ROMNIA

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS
95TH TRAINING CENTER BACAU
SECONDARY FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING
CENTER

Instructor: Mdlina MANOLACHE

Author: LT. Eduard VERBU

BACAU
March, 2003
ROMANIA

A.N. 2
The Antonov An-2, sometimes referred to as the world's largest
biplane, was designed as a multipurpose utility aircraft. The prototype
flew as SKh-1 on 31 August 1947. An-2s were built at KievSvyetoshino and Dolgoprudny until mid-1960s. After that the
production was transferred in Poland, to PZL Mielec, from where
more than 12,000 were delivered since 1960. Antonov estimates that
over 15,500 built in former USSR, Poland and China, of which over
6,000 remain in service with civil operators and with 21 air forces.
Also China produced the An-2 using the designation Y-5.
An-2 was very commonly used as crop dusting plane spraying
chemicals and fertilizer on agricultural lands. A number of An-2
airplanes also served as airliners in remote parts of the USSR. Some
Antonov An-2 are also known to feature a VIP interior of 6 to 8 seats.
Under the designation An-3, Antonov is currently proposing a
program to upgrade existing An-2 with a turboprop engine. Today, An2 is still in use in Romanian Air Force as a duty aircraft or for
paratroops training.

An-24
The Antonov An-24 is a short to medium range passenger
aircraft, which led to the development of an entire aircraft family,
namely the An-24 base model, the An-26 transport version with
loading ramp, the An-30 geological survey version with a modified
fuselage and the An-32 "hot-and-high" version with more powerful
engines. The aircraft first flew in 1959 and entered service in 1962.
An-24 are in a passenger layout - An-24 RV - and a cargo version
named An-24T also exists. It is estimated that well above 1000 An-24
have been built. The type was exported to almost all other states of
the Warsaw Pact. The basic Antonov An-24 is still widely used and
serves as transport aircraft in the Romanian Air Force.

An-26
The Antonov An-26 is the transport and cargo version of the An24 passenger airplane, and made its maiden flight in 1968. The two
most important distinctions between the two aircraft are the rear
loading ramp and the fewer cabin windows of the Antonov 26. The
An-26 serves as medium sized military transport. In addition to
carrying cargo, it is equiped with side benches to accommodate
troops or paratroops. Thanks to the rear loading ramp, the An-26 can
be operated without much ground support. Avionics include
weather/navigation radar, two ADF, radio altimeter, glide path and
glide slope receiver, marker beacon receiver, flight director system,
and
autopilot,
directional
gyro
and
flight
recorder.
An-26 has a large downward-hinged rear ramp/door, hinged to an
anchorage mounted on tracks running forward. Ramp/door slides
forward under fuselage for direct loading on to cabin floor or for
airdropping freight. When doing so, its rear is supported by the
pivoted swinging arm on each side which raises and lowers door in
alternative fixed-hinge mode. An electrically powered mobile winch,
with a capacity of 2000 kg hoists crates through rear entrance and
runs on rail in cabin ceiling to position payload. An electrical conveyor
facilitates loading and airdropping freight. The aircraft is the

workhorse

of

the

Romanian

Air

Force.

An-30
The Antonov An-30 is another member of the An-24 family. It
was designed as an aerial survey and photographic airplane,
employed e.g. for map-making. The aircraft flew for the first time in
1973. Some An-30 are also known to have been employed on
ecological survey missions. Various cameras and sensors are
integrated into the fuselage, and the airplane reportedly even features
its own darkroom. To make room for the equipment, the An-30
features a raised cockpit on the forward fuselage. As the An-30 is a
highly specialized aircraft type, it has only been built in small
numbers. The first An-30 reached otopeni air base on december
1976, in the same month it performed the first flight with romanian
pilots and thr first photo mission was performed in July 1977. For the
time being Romanian Air Force uses the aircraft for geodetic surveys
and "Open Skies" missions, performing the first international flight in
November 1990 in Hungary. In July 1995, a romanian An-30 was
deployed for the first allied military operation in Hungary.

