drfferent. Missrcns '.','ere short. from get within flring parameters. The F- l6s further
an open cockpit there rs a perfect view astern
as far as the head and eyes can twist, You have
only to look to see if you are making a contrail,
and there is no place for bad quys to hrde
except down below.
Onthisoccasion, rnearlyJuly 1982 therewas
a fair chance there would be some bad guys,
because unhke other operators of the F-16
Frghting Falcon the Heyl Ha'Avir (the lsraeli air
force) has flown rt rn action, The first time this
happened was on 7 June 1981, when eight air-
craft were detailed to attack the Osirak nuclear
power station rn Iraq. This station's reactors
had long been consrdered to be a source of
weapons-grade plutonrum, and thuspotentrally
a danger of the greatest magnitude to the be-
leaguered Jewish state. The eight F 16As, all

Afterburner blazing, an F- l6 from the famed 9th

Tactical Fighter Wing the 'Wolf Pack' thunders
down the runway at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.
Genercrl Dgnctmics
F-15 Fighting Fctlcon
This aircraft is one of the I 50 F- I 6s purchased from the United States in two
batches of 75 (each containing eight F- I 68 two-sea ters). The machines
performed superbly during the Lebanon war, employing the full range-of this
-akcraft's
excellent weapons systems including AIM-9J Sidewinders, 20'mm
M6l cannon, large groups of 1,000- or 2,000-Ib bombs, ECM iamming pods, ill
and decoy fiIares.
llt --
..,.i,.:ffr*f""qlF

t,,

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dg. -\ y-,
1r--
rjr \.-

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--
----

High visibility in low visibility colours ! P ilot vision
isunrivalled in theF-J,6's one-piece bubble
canopy.
General Dynamics F-1 6 Fighting Falcon
cutaway drawing key
1 Pitottube
2 Glassf ibre radome
3 Planar radarscanner
4 lLSglideslopeaenal
5 Scannerdriveunits
6 Radar mounting bulkhead
7 ADF aerial
I FoMardelectronics
equipmentbay
9WestinghouseAN/APG-66 equipmentbay(growth
digital pulse doppler radar
electronics
10 FoMard identification
light. Danish and
Noryegian aircraft only
1 1 Radarwarning antenna
1 2 Cockpit front pressure
bulkhead
l3 lnstrument panel shroud
l4 Weapons systems fire 38
control electronics 39
I 5 strake 40
Fuselage forebody
fairing 41
l6 Marconl-Elliotwlde-angle 42
rastetrvideo head-up 43
display (WARHUD)
I 7 Side stick controller(fly-by
system)
wire control
l8 loor
Cockpit f 45
l9Framelessbubblecanopy systemcapacltvS93lmp
20 Canopyfairing gal(40.60ltres)
21 McDonnellDouglasACES
lzerozeroeiectionseat
22 Pilot's safety harness
23 Engine throttle
92
24 SrdeconsoeDane
25 Cockprr frame construction
26 RearpressureDUlkhead
27 Ejectionseatne:drest
28 Seatarmrng saielv ever
29 Cockpit sea rng frame
30 Canopyhnqeponl
31 Ejectonseat aunchrirs
32 Rearelectronrcs
area)
33 Boundary iaver spl tler
plate
34 Fixed geometry engine air
ntake
35 LowerUHF/IFFaenal
36 Aftretractrng nosewheel
37 Shockabsorberscissor
links
Retraction strut
Nosewheeldoor
FoMard position lighl
lntaketrunking
Cooiingairlouvres
Gun gas suppression
nozzle
44 Air condilroning system
piping
FoMard f uel tank, total
46 Canopyaftglazing
47 Starboard308lmpga
external fuel tank (1400
litres)
protected themselves with ECM jammers and
dispensed chaff and llare payloads, the latter
being (for the flrst time) seen by the world on
TV newsreels, Any hostile aircraft that became
imminently danqerous was promptly shot
down, using gmns and either Shafrir or Srdewrn-
der missiles,
That the General Dynamics flghter was an
attractive hrgh-performance machine was ob-
vious from the roll-out of the orrgrnal Model 401
(YF-16) the two examples of which were smal-
ler and much lighter than the productron ver-
sions. It was only after the F-16A qot into ser-
vice rnJanuary 1979 (wrth the 388th TFW at H111
AFB) that its true capability became apparent,
By 1980 gruelling intensive exercises simulat-
ing war conditions showed that this fighter
could fly from six to 10 sorties per day, quickly
deploy to half way across the globe and then go
strarght into action, and absolutely dominate its
airspace no matter how good the opposing
pilots mrght be, Put up against the famed F-4E
Phantom, previously a yardstick against which
other multr-role fighter-bombers were judged,
the little F-16 not only flew rings round the
older type rn air combat but also carried the
same bombload twice as far, or double the
bombload for the same distance,
F-16 a winner
Even then there were doubters and disbe-
lievers convrnced they could grve the F-16 a
run for its money, but there were not many of
these left afler 24 June 1981, A team from the
388th TFW flew to Scotland to take part rn the
RAF inter-servlce tactical bombing competi-
tion, and to say the F-l6As swept the board is a
considerable understatement, Flying under
97 Gearboxdrveshafr
98 GrGund pressure ref uelling
receptacle
99 Fiaperon servo actuator
100 Rearfuselage franre
constTuclron
101 Rearintegra fueltank
102 Main enqine mountino
suspens on lrnk
103 UpperUHG/lFFaeria
104 Fuseagesknplatlng
1 05 Starboard side'body fainng
106 Fnrootfrllet
107 Flight control system
hvdrau ic accumulalors
108 Anti-col ision light power
suppiV unit
'l
09 Starboard tai plane
(increased area'brg tarl )
1 10 Tailplanesurfaces
interchangeable port and
starboard
111 Graphite epoxysk n panels
48 Forebodv blended wrno 112 F n constr!ctron
root 113 Alum nium honcycomb
49 Upperposition ightand leading edge panel
fliqht refuellrng f ood ight Steel leading edge stnp
50 Fueltank bayaccesspanel ::-^::rC VHF commun cations
51 Rotary cannon barrc s 73 -r,:^aec nrcd um range acr al
52 Forebodyframe : -::'a I m ss le Antr-colirsron lght
construction :'.liAAMl Tai radarwarning
53 M 61 Vulcan 20mm 80 Ar.:ruihoncycomb anten nae
ca n non e:l .g edge flap A umrn um honeycomb
54 Ammunrtron f eed and link -:.s1rlcr on rudder construction
return chutes 8i Slarboard navrgation light Rudder seruo actuator
55 Ammunition drum, 51 5 82 Siatrc drscharges Fadarwarnrng power
rounds B3 : \ed tra I ng edge secl on SUPP Y
56 Ammunltion drum f lexiblc 8.1 l\'1J I sparwrng Brakc parachute housing
drive shaft conslruction NoMegian a rcraft only
57 Leading-edge flap control B5 inlegralwing iue tank 122 Tall navlgatron I ghl
shaft 86 Starboard flaperon
59 HVdraul cequipment 8l Fuel system piping
serv ce bay Access pane s
60 Pnmarysystem hydrau rc 89 Centre fuel lank bay
reservolT access pane
61 Lead ng edge manoeuvrc 90 ntake duct ng
f lap drive motor 91 Wrng mounting bulkheads
62 TACANaerial 92 Un versal arr refuelling
63 No.2 hydrau icsystem receptac e (UARSSI) l
reseruoir
64 Leadrnq edqe ilapcontrol
shaft 93 Engrne compressor face
65 lnboard py on 94 Pratt&Whrtnev F1 00'PW-
66 Pylonflxlng 2i I 00 afterburn nq
67 Wrng cenlre py on turbofan eng ne
68 Triplc cjector bomb rack 95 Jet fuel starter
69 Mk 82 500 tb\227'kg) 96 Engine accessory gearbox
bombs airframe mounted
simulated war conditions, the new Fighting
Falcons operated intensively for two days pul-
ting dornm free-fall 'iron bombs' on convoys of
vehicles, Every bomb was delivered precisely
on its assigned target, and the final score was a
record 7,831 points out of the possible 8,000. A
!LS_!]V_ experienced RAF squadron flying
SEPECAT Jaguars came second witn 6 +Ol
points, followed by many other squadrons in-
cluding crack units flyinq F-llts and Buc-
caneers in the 16 competition sorties against
defending fighters (RAF Phantoms and Ligrht
nings) the F-l6s scored 86 kills for no losses,
The combined score of the other teams was
one kill set against 42 losses!
Based at RAF Lossiemouth, the F-16s in the
competition proved their superb engineering '123 Electrontc
143 Portfaperon The phenomenal agility of the F- I 6 has earned the
countermeasures aerials, '144 Flaperon hrnqs5
design by averaging a turn-around time be- pon and starboard (ECM) 145 Alumin um hcne\co-b aircraft its adoption as the mount of the IISAF,s
lween sorties of only 10.5 minutes. Included in 1 24 Fully variable exhaust flaperon constructro" crack aerobatics feam,'The Thunderbirds,. Here
nozzle 146 Staticd scharcers they display the newcolour schemeunveiledfor
each turn-around was complete refuelling, and 25 Nozzte flaps '147 Ftxed t13r /no
1
s::: i-
edee tr\e 1983 season.
rearming with 5 I5 rounds of 20-mm ammunitlon 1 26 Spirt trar ing edge airbrake 148 PortA v SiSo6,..r;.
and six 227-kq (500-lb) Mk 82 bombs. The I
upperand owersurfaces
27 A rbrake h!draul c
air-to-a rm ss es
149 Missilelaunchersroe
lack
accuracy of navigation of the F-l6s also set a I 28 Pon tar o ane { ncreased 1 50 Wing t p launcher i' .; 'a- ::-..:ro retract ng 173 WestinghouseAN/
area botat l5l chr - -iltseel
new record, and at the end of the meeting the 129 Statrcdischaroers
) Portnavioatron
':i -:::- -^::r -g I-ettank ALoi]g_electronic
152 Outboardpvlon fi, rc.:
general feeling of the opposing teams was that l30
Graph re-epov-yta lplane '153 Multnspar wrnq
suppressionsvstemradar
they had suddenly become second-class skrn panels
131 Corrugaredaluminiumsub-
conStruction :: ''. i ": -:e.rernd r.et 174 Snakev6boo_ib(227-ko)
154 Centrepylonaltachme-: -. i - : ^ f, Jd 400 retarded bomb -'
citrzens, struclure rib :':: 175 cBU_10C/82000]b{908_
One of the fundamental design requirements I 32 i noe o vot frxrno 155 Wing centre pylon -,i'::.':-:a:ca'c+rarC tg;taserguiOedbo;'6--
'156 N/k842000-tb(got
oi the original LWF (Light-Weiqht Fighter)
1

