jem3@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (John E McKillop) (06/27/91)
From: jem3@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (John E McKillop)
The following news pertaining to USAF aircraft and units was obtained
from the West London Aviation Group.
**** DEFENSE BUDGET REQUEST ****
--------------------------------
The USAF has requested money to purchase the following aircraft
during the '92 and '93 Fiscal Years. The number of aircraft and
the cost are indicated. The cost is in millions of dollars.
AIRCRAFT FY '92 FY '93
-------- ------- -------
B-2A, Rockwell 4 ($2456) 7 ($3144.6)
C-17A, McDonnell 6 ($1775.2) 12 ($3181.6)
C-130H, Lockheed 8 ($245.5) 12 ($257.1)
VC-137, Boeing -- 1 ($34.8)
E-8B, Boeing -- 1 ($326.3)
F-16C/D, General Dynamics 48 ($1073.2) 24 ($787.4)
MH-60G, Sikorsky 6 ($23.5) 10 ($31.4)
T-1A, Beech 37 ($167.4) 37 ($169.3)
With the continuing reduction in defense expenditures, the USAF
to be down to:
Tactical Fighter Wings
1990: 36 (24 active duty)
1995: 26 (15 active duty)
Strategic bombers
1990: 268
1995: 181
The comparision of the aircraft inventory between '91 and '93 is:
AIRCRAFT TYPE '91 '93
------------- ---- ----
Bomber aircraft 291 238
Fighter-interceptor aircraft 2,305 1,904
Ground attack aircraft 400 161
Reconnaissance aircraft 295 235
Tanker aircraft 538 469
Trainers 1,449 1,407
Transport aircraft 800 769
**** COMPOSITE AIR WINGS ****
-----------------------------
Following experiences gained in the Gulf War, the USAF is going to
create several composite air wings. The first of these is likely to be
formed from the KC-10As of the Strategic Air Command's 68th Air
Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina and the Tactical
Air Command's 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at the same base. These two
units to merge and become the 4th Composite Wing. Further wings will
integrate more extensively, with a wing possible consisting of tankers,
air superiority aircraft, attack aircraft, AWACS, etc.
**** UNIT NEWS **** (Arranged alphabetically by major command)
--------------------------------------------------------------
AIR FORCE RESERVE
-----------------
- 45th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Grissom AFB, Ind, to convert from
A-10As to KC-135Es by late '92 and become 45th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON;
to be partnered with the 72d AIR REFUELING SQUADRON and report to
434th AIR REFUELING WING.
- 47th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Barksdale AFB, La, with A-10As, to
gain 12 OA-10As by early '93.
- 63d TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON, Selfridge ANGB, Mich, to convert from
C-130Es to KC-135Rs by late '93 and become 63d AIR REFUELING SQUADRON.
- 71st SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz, to convert
from HH-3Es to MH-60Gs.
- 301st AIR RESCUE SQUADRON, Homestead AFB, Fla, to convert from HH-3Es
to MH-60Gs.
- 303d TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo, with A-10As,
to gain 6 OA-10As by mid '92; will to Whiteman AFB, Mo in '94 when
Richards-Gebaur closes.
- 304th AIR RESCUE SQUADRON, Portland Int'l Airport, Ore to retire its
3 HH-3Es and gain 3 MH-60Gs by mid '92.
- 305th AIR RESCUE SQUADRON, Selfridge ANGB, Mich, to transfer 4 HC-130s
to 71st AIR RESCUE SQUADRON, Patrick AFB, Fla by late '91. Its 3
HH-3Es to be retired.
- 327th TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON, Willow Grove ARFF, Pa, to gain 4
additional C-130Es.
- 336th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON, March AFB, Calif, to convert from
KC-135Es to KC-135Rs by late '92.
- 356th TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON, Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio, to convert
from C-130Es to C-141Bs and become 356th MILITARY AIRLIFT SQUADRON;
to move to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio when Rickenbacker closes in
'94.
- 445th MILITARY AIRLIFT WING (ASSOCIATE), Norton AFB, Calif, to
become fully operational wing with C-141Bs when MACs 63d MILITARY
AIRLIFT WING is inactivated. The 445th to move to March AFB by '94
when Norton closes.
- 457th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Carswell AFB, Tex, with F-16C/Ds,
to remain at Carswell when the base closes.
- 704th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Bergstrom AFB, Tex, with F-16C/Ds,
to remain at Bergstrom when the base closes.
