Airforces Monthly April 2018

Description

Well trained, and operating some of the most sophisticated systems available, the Republic of Singapore Air Force is an extremely capable air arm. The April issue features coverage from both the recent Singapore Airshow at Changi and an assessment of the RSAF’s Air Combat Command as it marks its first decade and reveals an air force punching well above its weight. Cutting-edge fighter content this month also includes the first of a two-part feature on No 29 Squadron at RAF Coningsby to find out how the Royal Air Force trains new Eurofighter Typhoon pilots. There’s also coverage of the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen Operational Test and Evaluation Unit, where a small but important community is responsible for trials of all Gripen-related hardware and software destined for the front line, while a trip to Tucson, Arizona, brings the latest developments from the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 pilot training effort. Other features examine the Turkish armed forces’ Operation Olive Branch campaign in northern Syria, rough-field airfield operations by Royal Danish Air Force C-130Js, a review of the status of Mexico’s intelligence-gathering fleet, and a look at the progress of the Airbus Helicopters Tigre attack helicopter in Spanish Army service. Alongside all the world’s military aviation news and attrition, regular features this month include Flashpoint, looking at Niger’s desert air force; book reviews; a Force Report featuring Chilean Naval Aviation; and the fourth part of our European maritime patrol aircraft survey – the focus turning to Poland, Portugal and Spain. Finally, regular columnist Air Marshal (Ret’d) Greg Bagwell CB, CBE examines the key role played by aerial refuelling in today’s coalition-focused environment.