I3a
33 Ta Ji 6ns5srv66i1rr1.,
Nozzle seat ng farilng
<c :.' ': -'-a -e3 cco EO-
-3, :ue drdulrc nozzle low-drag bomb
1 57 Leadrng edge manoe:r.:
aclualors flap
il6 Allerburnertailprpe '1
58 Leading edge flap rclan,
I 37 Rear fuselaqe bulkhedds actuators
'33 Rearengtnemounting 159 lnteqralwrna iue r:-r
' 39 Ail posrtron lrght
'10 Ponsde-bodyfarnnq 160 lnboardpylonfl nq
161 Wngatrachmeni
'll Runwayarrestorhook fishplates
j
,i2 Ventral ftn, port and 162 Landrng lax .q a-c
starboard 163 Marn undercai. :c: :- : -.
-
absorber strut
164 Mainwhee leo si-J:
I 65 ReJract on srru;
166 Mdinwhee lc:.

@ Pilot Press Limited

93
F-.c Fightrng Falcon in Action (continued)
-. '-.:' :::l:l: j 're i-16 desrgn desrgned to Hotas (hands on throttle and stick)
:: -.r'. _:-. :r:-,, .' :-.i:rlcr :c thatof exrstrng prrnciples. Every control the prlot needs in
' '-:l -:.1::::=:: lfJen combat is to be found either on the handgrip of
', _.
:.:::: :: L1633kg
' '-: ' - l-=r:--:---:
:::.i::i:n and frOm
the single engine power lever or near the top of
the stick with which the aircraft is flown, Like a
- - .- -,,--,i;i37300lb)wrth concert pianist the pilot learns which finger or
thumb to use to change the HUD (head-up
- - : : ::':-L=l .:I:S a: a CfUShing9g, display) symbology, alter the operating mode
. ..:::=:: -: ire world (exCept of the radar, open the airbrakes, flre Sidewin
' =:.=:
l.l-l -: --:lcrum) can accom- der missiles, fire the 20-mm six-barrel gun,
' . ..r..r. j i:,. relps lhe pilot to sur- drop bombs or do anythinq else necessary to
: : - . r - -':, :. r:.: :.r',-res. Professional F- 16
. hit ground targets or shoot down enemy arr-
. : . .- :..,::i :pLnrons on whether lying craft, He need not look down inside the cockpit The F-16 has already chalkedup atremendous
-: -- : ' :=: = a 3l' angle really does in- at all (unless something goes wrong inside the reputation, but there's a lotmore to come. The
F-16XL doubles the basic aircraft's wing area,
' =::= . -=:::-l: but the general view of aircraft) or take his hands off the two vital hand
vastly improves space for avionr'cs and sensors,
-: ': :.". -t :--':s rs that rt gives a lVz to 2 g
.-. grlps.
siorfens jts lake-off and landingdsfancet
=r. uprrght seal. with the abtlity
Even the stick itself rs untque so far as regular doubles theweapons load andincreases combat
::: l ji:-r:eC turns at over 8g wlthout in-service fighters are concerned. For one radius by 45%.
.- .r::..'-:tr: or tunnel vision, which the thing it is not a normal control column between
r -r :-,-narraF.ed in Other airCraft at the pilot's knees but a short stubby handgrip on
--!PtrrLrr\
:a the rrght-hand console of the cockptt. The pilot is measuredr the greater the force, the greater
::.',':.=::-; advantage is that, like all can grip it whrlst resting his arm rn a comfort- the rate of roll. At first this unique control col-
- ' ':: ll30s. lhe F 16 has a cockpit able padded rest, and tf he wishes can also umn may cause overcorrections because it is
extend an extra rest for the wrist, so that even at so powerfully and rnstantly responsive. After a
9 g his arm is supported along rts length. while it becomes the link in the most perfect
Moreover, the stick ts essentially fixed. If the symbrosrs between man and machrne there
prlot wishes to roll to the left he merely moves has yet been in avration. To quote an F- l6 pilot;
the handgrip to the left. The actual movement is 'A11 I have to do rs thrnk what I want the ship to
microscoprc, but the force exerted by the prlot do and it happens'