- 706th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADORN, NAS New Orleans, La, to convert from
A-10As to F-16C/Ds by late '92.
- 731st TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON, Peterson AFB, Colo, to convert from
C-130Bs to C-130Es by mid '92.
AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (AFSOC)
--------------------------------------------
The 9th SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON, Eglin AFB, Fla, to receive
additional HC-130N/P aircraft in '91.
AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND (AFSC)
--------------------------------
AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST CENTER, Edwards AFB, Calif, to gain aircraft from
the 4950th TEST WING when the wing moves from Edwards.
AIR NATIONAL GUARD (ANG)
------------------------
- ARIZONA ANG: 162d TACTICAL FIGHTER GROUP, Tucson, to convert from
A-7D/Ks to F-16A/Bs in '91.
- CONNECTICUT ANG: 118th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Windsor Locks, to
convert from A-10As to F-16C/Ds by mid '93.
- HAWAII ANG: 154th COMPOSITE GROUP, Hickam AFB, to receive 4 KC-135Rs
by early '93.
- IDAHO ANG: 190th TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON, Boise, to convert
from RF-4Cs to F-4Gs by late '91 and become 190th TACTICAL FIGHTER
SQUADRON.
- IOWA ANG
- 124th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Des Moines, to convert from A-7D/Ks
to F-16C/Ds by mid '93.
- 174th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Sioux City, to convert from A-7D/Ks
to F-16C/Ds by mid '92.
- KENTUCKY ANG: 165th TACTICAL AIRLIFT SQUADRON, Louisville, to convert
from C-130Bs to C-130Hs in '92.
- MARYLAND ANG: 104th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Baltimore, with A-10As,
to gain 6 OA-10As by late '92.
- MASSACHUSETTS: 131st TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Westfield, to convert
from A-10As to F-16C/Ds.
- MICHIGAN ANG: 172d TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON, Battle Creek, to
convert from OA-37Bs to A-10As and OA-10As.
- MISSISSIPPI ANG: 153d TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON, Meridian, to
convert from RF-4Cs to KC-135Es and become 153d AIR REFUELING
SQUADRON.
- NEVADA ANG: 192d TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON, Reno, to convert
from RF-4Cs to F-4Gs by mid '92 and become 192d TACTICAL FIGHTER
SQUADRON.
- NEW JERSEY ANG: 141st TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, McGuire AFB, to
convert from F-4Es to KC-135Es in '91 and become 141st AIR REFUELING
SQUADRON.
- NEW MEXICO ANG: 188th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Kirtland AFB, to
convert from A-7D/Ks to F-16C/Ds.
- OHIO ANG
- 112th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Toledo, to convert from A-7D/Ks to
F-16C/Ds by mid '92.
- 145th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON, Rickenbacker ANGB, Columbus, to
convert from KC-135Es to KC-135Rs by late '91 and move to Wright-
Patterson AFB, Ohio in '94 when Rickenbacker closes and come under
control of 121st AIR REFUELING WING.
- 162d TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Springfield, to convert from A-7D/Ks
to F-16C/Ds by early '93.
- 166th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Rickenbacker ANGB, to convert from
A-7D/Ks to KC-135Rs and become 166th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON. Will
move to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio when Rickenbacker closes in '94.
- OKLAHOMA ANG: 125th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Tulsa, to convert from
A-7D/Ks to F-16C/Ds by mid '93.
- PENNSYLVANIA: 146th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Pittsburgh, to convert
from A-7D/Ks to KC-135Es and become 146th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON.
- PUERTO RICO ANG: 198th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, San Juan, to receive
1 C-26A by mid '91 and convert from A-7D/K to F-16A/B by late '92.
- WISCONSIN ANG
- 126th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON, Milwaukee, to convert from KC-135Es
to KC-135Rs by late '91.
- 176th TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON, Madison, to convert from A-10As to
F-16C/Ds by early '93.
AIR TRAINING COMMAND (ATC)
--------------------------
- 82d FLYING TRAINING WING, Williams AFB, Ariz, to be inactivated in '93
when base closes; T-37Bs and T-38As to be retired or redistributed.
- 323d FLYING TRAINING WING, Mather AFB, Calif, to move to Randolph
AFB, Tex with its T-37Bs and T-43As.
