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JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - JUNE 11, 2003
Call for expanded European F-16 partnership
DARREN LAKE, JDW Staff Reporter, Oslo
While Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) planners are still compiling a study of the lessons learned from a six-month deployment to Kyrgyzstan, Chief of the Air Force Maj Gen Tomas Colin Archer says the operation was a success and provided valuable experience for his pilots.
Six of the service's F-16 multirole fighters returned to Norway in April, having deployed to Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan late last year in support of the US-led Operation 'Enduring Freedom' in Afghanistan. Oslo's commitment of around 140 personnel formed part of a 440-strong European Participating Air Forces (EPAF) deployment to the country, along with a further 12 Danish and Dutch F-16s.
One of the most notable aspects of the RNoAF deployment was the service's first operational use of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) almost a year ahead of schedule.
This deployment of 225kg GBU-12 laser-guided bombs on three occasions represented a major achievement for the air force, Gen Archer tells Jane's Defence Weekly.
The air force was able to get its PGM capability up and running partly because of its close co-operation with Denmark and the Netherlands, which enabled Norwegian pilots to train with borrowed Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night pods. As a result, when the decision was made to support operations in Afghanistan, the service had a small number of pilots experienced with the system that could undertake the mission.
One of the major reasons for the success of the Manas operation was the close integration of the three air forces, says Gen Archer, who believes that the EPAF arrangement has been very rewarding for the partner countries. "As a small nation, we can have two, four, six, eight aircraft and it's OK ... but if we have six and the Danes have six and the Dutch have six, then that is quite a significant force," he says. "We went in there as one unit, not as three units. [We had] one command system, one logistics system, one support system. That means that we can make a difference."
In a bid to build on this experience, Gen Archer believes that Norway would benefit from even closer integration with the other European F-16 nations, including existing EPAF member Portugal and future operator Poland. "What we are looking into is the command relationship with the EPAF co-ordination unit, because we want it to be even more integrated," he says.
Maintenance is one area where the official believes integration should be enhanced. "We have to go down to something as basic as fixing the aircraft. I want a Dutchman to be able to fix my aircraft, and I want it to be signed out OK by a Dane. Now it is has to be a Norwegian who signs out a Norwegian aircraft and a Norwegian has to fly a Norwegian aircraft. I want the organisation to be much more integrated, like one nation."
To reach that goal, Norway is looking at the possibility of introducing a common certification process, with both military and civilian standards under consideration.
Any future joint deployment would also have to see greater harmonisation in rules of engagement, Gen Archer believes.
While noting that these worked well in Afghanistan, he says worries exist about the future legal implications for a mixed force such as the EPAF. "If you have a Norwegian flying a Dutch aircraft with a Danish bomb and an American [forward air controller] and you get the wrong targets, it's a lot of legal issues," he notes.
While Norway's aircraft returned home in early April after amassing almost 3,000 flight hours from Manas, Denmark and the Netherlands extended their commitment. The RNoAF did investigate the possibility of extending its deployment, but concluded that it would be of severe detriment to the service, says Gen Archer. "We told NATO [and] the Americans that we would stay for six months. We told all the personnel, the families, everyone that it would be six months. It is much better to do the things you say professionally, and say it will only be for six months, than saying we can do it forever."
According to the air force, the deployment also put a strain on the small number of pilots experienced in the use of the new targeting equipment and an extension would have put back wider training and readiness levels.
Beyond seeking closer integration, the use of common equipment remains a major issue for Norway if it is to continue the success of its EPAF involvement. There are concerns within the RNoAF that the politics surrounding the procurement of a new fighter could be detrimental to this goal. Norway is currently evaluating both the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to replace its upgraded F-16AM/BMs. However, the RNoAF has a clear preference for the F-35, as both Denmark and the Netherlands are also looking to purchase the aircraft. Such a step will ensure the continued fleet commonality that has been the cornerstone of the EPAF's success, say service officials.
Краткое изложение:
6 самолетов F-16 Королевских Норвежских ВВС дислоцировались в течение 6 месяцев на киргизском аэродроме Манас, поддерживая американскую операцию в Афганистане. Вернулись в Норвегию в апреле. Вместе с ними там базировались 6 датских и 6 голландских F-16. Норвежский персонал составлял 140 чел. Всего норвежцы налетали с Манаса 3000 часов. Использовались 500-фунтовые УАБ GBU-12 с лазерной системой наведения. Бла-бла-бла о пользе сотрудничества, особенно с датчанами и голландцами, и о богатом опыте. Сейчас Норвегия выбирает новый перспективный истребитель. В качестве кандидатов рассматриваются "Тайфун" и F-35, но норвежские ВВС однозначно склоняются к F-35 особенно в свете того, что Дания и Нидерланды хотят его тоже.
уважением, Exeter
Два вопроса? - Ертник С. М.16.06.2003 08:10:46 (259, 1038 b)