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|'r324
E iiLnnrop F-SE/F Tiser II
Northrop's F-5 family of lightweight
ighters has racked up a remarkable
sales total of more than 2,700 aircraft to
30 countries in spite of the fact that it
-,'ias never adopted (or even mar-
keted) as a major type in its own coun-
:ryl The original Northrop N-I56F
Freedom Fighter flew on 30 July 1959,
r;rth two 1850-kg (4,080-lb) thrust JBS
:ngrnes and armed with tvuo 20-mm
:annon and two Sidewinder AAMs. AJ-
:er development, 1,040 were sold of
:ie single-seat F-54 and trro-seat F-58
'.
ersion (phs a few ofthe RF-54 recon-
:.assance version), and others were
:urlt by Canadair, CASA and Fokker.
- he F-SE Tiger II, flown on i I August
-372, has uprated engines fed via im-
::cved inlets, a wider frrselage hous-
:.9 more fuel, IongTer wing-root strakes
:.=-d much better avionics including a
snall X-band radar. The tandem-seat
F-SF flew on 25 September 1974. Sales
:: the F-SE/F have been even brisker
.:an those ofthe F-54"/8, and I,400 had
:een bought by 19 air forces by 1983.
-:ese are still rather limited aircraft,
',';lhout all-weather intercept or attack
::pability, but they are tough, simple,
::reap, beautiful to fly, extremely agile
.-:d not only useful as advanced train-
:rs (the F-SE is used by the USAF and
,S Navy for Aggressors/Top Gun
-3hter pilot training) but also quite
=:ective in simple wars in visual con-
rtions. There is an RF-58 Tigereye
'.'.'ith quick-chanqe day/night recon-
.-.alssnce equipment and Northrop is
:lering such extras as a 30-mm under-
:elly gmn pod, inertial navigation and
'.-arious tactrcal sensors, The latest de-
'.'elopment of the series is the con-
s;derably more advanced F-20 Tiger-
shark (originally designated F-5G).
- hs changes to single-enqine power-
plant (a single afterburninq General
:lectric F4O4 turbofan rated at 7257-kg
16,000-lb thrust) and offers far more
:omprehensle avionics, These latter
:nclude General Electric AN/APG-67
-cok-up/look-down multi-mode radar,
Teledyne solid-state digital mission
--omputer, AN/ALR-46 radar warning
:eceiver and AN/ALE-4O countermea-
r
'i
F
F-1A of the lranian air force. Iran was one of many nations to receJ:€ 3j5-
inexpensive and easily maintained multi-role fighter.
t
=4
F-1E of a IIS Navy aggressor unit, who simulate Soviet aircraft for the benefrt o!
Navy pilot training.
sures dispenser. More than 3630 kg -r
(8,000 lb) of weapons can be carried,
these including four AGM-65 Maver-
ick missiles or three 30-mm cannon
pods,
Specification:
F-SE Tiger II
Type: light tactical fiqhter
Armament: two 20-mm M39A-2 cannon
each with 280 rounds; up to 3175k9
(7,000 lb) of external weapons includ-
ing numerous bombs, rockets, Maver-
ick ASMs, clusters, pods and tanks
Powerplant: two 2268-kg (5,000-1b)
thrust General Electric JBS-2IA after-
burmng turbojets
Performance: maxtmum speed, clean
at hish altitude 1734 hn/h (1,077 mph)
or Mach 1.63; initial climb rate i0515 m
(34,500ft) per minute; seruice ceilng
15790 m (51,800 ft); radtus on a lo-lo-lo
mission with maximum weapons and
resewes 222km (138 miles)
weights: empty 4392 kg (9,683 1b); Above:Touchingdownat Below: The F-20 Tigers:a:k : '--e
maximum take-off 1l i93 kg (24,676 lb) Diibendod, this N orthrop F - 5 E is thirdmajor stage o{F- j
Dimensions: span B, 13 m (26 ft B in); operated by the armedforcesof deve lopmen t. U niike i ts
length 14 68 m (48 ft 2 in); herght 4.06 m Switzerland. The original order in predecessors, if ftas a s.n!i.;€ a-.-_:=€
(13 ft 4 in); wrnq area 17.3 m'(186.0 sq I 97 6 calle d for 66 F-SEs and srx with rear tuselage widh ::a::'-z:---- :
ft) F-SFs. by lateral'shelves'.
YomKippurAirWar
For once, Israel was caught off its guard: tradi-
tional vigrlance relaxed for the celebration of
Yom Krppur, the Day of Atonement fast, Intent
on regaining the territory so humiliatingly
seized from them in the 1967 conflict, Egyptian
and Syrian forces checked and rechecked
their equipment, rmpatient for the order to
move. It was 6 October 1973, and another Mid-
dle East war was about to begin.
Throwing bridges over the Suez Canal,
70,000 Eqyptran troops and 400 tanks over-
whelmed the Israeir defences on the eastern
bank and thrust into Sinai, whrlst in a srmul-
taneous onslaught in the north-east, Syria
attacked positions on the strategically vital
Golan Heights. israel was trapped in a war on
two fronts, and there \iias little doubt that the
Arabs would not stop at reclaiming lost areas. It
would be a flght for Israel's survrval,
Galvanized into action, Israeli McDonnell
Douglas F-4 Phantoms, McDonnell Douglas A-
4 Skyhawks and Dassauit Mirage IIIs launched
counterstrikes agarnst the advancing armies
and their rearward bases, but it soon became
apparent that they were fightrng a new kind of
air war, The Arabs had taken pains to protect
their forces against air attack, having iearnt
from bitter experience in the Six-Day War of
six years earlier, and as IDF/AF arrcraft cros-
Heavyweight amongst the Israeli airpowerwas
the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom I I, one of
which is seen here attacking an Egyptian SAM site
sed the Suez Canal they were greeted by a
barrage of Soviet-made SA-2 and SA-3 SAMs
from well-prepared sites. Mobile 5A'-6 mrssrle-
launchers and the highly-effective ZSU-23-4
cannon were also depioyed, as were SA-7 in-
fantry SAMs, and the Israells were horrified to
find that their ECM were useless against the
SA.6.
Losses to SAMs
Compared with earher','.'ars the result of this
effrcient defence was :a:asirophe for Israei,
which suffered the loss :i scme 90-lO0 aircraft
to SAMs out of a total :l
'2! irom all causes.
Such was the effectrveness ci Arab SAMs that
when an Israeli force crcssed :he Canal on the