MILITARY AIRLIFT COMMAND (MAC)
------------------------------
- 41st AIR RESCUE SQUADRON, Patrick AFB, Fla, to convert from HH-3Es to
MH-60Gs.
- 48th AIR RESCUE SQUADRON to be activated at Holloman AFB, NM by
mid-'93 and be equipped with MH-60Gs.
- 53d WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON, Keesler AFB, Miss, to be
inactivated 30 Jun 91.
- 66th AIR RESCUE SQUADRON, Nellis AFB, Nevada, is currently equipped
with MH-60J's.
- 71st AIR RESCUE SQUADRON to be activated '91 at Patrick AFB, Fla and
equipped with HC-130N/P aircraft.
- 314th TACTICAL AIRLIFT WING, Little Rock AFB, Ark, to relinquish 8 of
its C-130Es in '91.
- 317th TACTICAL AIRLIFT WING, Pope AFB, NC, to relinquish 2 C-130Es in
'91.
- 437th MILITARY AIRLIFT WING, Charleston AFB, SC, to relinquish 3
C-141Bs by mid-'93.
PACIFIC AIR FORCES (PACAF)
--------------------------
- 3d TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Clark AB, Philippines. The 90th TACTICAL
FIGHTER SQUADRON was inactivated. All fighter operations scheduled to
be removed from Clark by 16 Sep 91. The volcano speeded up the
operation.
- 9th AIRBORNE COMMAND AND CONTROL SQUADRON, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, with
EC-135Js to be inactivated late '92.
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND (SAC)
---------------------------
- 2d BOMBARDMENT WING, Barksdale AFB, La to receive 1 additional B-52G
plus 7 KC-135A/Qs in '91; B-52Gs to be retired in '92 and replaced by
B-52Hs.
- 7th BOMBARDMENT WING, Carswell AFB, Tex, to be inactivated in '93
when base closes; B-52Hs to go to the 2d Bombardment Wing, Barksdale
AFB, La.
- 9th STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE WING, Beale AFB, Calif. The 5th
STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE TRAINING SQUADRON to loose 1 TR-1A in '91.
The 349th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON to be inactivated by mid-'92 with its
KC-135Qs going to other units.
- 28th BOMBARDMENT WING, Ellsworth AFB, SD, to loose 6 B-1Bs in '91.
- 42d BOMBARDMENT WING, Loring AFB, Me, to be inactivated in '94 when
base closes; B-52Gs to go to the 410th Bombardment Wing at K.I.
Sawyer AFB, Mich and KC-135Rs to other units.
- 55th STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE WING, Offutt AFB, Neb, to recieve 1
C-135B this year. The 2d AIRBORNE COMMAND AND CONTROL SQUADRON to
receive 5 additional EC-135J/Ps in late '92.
- 92d BOMBARDMENT WING, Fairchild AFB, Wash, to loose 3 KC-135Rs by mid
'93 and receive 3 additional B-52Hs by '93. Five additional KC-135Rs
to be received by '95.
- 93d BOMBARDMENT WING, Castle AFB, Calif, to be inactived in '95 when
base closes. The 924th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON to be inactivated in
'91.
- 96th BOMBARDMENT WING, Dyess AFB, Tex, to recieve 6 additional
KC-135As by early '94.
- 97th BOMBARDMENT WING, Eaker AFB, Ark, to be inactivated when base
closes in '93; B-52Gs to be retired; KC-135As to go to other units.
- 301st AIR REFUELING WING, Malmstrom AFB, Mont, to receive 10
additional KC-135Rs by early '94.
- 305th AIR REFUELING WING, Grissom AFB, Ind, to be inactivated in '94
when base closes; EC-135s to retire; KC-135Rs will go to other units.
- 379th BOMBARDMENT WING, Wurtsmith AFB, Mich, to be inactivated in '93
when base closes; B-52Gs to retire; KC-135As to go to other units.
- 380th BOMBARDMENT WING, Plattsburgh AFB, NY, to become 380th AIR
REFUELING WING in '91; FB-111s of 528th and 529th BOMBARDMENT
SQUADRONS to the Tactical Air Command as F-111Gs.
- 410th BOMBARDMENT WING, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich, to convert from B-52Hs
to B-52Gs by late '93; to receive a further 19 B-52Gs in '95. Wing to
loose one KC-135A by mid '93 and another 18 by '95.