C-130 Hercules aircraft

Romanian Air Force has a project for the purchasing of another
eight C-130 Hercules aircraft. The aircraft will replace the ageing fleet
of An-24 and An-26 transport aircraft that will be retired from service
beyond 2005-2006. At this moment, the Romanian Air Force intends
to make operational another C-130B Hercules plane of the two that it
holds
in
reserve.
The Romanian Air Force currently has in inventory four C-130B
Hercules planes, of which two are operational and two in reserve.

C-130 Hercules
In 1951 USAF forwarded a request of proposal to many major
aircraft companies, including Boeing, Douglas (future Mc Donnell
Douglas) Fairchild and Lockheed, for a tactical transport aircraft. The
new aircraft should had been able of short take off and landing, to
carry at least 92 fully equipped soldiers or 64 paratroopers at 2100
km or 30000 kg of payload at 1800 km, having two lateral doors and
one hatch in the back which could be opened in flight. Short after
that, in July 1951, Lockheed with his four engines Model 82 was the
winner of the competition, his aircraft being in many respects more
capable than it was specified. The production started in October
1958, the first prototype C-130A was used only for static tests and the
maiden flight of the second aircraft took place on 23 August 1954.
The aircraft was powered by four Allison T-56-A-1 engines, each
delivering 3250 hp and driving a three blade propeller. The first
production C-130A aircraft, carrying by now the name Hercules and
having more powerful Allison T-56-A-1 engines - 3750 hp, was on 7
April 1955 the aircraft being delivered to US Tactical Command in
December 1956. The C-130B model first flight took place on 20
October 1958, having 4 blades propellers and a bigger navigation
radar in the nose - APN-59. Later versions suffered many
improvements, the aircraft becoming more powerful, capable and
flexible, different versions including KC-130 tanker aircraft, EC-130
electronic warfare aircraft, AC-130 gunship. More than 2000 aircraft
are in operation at this moment in 56 air forces and until 1997 the
type accumulated over 24,000,000 flight hours. On October 25, 1996
the first four C-130B Hercules entered the inventory of the Romanian
Air Force, thus Romania becoming the first (and at this moment the
only one) former Eastern block country to operate this type of aircraft.

MIG 21 L.
Most of the worlds Air Forces have reconsidered their
programs and concluded that an upgrade is the best economic
solution for the aircraft which have proven their qualities, instead of
spending lots of money for building or buying new airplanes. Thus,
airplanes like F-4, F-5, F-16, F/A-18, T-38, L-39, C-130, Su-25, and F15, have been refitted with new engines, avionics, weapons and other
equipment.
Following this way, Romania has in its final phase an upgrade
program for the well known MiG-21 Fishbed fighter, which is the
backbone of the Romanian Air Force. The contractors for the upgrade
program are the Romanian company AEROSTAR S.A. and ELBIT
SYSTEMS Ltd. from Israel, and three versions are being built:
Lancer A - Air to Ground version single-seaters
Lancer B - Air to Ground version two-seaters
Lancer C - Air to Air version single-seaters
First flight of the prototype Lancer A - August 21, 1996.
The Romanian Air Force planed to upgrade 100 MiG-21 M/MF single
seaters - 80 A/G versions, only with a range radar but able to carry a
laser designator pod, and 20 A/A version fitted with an advanced
multimode radar. Also 10 MiG-21 UM two seaters have been
upgraded for the training role (there is an option for other 4 two
seaters). The program is approaching successfully to its end with
more than 100 aircraft upgraded and already in service. The MiG-21
Lancer fleet has flown more than 15,000 hours till now proving to be
an excellent choice. Originally designed as a point defense fighter,
development of the upgrade program has afforded the MiG-21 Lancer
aircraft air-to-ground capabilities, extended range and more
advanced sensors. The MiG-21 Lancer upgrade provides modem
combat capabilities and effective service life extensions at an
affordable cost. Modifications have been introduced to the cockpit
configuration, avionics architecture and weapons systems, enabling
the MiG-21 Lancer to compete with much costlier fighters and to
make the transition to Western standards. The upgrade program
keeps the existing airframe, which was retrofitted with an avionics
suite and new weapons integrated around two MIL STD 1553B
multiplex data buses.