tenth day of the war ris r:--:-al cbjective was to
eliminate the anti-arrcra:: ieiences. Outsrde
the range of the deadly r--s:-.:s however, the
IDF/AF proved that rt hac -rs: none of its pro-
wess in air combat, deslr: _.--:- j scme 220 Syrran
and 213 Egryptran aircra;. :r ralf of the Arab
front-line strength, It was ::r-: -iabrlity to gain
control of the air whrch lee .' :a..r.re of the Arab
assault despite its prom.-.-:.: :e rrnnrng.
The desperate nature :: ::: combat (and
some measure of its ferc:-.-." -s indicated by
the fact that 375 israeli a,r:ra-: '.','ere opposed
by 310 from Eqypt and 42C :: -:. S,"rra, with lraq
addrng 30 to the latter ear-'.' r:. :re conflict, No
fewerlhan B1 ID|/AF dlrCr:. ,'.'-:e destroyed
in the flrst four days of fig:r:.:-; Curing which
I
'.{
*
Camera-gan sequence shows the deathof anArab
MiG-21 seen through the sights of an Israeli
Mirage.
3,555 sortres were flown, but losses fell drama-
tically thereafter as Israel slowly qained the
upper hand, the overall total of I20 shot down
being incurred during 12,271 mlssions,
The IDF/AF thus suffered one loss per 102
sorties despite the Arab SAM menace, its
opponents faring less well rn the face of deter-
mined Israeh action, Syria losing one per 28
and Egypt one per 24 sorties,
it had been a close-run war, however, and
Israel was quick to appreciate the lessons so
forcibly driven home. For the fighter, this
meant high pnority in provisions ol electronic
countermeasures against enemy radars and
emphasis on agility in new aircraft designs,
Now the IDF/AF is equipped with the hrghly
manoeuvrable General Dynamics F-16 Fiqht-
ing Falcon, and its Phantoms and Skyhawks
appear able to jam the SA-6's gmidance sys-
tems at will, The observance of Yom Kippur has
taken on an addrtronal meaning in Israel, its air
force being strongrer and better equipped as a
result.
SAMs accounted for a large proportion of Israel's
losses, butler pilots soon evolved tactics to deal
with them. Here a Mirage III rolls into an attack on
anEgiyptianSAM site-
 Modern Fighter Aucraft
McDorurell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
-
---.:ed
--
as a multr-role ai:ack a;:rar
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
=
:.'=:tually reached the US Nauy as a
-==: Cefence fighter with no weapons
=.-::pt AAMs (carried in a novel waY,
...: foul large Sparrows recessed
--.:?r the broad fuselage for minimum
:::j) and just one pylon for a single
r:p tank, Soon world records were
:=:rg set for speed, climb and ceilinqt,
,:.i when bombs were carried it was
:.:ar the Phantom was a world-beater,
-:.e USAF bought the AN/APG-IOO ra-
:::ed F-4C minimum-change version
-: the US Navy's F-48 (AN/APG-72
::Car), and then the F-4D more closely
:Jored (particularly in avionics, with
-:,VAPG-109A radar) to its own needs
',',irich were biased towards grround
::ack. The RF-4 family emerged as
::.e world's fastest and most fully
:quipped unarmed tactical recon-
.=.arssance aircraft, in the form of the
RF-4B for the US Marine Corps, RF-4C
::r the US Atr Force and RF-4E for RAF Phantom FGR.Mk 2 (F-4M) of No.
:xport. Vietnam experience led to the 92 Sqnbased inGermany. AII MF
:nal and most important fighter model, air-defence Phantoms are now
::e F-4E with improved radar (AN/ painted in low-visibility grey. They
iPG-120 solid-state set in a smaller usually fly with AIM-9L Sidewinders
:adome), more power, more internal and BAe Sky Flasl mtsstTes.
--rel, an internal 20-mm rotary-barrel
;un and a slatted wing for better man- powerful engrnes a slcitec :=-.:-.:.:
:euwability at high weights. The UK drooping atlerons and trr.c: :'.'::
lought a largely redestgned version avionics, includrng AN AWC--- .:=-
.rhe F-4K for the Fleet Air Arm and control radar and an AN/AJB-? bc::c-
F-4M for the RAF, designated Phantom ing system. F-4Js were later upgrrai::
FG.Mk I and Phantom FGR.Mk 2 re- to F-4S standard with aviontcs :r,-.-
spectively) with Rolls-Royce Spey tur- provements and leading-edge slais
bofan engines, whose great power The F-4N was an upgrraded F-4B.
was largeiy dissipated tn increased
arcraft drag. Germany's Luftwaffe is Specification:
nodifying its slatted F-4F fleet to carry F-4E Phantom II
:he advanced AMRAAM mrssile, with T1rye: multi-role figrhter
a new radar, and its RF-4E fleet to drop Amament: one 20-mm M61 gmn under
bombs, japan built its own F-4EJ mod- nose; four Sparrow (later AMRAAM)
el. The last sub-type to emerge ts the AAMs recessed under fuselage (one
F-4G dedicated EW (electrontc- may be replaced by ECM pod), and
warfare) aircraft, used by the USAF up to 7258kq (16,000Ib) of assorted
Tactical Air Command and USAi' stores on wing pylons including air{o- E trio of F-4D Phantoms line up to
Europe, and produced by conversLon ground weapons, tanks, two more take on fuelfrom a BoeingKC-135
cf F-4Es, It combines complex AN' Sparrows or four Sidewinder AAMs tar,ker belore a strike intoNorth
APR-38 sensor, analyser and jammer Powerplant: two Bl20-kg (17,900-lb) V ie tnam. The F -4 proved its worth in
thrust General Electric J79-17 after- Vtetnam. emergring as a genuine
systems with special air-to-grround
rr'eapons includrng Shnke, Standard burnrngt turbojets mulu-role fighter
ARM, Maverick and HARM. The F-4J Performance: maximum sPeed, clean
was the ultimate new-burld version for plus Sparrow AAMs 2414 km/h
the US Navy and US Marine Corps, (l 500 mph) or Mach 2,27 at high altt-
cased on the F-4B but fitted with more tude: rnrtial climb rate 18715 m
T heF -4C w as the origin al' minimum
change' model for the US Air F orce.
T hk 1 9 63 ex ample, with intr a- re d
seeker under the nose, was serving U.S.AIR FORCE *
with the 1 7 1 st FI S of the Michigan E
ANG in 1980. :'---