- 509th BOMBARDMENT WING, Pease AFB, NH, inactivated on 30 Sep 90. Its
FB-111A were converted to F-111Gs. Pease is now closed.
TACTICAL AIR COMMAND (TAC)
--------------------------
- TWELFTH AIR FORCE, Bergstrom AFB, Tex, to move to Davis-Monthan AFB,
Ariz, when Bergstrom closes in '93.
- 6th AIRBORNE COMMAND AND CONTROL SQUADRON, Langley AFB, Va, to
inactivate late '91.
- 23d TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, England AFB, La, to be inactivated in '93
when base closes; A-10As to go to other units.
- 27th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Cannon AFB, NM, to convert from F-111Ds to
F-111Fs and receive EF-111As by mid '92.
- 31st TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Homestead AFB, Fla: 307th TACTICAL FIGHTER
SQUADRON with F-16C/Ds to be inactivated in '91.
- 33d TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Eglin AFB, Fla, to loose 1 squadron of
F-15C/Ds and gain 1 squadron with A-10As and OA-10As by late '92.
- 41st ELECTRONIC COMBAT SQUADRON, Davis-Monthan AFB, NM to recieve 1
additional EC-130H in '91.
- 48th FIGHTER-INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON, Langley AFB, Va, to inactivate in
'91.
- 49th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Holloman AFB, NM, to inactivate in '91;
its F-15A/Bs to be retired.
- 56th TACTICAL FIGTHER WING, MacDill AFB, Fla, to transfer all F-16C/Ds
to Luke AFB, Ariz by '94.
- 57th FIGHTER WEAPONS WING, Nellis AFB, Nev, to loose 2 A-10As in '91;
3 A-10As late '92 and 3 F-15Es in mid '93.
- 58th TACTICAL TRAINING WING, Luke AFB, Ariz, to loose 6 F-16C/Ds in
'91; another 24 in '92. By '94, it to receive the F-16C/Ds of the 56th
TACTICAL TRAINING WING at MacDill AFB, Fla.
- 67th TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE WING, Bergstrom AFB, Tex, to be
inactivated in '93 when base closes.
- 325th TACTICAL TRAINING WING, Tyndall AFB, Fla. To receive 405th
TACTICAL TRAINING WINGs F-15A/Bs by mid '92; 1 squadron to convert to
F-15C/Ds in late '92.
- 347th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Moody AFB, Ga, to be inactivated in '94
when base closes.
- 354th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, to be inactivated
in '93 when base closes.
- 355th TACTICAL TRAINING WING, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz to loose 6
A-10As this year.
- 366th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Mountain Home AFB Ida, to retire F-111As
and ship EF-111As to Cannon AFB when the unit inactivates to make way
for one of the new style composite wings.
- 405th TACTICAL TRAINING WING, Luke AFB, Ariz, to receive 6 F-15Es by
'92 and then loose 4 F-15Es during '94. All F-15A/Bs to go to 325th
TACTICAL TRAINING WING, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- 507th TACTICAL AIR CONTROL WING, Shaw AFB, SC. 20th TACTICAL AIR
SUPPORT SQUADRON to inactivated and its OV-10As retired. 21st TACTICAL
AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON to retire OV-10As and re-equip with A-10As and
OA-10As in '91.
- 602d TACTICAL AIR CONTROL WING, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. 23d TACTICAL
AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON to inactivate by late '92.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCES IN EUROPE (USAFE)
------------------------------------------
- 20th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, RAF Upper Heyford, UK, to inactivate in
'92. Its F-111Es to return to US and may be retired.
- 36th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Bitburg, Germany, to transfer a further 12
F-15C/Ds (6 to the 32d TACTICAL FIGHTER SQUADRON at Soesterburg, The
Netherlands and 6 to the US) reducing the wing to 1 squadron.
- 42d ELECTRONIC COMBAT SQUADRON, RAF Upper Heyford, UK, to inactivate
in '92. Its EF-111As to go to the 27th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING at
Cannon AFB, NM.
- 48th TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, RAF Lakenheath, UK to relinquish its
F-111Fs for F-15Es in '94. The F-111Fs to go to the 27th TACTICAL
FIGHTER WING at Cannon AFB, NM.
- 52d TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, Spandahlen, Germany, to return its F-4Gs
to the US and replace them with A-10As and OA-10As plus a further 18
F-16Cs.
- 81st TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge, UK,
with A-10As, to be inactivated.