Military Aviation > Air Forces
Which Air-Force is Best II
Viggen:
Ok, here we go! ;D
It all started back in 1926. That is when the Swedish air force was founded. Before that it was a part of the army and they conducted mostly recon flights. Back then SWAF had 18 operative aircraft. Twelve J7 Bristol Bulldogs and the rest was J6 Jaktfalken. Because of the tensions in Europe in 1937, SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan AB) was founded so Sweden would be able to construct their own aircraft. Saab 17 was the first complete Swedish manufactured aircraft to leave the plant in Linkoping the same year. But Sweden still continued to buy aircraft from Great britain, USA, Germany and Italy. 1939 SWAF had aprox 180 aircraft , from 1945 this had increased to 600 operative aircraft.
From 1945-46, Sweden bought American P51 Mustangs and the British Vampire jets. But it was time for a change, we would no longer have an air force with outdated aircraft. So during the 50´s the principle of roadbases started to take on. During this time SAAB produced three different types of aircraft for SWAF. First out was J29 Tunnan (also known as “the flying barrel”). Second was A32 Lansen (Spear). The third aircraft is well known, J35 Draken. This proves how fast the technologi and development rushed forward within the aviation community worldwide. During the mid 60´s another project was under development, project 37.
The first batch of Saab 37 Viggen was delivered to SWAF 1971. 100 aircraft where ordered at first, it ended with a total sum of 330 Viggens delivered. 1977 a decision was made that it was time to develop another new aircraft for SWAF, know now as JAS 39 Gripen.
So has SWAF ever been involved in war or real aircombat. The answer is yes. But this was for a peacekeeping purpouse. From 1961-64 under UN flag SWAF flew sorties over Congo during the Congo-crysis. They where equipped with J29´s and and shoot down several aircraft.
Training of Swedish pilots have always been of the highest quality, among the best in the world.
I cant come up with something more to write at the moment... :P
Gripen:
My go
RAAF became independent in 1921 (making it one of the oldest independant airforces in the world)
Involved in World War 2 (Europe, North Africa, Pacific), Korea, Vietnam, Gulf 1, Timor, Gulf 2
Served in World War 1, but was still called the Australian Flying Corps, (still part of the army, i think??)
Air Strength and Future
BAE Systems Hawk - 33
BeechCraft Super King Air - 8
Boeing 707 (tanker/transport) - 2
Boeing 737 - 2
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III - 2
Bombadier Challenger 600 - 3
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou - 10
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark- 21
Lockheed C-130 Hercules - 20
Lockheed P-3 Orion - 21
McDonell Douglas F-18 - 71
Pilatus PC-9 - 65
Up to 100 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (CTOL variant) — are scheduled to be delivered from 2013.
24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets. On March 6, 2007, Defence Minister Brendon Nelson announced that the Australian Government had purchased 24 F/A-18F aircraft to reduce the risk of a gap in strike capability, between the retirement of the F-111 in 2010 and delivery of the F-35A.
Six Boeing Project Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft, including another single aircraft optioned.
Five Airbus KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transports — to replace the dated Boeing 707s in aerial refueling and strategic transport roles.
Four Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs have been ordered to improve the RAAF's continental and strategic airlift capabilities. The first aircraft was delivered in late 2006 with the fourth aircraft being delivered in February 2008.
Maritime patrol aircraft to replace AP-3C Orions. The RAAF has chosen Boeing's P-8 Poseidon.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAAF)
The day World War II ended the RAAF had a total of 173,622 men and women working in 570 Units around the globe, maintaining 5,620 flying aircraft. The list of aircraft was divided equally into front-line and support machines which included 249 Liberators, 280 Mosquitoes, 378 Mustangs, 109 Dakotas, 109 Catalinas, 328 Beaufighters, 370 Kittyhawks and 367 Spitfires – war had transformed the RAAF into an immensely powerful force.
From June 1950, during the period of the Berlin Airlift, the Communist Party of Malaya commenced terrorist activities in the region. The RAAF contributed No 1 Squadron and its Lincoln bombers and No 38 Squadron Dakotas to the anti-guerilla operations (RAF Operation ‘Firedog’). They operated from Changi and Tengah, Singapore with a detachment at Kuala Lumpur, until 1958, moving supplies, passengers and cargo. The 1SQN Lincoln bombers dropped 85% of the total tonnage of bombs expended during Operation ‘Firedog’.
On 25 June 1950 North Korean troops also invaded South Korea. No 77 Squadron worked with the United Nations force to counter the invasion and commenced operations from Iwakuni on 2 July, flying mainly ground support missions, combat air patrols and escort missions. The Dakotas of No 30 Communications Unit (renamed No 36 Squadron in March 1953) also operated from Iwakuni during the Korean War, flying freight to Korea and evacuating wounded soldiers to hospitals in Japan.