F inal model of fighter Phantom, the

F-4E introduced more power and
[uel, andwas later given an internal
grun andsJats. This F-4E was
assigmed to lie 32ndTFS atCamP
Amslerdan (.Soes terbetg),
Netfterlands.

-
Phantom FGR.Mk 2 (F-4M) of No' 23
Sgn, RAf, base d atWattisham in
I 97 6. This unit has now also adopted
the air superiority greY.TheY are
now theFalklands air defence unit,
renumbered from No. 29 Sqn.
L ifrtov"n-Gurevich MiG-21'Fishbed'
In 1954 the MiG and Sukhoi design
teams each went ahead with pro-
totypes to test tvvo new conflgmratrons
for supersonic combat aircraft. Even-
tually the acutely swept wing plus
swept tail was judgred best for attack
arrcraft, resulting in the Sukhoi Su-7,
while the tailed delta gave highest
performance for a figrhter and was
adopted for what became the
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21'Fishbed',
Early MiG-2ls reached the Soviet
Frontal Aviation and PVO defence
force in 1959, and were very srmple
afcraft just able to carry two cannon
(sometimes only one, to save weight)
and two small AA-2 missrles. Powered
by the R-1 I rated at 5750-kg (12,676-lb)
thrust with afterburner, the MiG-21
reached Mach 2 and was a joy to fly,
Over the next quarter-century the
MrG-21 became the most proliflc
flghter in the world, with about 15,000
built in 15 major and over 100 mtnor
versions, plus corresponding two-seat
trarners, Each successive major model
has featured more thrust or better
avionics or a gEeater or better spec-
trum of weapons. All recent versions
have the R-11-300, or R-11F2S-300, or
R- 13-300 or R-25 engine fed by an en-
larged duct wrth an all-weather radar
rn the centrebody cone. Drag rs re-
duced by progressrvely larger dorsal
L ifrtor"n-Gurevich MiG-23'Flogser'
The Soviet Union's standard shape for
an optimized swing-wing a[craft was
perfected in 1964 and assigned to
Sukhoi for a large twin-engine aircraft
and to the MiG OKB (design bureau)
for a smaller arcraft with one engjne.
The MiG prototype (designated E-231)
was publicly flown in 1967, but con-
srderable redesign was needed and
production of the Mikoyan-Gurevich
MiG-23 'Flogger' series drd not start
until 1970, with a different engine.
Srnce then the rate ofdelivery has sur-
passed that ofall other combat aircraft,
and l0 basic sub-families have been
identified, all named 'Flogger' by
NATO but divided by the Soviets into
MrG-23 and MiG-27 fami[es. Both the
FA (Frontal Aviation) and IA-PVO (Atr-
Defence Forces) of the Soviet Union
;[:4/
Yugoslaviaoperates around 200 MiG-21s, of which this MiG-Z|MF complete
with AA-2 'Atoll' air-to-air missiles is an example.
fairings which in some models contain
fuel, and there are numerous options of
reconnaissance sensors and EW
(electronic warfare) systems. Larqe
numbers continue to be built in India
and China; the latter desrgnates the
type the Xian J-7 for indigenous use
and F-7 for export. Some of the major
versions of the Sovret 'Fishbed' series
are the MiG-2IPF'Fishbed-D' Iimited
all-weather flghter with RIL radar;
MiGzlFL export versions of the MiG-
2lPF with R2L radar and provision for a
gnrn pod; MiG-2IPFM'Fishbed-F' im-
proved version of the M1G-2IPF with
forward- rather than side-hinqeing
canopy and R2L radar; MiG-2IPFMA
'Fishbed-J' multi-role version of the
MiG-21PFM with four hardpoints and
provision for a GSh-23 cannon pack;
MiG-2tR'Fishbed-H' tactical recon-
naissance versron of the MrG-21PFMA:
MiG-23MF 'Flogger-B' in the standard air superiority overall light grey. Note
the rocketpods and AAM launchingsfioes.
use MiG-23 interceptor vanants with
large multi-mode nose radar ('High
Lark' with a search range of 85 lan/53
miles and a tracking range of 54 km/34
miles), fully variable engine inlets and
AAM armament. The FA also uses the
MiG-27 attack aircraft ('Flogger-D' and
'Flogger-J') wrth a tapered downslop-
*d*
MiG-zlMF'Fishbed-J' upengined ver-
sion of the MiG-Z]PFMA; MiG-2lbis
'Fishbed-L' third-generation frghter
with much improved avionics and
structurei MiG-2lbis'Fishbed-N' de-
finrtive third-generation fighter with
more powerful R-25 engine; and MiG-
2lU'Mongol' tandem two-seat tralner
in several variants.
Specification:
MiG-2lbis 'Fishbed-l{
Tlpe: multr-role flghter
Armament: one 23-mm GSh-23 twin-
barrel qnrn with 200 rounds; maxrmum
of 1500 kg (3,307 Ib) of ordnance car-
ried on four wrng pylons rncluding hvo
500-ks (1,102-lb) and two 250-kg (551-
lb) bombs or other stores ln attack mis-
sions, or fow F,A.-2-2 Advanced Atoll'
AAMs or two AA-2-2 and two AA-B
'Aphid' AAMs ::. a:t-to-arr role
ing nose packed wrth air-to-grround
sensors, largte armour plates round the
cockpit and fixed inlets. All have full-
span flaps, outboard leading-edge
flaps, roll control by spoilers and tailer-
ons, rough-field maih qear folding into
the fuselage, and a largre ventral fin
which folds sideways for take-off and
Powerplant: one 7500-kg (16,535-1b)
thrust T\rmansky R-25 afterburning tw-
bojet
Performance: maximum speed, clean
at hish altitude 2285 kn/h (1,420 mph)
or Mach 2, 15; initial climb rate 17700 m
(58,070 ft) per minute; service ceiiing
15000 m (49,210 ft); nnge at hrgh alti-
tude (with internal tuel only) 1100 km
(683 miles)
Weights: empty about 5715 kg
(12,600 lb); maximum take-off 9400 kg
(20,725Ib)
Dimensions: span 7.15 m (23 ft 572 in);
length, exciuding probe typlcally
15.i0 m (49 ft 7 in); heisht 4.10 m (13 ft
572 in); wing area 23.0 m2 (247.6 sq ft)
Still in front-line servicewith the
Soviet air forces, the MiG-21 is a
versatile and potent weapon. About
I 5,000 have been produced.
*
landing. Deliveries to 17 ar forces ex-
ceeded 2,600 by the spring of 1983,
and the main operational variants of
the MiG-23 series are the MiG23MF
'Flogger-B' single-seat air-combat
fighter, with limited look dowr/shoot
down capabilrty; the MiG-23U 'Flog-
ger-C' two-seat combat-capable con-
 Modern Fighter Arrcraft

