Compiled by Stewart Penney/LONDON Data Assistant Jeff Vernon/Air Transport Intelligence
The 12 months since Flight International's last World Air Forces Directory were most conspicuously marked by high-profile operations as global tensions multiplied. Tight budgets that have limited many acquisition programmes in recent years appear to be easing as the financial crises in Asia-Pacific and South America subside. Rising oil prices suggest the Middle East will again become a source of large orders.
Following the withdrawal of UN arms inspectors, US and UK forces on 16 December 1998 launched Operation Allied Fox, a campaign of attacks on Iraq that lasted three days. Sporadic skirmishes have continued throughout the year.
Between March and June, NATO took on Serbia in Operation Allied Force to thwart Serbian aggression towards its Kosovar Albanian minority. The campaign destroyed much of the country's infrastructure, forcing the Serbian army to withdraw from the province, now under the protection of an international force. Many believe that Operation Allied Force, in which power was projected was primarily through aerospace means, disproved the adage that air power alone could not win wars, but naval and ground forces were needed to cement the success.
A UN-led force was responsible for taking control of Indonesia's disputed territory of East Timor following an independence referendum. Although air power was not used for force projection, it was vital for delivering the UN ground force and vital humanitarian supplies.
India and Pakistan fought a major conflict in disputed Kashmir. Although this was fought with conventional air power, both countries are developing ballistic missiles, programmes that may be hastened to ensure availability the next time they come to blows.
In Africa the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict continues to inflict massive casualties and defy solution. Several ceasefires have been implemented, only to be broken later on. Air power has played a significant role with fighters launching attacks on cities and strategic targets while helicopter gunships are common on the battlefield. Angola's civil war has taken a step up in technology, with UNITA acquiring its own air assets as well as inflicting heavy losses with its MANPADS inventory. In the Democratic Republic of Congo air power from neighbouring countries continue to play a part.
Russia operates a predominately air-based strategy for its war in Chechnya. Although Russian air forces are affected by the country's economic predicament, its Frontal Aviation unit has maintained a harsh and steady offensive.
While the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and East Timor are viewed as newer areas of tension, traditional flash points, such as the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait, continue to give cause for concern.
Recent conflicts have underlined many old lessons. Kosovo and Iraq have highlighted the need for electronic warfare and surveillance assets. Continual use of such assets means a way must be found of increasing availability and, if necessary, the number of available aircraft. Nations without access to such equipment can be expected to acquire such capabilities. Strategic transports and tankers have also proved invaluable. It can be expected that numerous countries will seek to establish or enlarge such fleets in the near-to medium-term.
Abbreviations
* on order, may include delivered aircraft AAM air-to-air missile AD air defence AEW&C airborne early warning and control AGM air-to-ground missile AMRAAM advanced medium range air-to-air missile AOP air observation post ASM air-to-surface missile ASRAAM advanced short range air-to-air missile ASTOVL advanced short take off and vertical landing ASuW anti surface vessel warfare ASW anti submarine warfare AWACS airborne warning and command system BVR beyond visual range calib calibration CAS close air support C-in-C commander in chief CFE Conventional Forces Europe CIS Commonwealth of Independent States cmb sup combat support cmd pt command post COD carrier onboard delivery COIN counter insurgency comms communications ECM electronic countermeasures ECR electronic combat and reconnaissance EEZ economic exclusion zone EFIS electronic flight instrumentation system ELINT electronic intelligence ESM electronic support measures EW electronic warfare FAC forward air control FGA fighter ground attack FLA Future Large Airlifter FLIR forward looking infra-red FMS foreign military sales FY fiscal year GPS global positioning system HOT High speed, Optically-tracked, Tube launched HOTAS hands on throttle and stick HUD head-up display IFF identification friend or foe IFOR UN Implementation Force in the former Yugoslavia INS inertial navigation system int interceptor IOC initial operational capability IR infra-red IRCM infra-red countermeasures JSTARS Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System LGB laser guided bomb LIF lead in fighter MAD magnetic anomaly detector MANPADS man portable air defence system MCM mine countermeasures MLU mid-life update MPA maritime patrol aircraft MR maritime reconnaissance NAS naval air station NFTC NATO Flying Training in Canada obs observation OCU operational conversion unit OSCE Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe OTHT over-the-horizon targetting PGM precision guided munition PID passive identification device PR photo reconnaissance recce reconnaissance RFP request for proposals RWR radar warning receiver SAM surface to air missile SAR search and rescue SFOR UN Stabilisation Force in the former Yugoslavia SIGINT signals intelligence SIVAM Amazon surveillance project for special forces sp ops special ops STOL short take-off and landing Surv survey/surveillance TELINT telecommunications intelligence TOW Tube launched, Optically tracked Wire guided trans transport trng training TT target towing UN United Nations USAF United States Air Force USMC United States Marine Corps USN United States Navy VLF very low frequency
Source: Flight International