Another aspect of the ‘Cold War’ was the RAAF deployment of No 78 Wing to Malta from July 1952 until February 1954. This time families, technical and administrative personnel from Nos. 75 and 76 fighter Squadrons, No.378 Base Squadron and No. 478 (Maintenance) Squadron also travelled to Malta. The Wing flew Vampire FB-9 aircraft leased from the RAF. They contributed to the air defence of the Middle East, in NATO exercises, regular air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons practices, as well as participating in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the subsequent NATO Exercise ‘Coronet’ staged in Germany - an exercise with over 2,000 aircraft and 40,000 personnel.
(http://www.raaf.gov.au/history/airforce_history/postwar46.htm)
The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990 paved the way for the formation of a multinational force comprising 40,000 troops from thirty countries to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions and drive back Iraqi forces. Over 1800 ADF personnel were deployed in the Gulf War from August 1990 to September 1991. The force comprised units from the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force. Operations were named Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Desert Farewell. No deaths occurred among Australian personnel although Coalition forces lost 166 personnel.
In addition, Army and Air Force provided personnel to Operation Habitat, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone in northern Iraq. Air Force support also included the evacuation of Australian nationals. Boeing 707 tanker aircraft from No. 33 Squadron also flew to the Gulf during March–May 1998 to support Allied air operations in the region
The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990 paved the way for the formation of a multinational force comprising 40,000 troops from thirty countries to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions and drive back Iraqi forces. Over 1800 ADF personnel were deployed in the Gulf War from August 1990 to September 1991. The force comprised units from the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force. Operations were named Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Desert Farewell. No deaths occurred among Australian personnel although Coalition forces lost 166 personnel.
In addition, Army and Air Force provided personnel to Operation Habitat, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone in northern Iraq. Air Force support also included the evacuation of Australian nationals. Boeing 707 tanker aircraft from No. 33 Squadron also flew to the Gulf during March–May 1998 to support Allied air operations in the region
(http://www.raaf.gov.au/history/airforce_history/gulfwar.htm)
On 25 October 2000 the UN Mission in Support of East Timor (UNMISET) was established by UN resolution 1272/99 and was implemented on East Timor's Independence Day, 20 May 2002. Currently Australia provides about 25% of the Peace Keeping Force in East Timor, conducting a broad range of functions and tasks, ensuring stability during the establishment of independence and the rebuilding of the nation.
In October 2001, Prime Minister John Howard announced that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) would contribute to coalition operations against terrorism in Afghanistan. Known as Operation Slipper, Australia’s original contribution included two B707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft and support personnel based at Manas, Kyrgyzstan to refuel coalition aircraft. A Detachment of F/A-18 Hornets was based at Diego Garcia, providing support to the Coalition. Australia filled the leadership position of Operations Group Commander at Manas during the air-to-air refuelling deployment, with RAAF C-130 transport aircraft also transporting ADF personnel and equipment to/from and within the area of operations. Currently our contribution includes the Australian National Headquarters - Middle East Area of Operations, located in the Middle East, providing command and control for deployed Australian forces, and two RAAF AP-3C Orion maritime aircraft on patrol missions and in support of aircraft carrier operations and maritime interdiction.
March 2003 saw the Prime Minister announce that the Government had committed ADF elements in the Middle East to the coalition of military forces prepared to enforce Iraq's compliance with its international obligations to disarm. Australia's contribution to the coalition, known as Operation Falconer, has to date involved about 2000 ADF personnel including approximately 650 airmen, airwomen and support crews deployed with 14 RAAF F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft, 3 RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, 2 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and an Air Forward Command Element responsible for coordinating air operations with coalition partners and providing national control of RAAF assets.
(http://www.raaf.gov.au/history/airforce_history/2000.htm)
Raptor:
Wow. That looks like it was taken from a book. Well, you can't really say the soviet air force THAT sucked. The cold war wasn't that bad for them.
Ok. I'm working on an RSAF one. Sergei, any info on Russia's Air Force?
Sergei:
alyster, this person on surname Rezun - first of all the traitor. That касется its "truths" it usually did so: took the underestimated characteristics of German planes and tanks and the overestimated characteristics of the Soviet planes and tanks. As to the military historian - a penny to it the price.
As a whole, I with you agree. German pilots had a high level fighting and flying preparations. Soviet - much lower. Though, there were some hundreds pilots which had experience of fights in Spain behind shoulders, and also on the Halkhin-Gole and which conceded nothing, and even surpassed Germans.
In general, I suggest to close this theme (I have in view of the Second World war) as it does not concern to this theme.
Raptor, Russian VVS very big, and I can't have patience to write about they. On scramble.nl site they have.
alyster:
From Suvorov (Rezun) I think I only borrowed the 150 000 pilots. He wrote quite alot about soviet pilot schooling and its goals. 150 000 pilots was the number he brought out. And it was sourced like any normal history writting with archival records and news paper links(old news paper stories). Although his overall point of view is still to be debated about among scholars, I don't think he missed with the number that much.
But I do agree, we have gotten off topic. But i no not agree that Rezun's thesis would be less important because he defected,
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