version trarneri the MiG-23'Flogger-E'
export version of the 'Flogrger-B' with
Iess capable avronics including Jay
Bud' radar matched to AA-Z'Atoll' air-
to-air mrssrles; the MiG-238N'Floqger-
F export close-support and Interdictor
afcraft combrntng the nose sectlon of
the 'Flogger-D' wlth the powerplant,
varrable-geometry Inlets and GSh-23
twin-barrel 23-mm cannon of the MiG-
23 series; the MiG-Z3MF 'Flogger-G'
variant of the 'Floqger-B '';;:th a smalier
dorsal extensron to the fin; and the
MiG-2SBN 'Flogger-H' varlant of the
'Floqqer-F wrth extra avtonics.
Specification:
MiG-23MF 'Flogger-B'
Type: variable-Cfeometry air-combat
fighter
Armament: one GSh-23 twin-barrel 23-
mm cannon, and up to 2000 kg
(4,409 lb) of stores on five hardpoints;
the most common air-to-air weapons
are the AA-7 'Apex' and AA-B 'Aphid'
alr-to arr mrssrles
Powerplant: one 12,475-kg (27,502-lb)
afterburnrng thrust TumanskT R-29B
turbolet
Performance: maxlmurl speed about
2,500 km/h (1,553 mph) or Mach 2.35 at
altrtudet servlce cerling 18600 m
(61,025 ft); combat radius about
1200 km (746 miles)
Weight: maximum take-off 16000 kg
(35,273 rb)
The MiG-23 is by far the most
important aircraft in the Soviet
inventory. Capable of a varietY of
mr'ssions, if appears in manY
versions, of which lits is lle
'Flogger-G'.
Dimensions: span spread 14.25 m (46 ft
9rn) and swept B. l7m (26ft 97zin),
lengrth 16.80 1rr (55 ft lrlz tn); wing atea
about 37 0 mz (398 3 sq ft)

Itr
ffi ifitoy"n-Gurevich MiG-25'Foxbat'
Libyareportedlyhas 36 MiG-ZSs of
various kinds, probably tlown by
nI{
tz7
Soviet pilots . This k an interceptor =_ ,e
aiii,rx:xi!{::;ffi0
*# -
t- -'--x5 s
th

Desrgned specifically to Intercept the rtous AAlvl.-=---,'. .',-:=. - i'-:i

B-70 Mach 3 bomber (which never
went into service) the Mikoyan-
Gurevich MiG-25 'Foxbat' was de-
signed for speed at the expense of
such other attnbutes as short fleld-
Iength, combat manoeuvrability mod-
est weight and economtc cost. The E-
266 prototypes were drsplayed in 1967
and car.sed a Elreat st]r among West
ern observers, a strr herghtened by a
string of world records lor speed
(often over long ranges wrth heavy
payloads) and astonrshrnq rate of
climb and high altrtude such as a
chmb from rest to 35000 m ( I 14,829
I I seconds. The basic
in 4 minutes
MiG25'Foxbat-A' interceptor, an ex-
ample of which was flown to Japan by a
defector rn September i976, is made
mainly of steel, with titanium or
alloys around the engdnes and on lead-
ing edges. The unswept wing rs thtn
and sharp-edqed, and has a ftxed
leading edge and plain flaps and atler-
ors. Large fuel tankage is provtded tn
I I
welded steel tanks burlt into the
airframe, and the low-pressure tur-
boiets have giant afterburners and ful-
ly variable inlets with water/alcohol
sprays, The gnant radar is typical of
1959 technology and rs assoctated with
-:-:
25R (identLf,ei c;
l.-:-- - - Forca:'3
and 'Foxbat-D :=::-. .=: l: ::: j::
rnfra-red and raia: :a:::.-=-:-:::,-.-:
systems, and the M.IG2SU 'Foxbai-C
trainer has a secono :: :kl.' :-:.= --.:. ;
the radar. The Ia'est '.'::s.::. :: ':.=
MiG-25 (possibly the MrG-231'l ' ::.=
'Foxbat-E', which ts the Foxba:-i. :: :--
verted wlth a look-downshJ-''l- '':.
radar/weapon flt of hmrted capa:...:"'
possibly comparable wlth that o: ihe
'Flogger'. The MiG-31 'Foxhourd' Ls a
replacement with more thrust from
Tumansky R-15 engines and later
ft) weapons and radar (and possrbly wrth
a gmn and second seat); the mrssile fit
comprises four radar-homrng AA-9
weapons under the wingTs and four
shorter-ranqre AA-B'Aphid' weapons
rts for self-defence
Specification:
MiG-25 'Foxbat-A'
Type: all-weather stand-off mterceptor
Armament: fout AAMs (usuallY AA-6 2978 lffi/h ( 1 850 mph) or Mach 2 B; tni- Early exposure to the MiG'25 caused
'Acrid') tral chmb rate 12480 m (40,950 ft) per grave cons ternation to W estern
Powerplant: two I 1000-kq (24,250-Ib) minute, servlce cerltng 24404m defence analysts.
thrust Turnansky R-3 I afterburning tur- (80 000 ft) radlus at hrgh altrtude
bolets I125 km (700 miles)
Performance: maximum sPeed, clean Weights: empty 20095 kq (44,300 lb); length 23.82 m (78 lt I ' n :.= '
6 l0m(20tt0.a in) wlnoole.
: :
at hiqh altrtude (dash) 3400 km/h maxrmum take off 36200 kq (79,800 lb) :