The Lancer's new state-of-the-art avionics suit is combat proven on

other modern fighters in the most recent local conflicts, its
performance being compared with the systems of the F-16, F-18,
Mirage-2000, and MiG-29 SMT fighters.
Until the years 2007 - 2010 MiG-21 Lancer will be able to carry out
close air support, air interdiction, air defense and reconnaissance
missions, with improved capabilities for flight and navigation, target
acquisition, "surgical" strike, survival in hostile environment.

MIG 29 Sniper
As for most of the former communist countries, MiG-29 was
the most modern combat aircraft of Soviet origin in the inventory of
the Romanian Air Force, that had 18 aircraft in service on Baza 57
Aeriana (57th Airbase). Although still very effective from airframe
point of view, the type being kept in service by two NATO members
countries - Hungary and Poland - it became obsolete because of the
evolution
of
the
avionics
systems
in
the
'90s.
Aerostar S.A. started in late 1997 the activities related to MiG-29
overhaul. Step-by-step, the idea of an upgrade program for the type
came to light and in June 1999 an agreement for industrial
cooperation was signed between Aerostar, Daimler Chrysler
Aerospace (DASA) from Germany and Elbit Systems from Israel. The
program to design an upgrade package for the MiG-29 fighter led to
the
MiG-29
"Sniper"
combat
aircraft
demonstrator.
The demonstrator had a core upgrade package, that could be used
as reference for further versions, resulting from the options of
potential customers. The demonstrator aircraft was a MiG-29 single
seater (9.12A) provided by the RoAF. The aircraft followed a total
overhaul prior to the upgrade, and after that the upgrade package
was implemented, the whole activity being carried out at Aerostar
facilities in Bacau. On May 5, 2000 the MiG-29 "Sniper" upgraded
demonstrator aircraft performed its maiden flight, from Bacau airport,
Romania. The MiG-29"Sniper", registered "White 67", took off at
17.11 (local time), having at controls DASA's chief test pilot Wolfgang
Schirdewann, and landed after 42 minutes at 17.53 (local time).
The upgraded aircraft holded an excellent growth potential for
future integration of state of the art radar, fire control and EW
systems, also for the integration of Western weapons in combination
with the existing ones. The purpose of this MiG-29 upgrade was to
present an aircraft capable to respond to NATO compatibility and
interoperability requirements and to demonstrate the improved manmachine
interface.
The demonstrator aircraft kept a part of the original equipment
(RLS RP-29 radar, KOLS IRST and OEPS-29 electro-optical sight

and laser rangefinder), used a part of the equipment from MiG-21

Lancer (communication, navigation and identification, as well as
video systems, RWR display) as well as new equipment (the new
MMRC and ADC, MFCDs, HUD, HOTAS controls).
The official roll out of MiG-29 "Sniper" demonstrator took place in
Aerostar on 12 May 2000, culminating with the official flight. During
the week which passed since the first flight the aircraft had completed
another six test flights, having at controls pilots from all three
companies involved in the program: Wolfgang Schirdewahn - DASA
chief test pilot, Yehuda Shafir - chief test pilot of Elbit Systems and
Ioan
Viorel
Bilu
Aerostar's
test
pilot.
MiG-29 SNIPER demonstrator aircraft made its international
debut at ILA 2000 airshow in Berlin. To reach Berlin the Sniper
performed a nonstop ferry flight Bacau-Berlin having at controls the
Israeli pilot Yehuda Shafir. For this flight the semi-recessed 1500 liters
auxiliary fuel tank was fitted on the centerline hardpoint. Prior to its
departure to ILA 2000, the aircraft logged in total more than 15
flights/approximate 13 flight hours. The progress was rapid and the
test flight program was completed at demonstrator level. The program
MiG-29 Sniper was based on DASA's experience in system
development and integration as well as in the maintenance and
upgrading of various fighter aircraft and the success of Aerostar and
Elbit in the MiG-21 Lancer upgrade for the Romanian Air Force.
The work share structure in the program gives DASA the
program management, engineering support and performance of the
flight test program (joint with Elbit), Elbit the avionics development
and Aerostar the implementation and integration of the upgrade on
the platform.
However since the MiG-29 fighters of the Romanian Air Force
had been grounded in 2002 and there was no funding for the project,
the avionics package was removed and the aircraft returned to RoAF.
Finally, the MiG-29 fighters were retired from Romanian Air Force
service in January 2003.