comprehensive EW systems and va- (2, 115 mph) or Mach 3 2, or (sustatned) Drmensions: span 13.95 m (45 ft 9 rn) (611 7 sq ft)
L Hutnoi Su-15 'Flagron'
The final operationalvariant of the
Su- J 5 rs fhe'F lagon-F'. I mmediately
{
distingruishable by its more
a es th e tic ally p le asing
radome, this version also
ogival
,*jf'"
inc orpor ates u prated T um-ansky
R- 13F-300 engines, giving extremely ffi-)I-.
high performance.

Wrth a Soviet requirement for a Mach
2 5 rnterceptor in the 1960s, the Sukhoi
:esrgn bureau adapted the existing
Su-ll to take twin TumanskY R-11
afterburninq turbolets and a large
radar nose. The result was the Su-15
'Flagron', the flrst prototype of which
ilew in 1965 The original R-1 1 engines
have since been replaced by more
powerful R l3s, makrng these aircraft
among the world's fastest fighters.
The Su-15's original armament of
AA-B 'Aphrd' close-range and tvvo or
four AA-3 'Anab' longer-range missiles
are bernq replaced by a new missile
beheved to be the AA-X-g. Despite
some reports to the contrary there is no
evrdence that the aircraft carries an
rnternal cannon, though thts could be
f,tted as an external pod. Unlike Fron-
tal Aviation aircraft, which regularly
use roads as strips, the Su-15 needs a
long paved runway of 2000-3000 m
(6560-9840 ft), and streams its draqt
chute on landing. The Su-15 carries a
comprehensive internal fit of hiqhly
capable electronic warfare systems.
Cufient service versions of the Su-
15 are the 'FIagon-E' and 'Flagon-F
single-seat interceptors, recently in-
volved in the downing of a South Ko-
rean civil Boeing 747. Also operated
are 'FIagon-C' two-seat trainers.
Approximately 700 Su-l5s are still in
service, but the type is steadily being
replaced by the all-weather intercep-
tor MiG-23 'Flogger-G' and MiG-25
'Foxbat'.
Specification:
Sukhoi Su-15'Flagon-F
Tlpe: all-weather interceptor
Armament: two AA-3'Anab' missiles;
body pylons could carry two more but
are usually empty or used for tanks
Powerplant: two 6600-kg (14,550-lb)
thn.rst T\rmansky R- 13F-300 afterburn-
ing turbojets
Performance: maximum speed, clean
at high altitude 2660 km/h (1,653 mph)
or Mach 2.5; combat radius at high alti-
tude with two AAMs 725 km (450
Weights: empty probably about
l00OO kq (22,046 Ib); maximum take-off
estimated at 16000 kq (35,274 lb)
Dimensions: (estimated) span 10.53 m
(34ft 6in); lensth 20,5m (68ft 0in);
herghl 5.0 m (16 ft 6 in): wing area ab-
out 35 7 m'z (384.3 sq ft)
The prototype Su- I 5 'Flagon-B', with
lift-jets incorporated in the fuselage
(used only on this variant), but also
showing the distinctive kinked delta
p I anf o r m of subsequen t mode ls.

L flpot"u
When first seen in 196], this large su-
personic twin-jet was thought
Western obseryers to be a Yakovlev
desigrn, In fact it was the Tupolev Tu-28
Iong-range suweillance fiqhter, from
which was derived the Tu-28P'Fiddle/
interceptor. The Tupolev bureau num-
bers for these tvvo types were Tu-102
and Tu-I28. In many respects the
largest fighter in the world, and cer-
tainly the biggest and most powerful
ever put into service, the Tu-lZB has a
Iong fuselagre with enormous fuel
capacity to handle PVO (air defence
Tu-128'Fiddler'
Tupolev Tu- 128 of the Soviet air force with four
bY
out ground help, but the Tu-128 is
assrsted by ground radars and de-
fence systems which gmrde it towards
hostile aircraft. Then the extremely
large 'Big Nose' VJ-band radar takes
M3 'Ash' anti-aircraft missiles'
*a;i.r'$,F
t:"e
.:.E*nlr .....1!ri!M
!
and no other rnterceptor has been not even the Su-27 (Ram-K) or an inter-
seen armed mth these large weapons. ceptor version of Su-24 could offer
The weight of ths fighter is spread by equal area defence, but the 100-odd
bogne landrnq gears which in flight re- still in use were being withdratrn in
OO2
tract backwards into fairrngs typical of I

force) missiors coveringT vast areas of
the Soviet frontier. The oriqinal Tu-28
was intended to operate alrnost wrth-
over until either a radar- or an IR-
homing AA-3 missile can be fired, A
pair of each type of AAM is carrted.
I\polev aucraft of the era. Capabiltty
low-flying aircraft may have
aqrarnst
been rmproved since 1980, because
Specification:
Tu-128'Fiddlet'
Type: long-ranqe interceptor
Armament: four AA-3 'Ash'AAMs, two
radar-grurded and two lR-homing
Powerplant: two afterburningr tur-
bojets, almost certainly Lyulka AL-
2lF-3 each rated at 11000-kg (24,250-
lb) thrust
Performance: maximum speed at high
altitude 1900km/h (1,200mph) or
Mach 1.8; service ceiling 20000m
(65,615 ft); radius at high altitude with
four AAMs 1250 l<n (777 miles)
Weights: (estimated) empty 24500 kg
(54,012 lb); maximum take-off 40000 kg
(88,183 rb)
Dimensions: span 18, I0 m (60 ft 0 in);
lensrth 27.20 m (89 ft 3 m); hgight 7,0 m
(mh 0 in)i wrng area 80,0 m'z (860 sq ft)

The world's biggest fighter, the

Tupolev Tu- I 28 , k in service with the
Soviet air force. Deployed to remote
areas, they have an incredible
endu r ance of eight hour s.
Armed Forces of the World
US Rapid DeploUment
Force
Part I
As from 1 January 1983 the American Rapid
Deolovment Joint Task Force became a new
Coinniand known as US Central Command, or
USCENTCOM, under the control of the US
Joint Chiefs of Staff. This upgrading to com-
mand level of a force that has grown in num-
bers and importance since its conception dur-
ing the term of office of President Carter isi
significant, for it marks the'coming of age' of a
foice that had more than its f air share of being
a political football, and it also marks the arrival
on the global scene of a new factor on the
chess board of world military power.
The new command is still w dely known by
its abbreviated designation of the Rapid De-
ployment Force (RDF), and the new command
title will gradually be assumed and become
more familiar as time progresses. lts future is
now certain, despite many political attempts
either to do away with it entirely or to attenu-
ate its numbers and scope; but it is still in the
throes of organization and establishment, so
some of the planned details given below may
yet be altered.
During'Exercise Bright Star '82' USAF Tactical Air
Command deployed F- I 6 Fighting Falcons direct
from H ill AFB, U tah, to Egtypt in a I 4 - hou r no n - s to p
flight.
-=r*.,rr,
Headouarters and tasks
The heiadquarters of the RDF is at MacDill Air
Force Base in Florida. The commander is a
lieutenant general of the US Army, and under
his command he has 230,000 personnel under
a unified command that embraces US Army,
US Navy, US Air Force and US Marine Corps
units. The task of the RDF is wide and largely
undefined, based mainly on the fact that the
RDF will be called upon to protect the in-
terests of the United States and its allies in an
area known as South West Asia (SWA). This
operational area takes in 20 countries but spe-
cifically excludes lsrael. The main centre of
interest centres on the area containing the
Middle East oilfields and includes such sensi-
tive nations as lran and lraq (already at war
with each other) and the other smaller Persian
Gulf states. Put bluntly in such terms the RDF
appears to be but a force to protect American
business interests, but the wider intention is
to deter Soviet aggression in the area, for one
of the more important Soviet foreign policy
obiectives has for many decades been the
esiablishment of a blue-water port as an outlet
to the lndian Ocean.
The headquarters is at present a long way
from its intended theatre of operations and
moves have already been made to establish a
ffi
!E8tE5-i
-
Sikorsl<y UH-60 BlackHawks disembark troops.
Air-transportable by C-5 Galaxy, C- 141 StarLifter
or C- I 30 Hercules, the Black Hawk k armed with
upto liHellfiremr'ssiles, andcancarry I I fully-
armed infantrymen.
forward headquarters somewhere in the SWA
region. To date these efforts have been unsuc-
cessful, mainly as a result of the political con-
siderations that make the region such a source
of potential conf lict. The plan for a f ull move to
the region has now been replaced for the time
being with a scheme to establish a much smal-
ler forward headquarters of only about 200-
300 personnel in the SWA theatre, but in mid-
1983 negotiations for this were still in prog-
ress_
The USN component of the Rapid Deployment
Force includes three Carrier Battle Groups, with
one on station in the Indian Ocean at all times.
 F-'
.fu:'r:eC Forces of the World US RDF
=--=

: I : : . :-e end of Fiscal Year 1 984,

' :^.se J. ts have been part of the
:s on. Some of the unlts
^'. ":ept
e "ot Vet been f ully equipped or
' :^e r new role.
Army
:-^: I v s on r+
rL
' '.':o e Air Assault Division .a a.
: -.^ zed lrfantry Division a4-G. >
:---ecnnology Lrght r. e"
on (HTLD)
j
L s see below ,-

:.3 ii Srgade Air Combat 1 ]a

'^:ers and other Special
lperations Forces (SOF) various ,*, { r"
--. east one High Technology Light Division is
:' ce assrgned to the RDF but division is not
,:: formed) a +
US Marine Corps
\!1ar
ne Amphibious Force 1
4-E,, "r'g .'&ftia* ;:...Eii!" s.f!:dl
;onsists of reinforced US Marine division plus
-S Marine aircraft wing)
US Air Force
Tactical Fighter Wings (TFW) 7 Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginra, Above : D emons tr a ting U S long - d is a n c e
deployment capabilities, men of the 82nd
t

Strategic Bomber Squadrons
US Navy
Carrier Battle Groups
Surface Action Group
Maritime Patrol Air Squadrons
Each of the three main forces (US Army, US
Navy and US Air Force) has its own separate
headquarters, while the US Marine Amphi
bious Force operates under the control of the
US Navy headquarters.
For several reasons it is not possible to
place precise unit allocations to the RDF. To
date several units have been involved at one
time or another, and the usual policy is to
rotate units to and from the role for training
and other commitments. lt is known that units
involved to date have included the 82nd and
lO1st Airborne Divisions, the 7th and 25th
Infantry Divisions and for the US Marine Corps
the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit. One known
US Arr Force unit is the lst Tactical Fighter
Below:The Marines have beenusing the CH-46 Sea
Knight for troop transport since 1965. Wilh
modifications, they are Likely to be still in service at
the end of the century.
2 which is equipped with 68 McDonnell Douglas Airborne Division drop from C- I4I StarLtiters
F 15C and F 15D Eagles with their special during'Exercise Bright Star'82'. They boarde: :.-.:
long-range FAST (Fuel And Sensor Tactical) aircraft in North Carolina.
3 packs.
1 One other factor to be borne in mind ls that The Bradley FightingVehicle system. nav. e:::::: :
5 the US Army infantrv d,v,sion rs now r' a stdte service, will act as the RDF's army persor..e.'
of transrtion f rom its current to a new organiza carrier ofthe 1990s.
tional basis (lnfantry Division '86). lt rs planned
to make all current US Army units conform to
the new '86 pattern, which includes a siruc-
ture and equrpment revision to make all the
units involved more flexible and mobrle while
at the same time increasing therr combat
potential and firepower. The High Techno ogy
Light Division is a new concept being under-
taken by the 9th lnfantry Division at Fort
Lewis. Washington lt will be an air-
transportable division, without tanks and
based around 10 infantry battalrons, only two
of which will have any vehicles lt will be an
ideal addition to the RDF
To be continued Below: The Anglo-Americar .:.'.'
provides the M arine Cor p s .'. : : :
areas where other j e ts wo u i. ..
thanks loils unique V STC - : ='-

6 r-{iF'