IAR-330 SOCAT
The successful upgrade of the MiG-21 Lancer led to another
modernization program for the IAR-330 Puma helicopters. As the
previous program, this involves a Romanian company IAR S.A. the
helicopters' manufacturer and ELBIT SYSTEMS Ltd. from Israel. The
helicopters will get a new antitank optical&IR search and track
system, new fire control, navigation and communication systems,
helmet mounted display and new antitank and air-to air weapons. The
first prototype flew on May 26, 1998, most of the flight trials have
been completed and the full scale production has begun. 24 IAR-330
helicopters
will
be
upgraded
during
this
program.

Tupolev VR-3

VR-3 (Tu-143 Reis) is an unmanned, all metal, highly versatile

jet UAV used for reconnaissance missions, that could takeoff from
just about anywhere. It was configured for reconnaissance in difficult
terrain conditions and heavy air defense activity. The UAV has normal
monoplane scheme, with a delta wing, without any control surfaces
and all movable tapered stabilizers. The aircraft saw combat action
over Israel in 1982, operated by Syria. Israeli air defenses knew
about Tu-143 but were never able to detect or shoot down one. The
aircraft is transportable with a truck and reusable. More than 1000
VR-3 units were produced from 1973 to 1989 in Voronezh in three
major configurations: photo, TV and radioactivity reconnaissance. It is
propelled by a solid propellant rocket booster and a TRZ-117 jet
engine manufactured by Klimov NPO. The aircraft is equipped with
the ABSU-143 automatic guidance system, DISS-7 Doppler
speedometer, high-resolution A-032 altitude sensor. Reconnaissance
equipment included PA-1 photo camera with optical resolution of 20
cm from 500 m altitude, "Chibis-B" video camera, "Sigma" radiation
reconnaissance system. The aircraft is launched by the SPU-143
system mounted on BAZ-135 multipurpose truck and is recovered
with a parachute. The launcher is reloaded using the TZM-143
transport
/
loader
vehicle.
Entered
Romanian
Air
Force
inventory
in
1982.

Shadow 600 UAV is the result of experience gained from more than

17000 Pioneer flight hours, including over 700 hours during Operation
Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Shadow 600 is a significant
improvement over the basic Pioneer. A more powerful and reliable
engine was installed with a 250 hour interval between overhauls. Fuel
cells with fire retardant foam have also been installed in the wings to
extend endurance to 12-14 hours. The avionics include a digital
autopilot to decrease size of the avionics and reduce weight. There
are six components to the fuselage which are fabricated using
graphite/epoxy pre-impregnated material (Prepreg) and cured in an
autoclave on male or female molds. The wings consist of two center
panels and two outer panels. These are constructed using carbon
graphite prepreg and honeycomb for maximum strength. Shadow 600
has wheel brakes, tailhook, a ruggedized nose wheel assembly, and
an extended lithium long life (2.5 hrs) battery. The ability to quickly
change payloads (10-15 min) enables the commander to provide
responsive support for ground, sea, and air operations.
Shadow 600 entered the Romanian Air Force inventory in 1998.