Mozambique:

MiG-21bis: some 48 from 1982.

 

Do you have a source specifically identifying the type as MiG-21bis (Fishbed L or N?) ?

Mozambique:

MiG-21bis: some 48 from 1982.

 

Do you have a source specifically identifying the type as MiG-21bis (Fishbed L or N?) ?

 

Per Yefim Gordon's book "Famous Russian Aircraft MiG-21" it is both (pg 612.) But truth be told the Izdelye 75A (OR Fishbed L if you are counting) is a Warsaw pact version. The Izdelye 75 is the Russian version (Better Radar, Better guided weapons.) And the 75B (Fishbed N) is for export to countries outside the Warsaw pact like Mozambique (pgs 159-165.)

 

So in truth there should be THREE versions of the MiG-21Bis as factory built. MiG-21Bis (Izdelye 75) Fishbed L for Soviet Air Force. MiG-21Bis (Izdelye 75A) Fishbed L for Warsaw Pact Airforce. And MiG-21Bis (Izdelye 75B) Fishbed Nfor Rest of World Export

 

Craig P

Thanks to Brad we've now almost the complete South African OOB, and we can add easily the rival forces, basically centred in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War

 

 

Some sources talks about 20xMiG-23MS, but probably never used by Cuba neither by Angola.

 

Some people also state that the well used and near life expired MiG-23S was issued to Cuba prior to 1984. MiG-23S is the first full production version of the MiG-23 and features same radar as MiG-23MS. Given at a glance these aircraft look the same if the sources are correct about the MiG-23S it could lead to confusion with most of the worlds press citing the MiG-23MS which was not delivered.

 

However the MiG-23S was only ever fitted with the type I or 1 non air combat maneuvering wing and has a much lower ManRtg (DATA)

 

Craig P

Thanks by the explanations, Brad and Craig.

Yes, I was using "Famous Russian Aircraft" too.

About the MiG-23S in Cuba, Cuban sources says nothing, but they are not very credible either ...

Another easy idea:

Soviet submarines with the losed nuclear torpedo carrying capability, as Foxtrot and Whiskey, but not limitated to them.

I'm a bit confused then, it's already being used on the 15A Kolkata class in the DB?

 

Haha, right you are. Looks like I added it back in November. Okay, I will look at the Project 17A again. Feel free to post any info/links you think would be helpful.

Another easy idea: Soviet submarines with the losed nuclear torpedo carrying capability, as Foxtrot and Whiskey, but not limitated to them.

 

This ties in with an effort I need to be spending time on, that is, removing the 650mm torpedoes from modern day Russkie subs. Thankfully, the Subs Annex is roomy.

Looking for solid information on Morocco's F-5E/F Tiger III.

Per Yefim Gordon's book "Famous Russian Aircraft MiG-21" it is both (pg 612.) But truth be told the Izdelye 75A (OR Fishbed L if you are counting) is a Warsaw pact version. The Izdelye 75 is the Russian version (Better Radar, Better guided weapons.) And the 75B (Fishbed N) is for export to countries outside the Warsaw pact like Mozambique (pgs 159-165.)

 

Yeah, I was aware of all that. I was wondering which version Mozambique managed to get their mitts on. So 48 MiG-21bis Fishbed N for them? Seems a large order. Didn't include other versions?

Per Yefim Gordon's book "Famous Russian Aircraft MiG-21" it is both (pg 612.) But truth be told the Izdelye 75A (OR Fishbed L if you are counting) is a Warsaw pact version. The Izdelye 75 is the Russian version (Better Radar, Better guided weapons.) And the 75B (Fishbed N) is for export to countries outside the Warsaw pact like Mozambique (pgs 159-165.)

 

Yeah, I was aware of all that. I was wondering which version Mozambique managed to get their mitts on. So 48 MiG-21bis Fishbed N for them? Seems a large order. Didn't include other versions?

I don't see references to other MiG-21 version (neither MiG-21U, as remarked in some sources as absent in the Mozambique OOB).

And this was a very conjuntural situation because the Civil War. The sad end of the MiG-21bis force was: "After the pull-out of Soviet and Cuban instructors in 1988/89, Mozambique lacked the capability of continuing to support its air force and the surviving examples were subsequently left to rust in hangars at Maputo and different other airfields".

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_197.shtml

Thanks to the encouragement and efforts of guys like Enrique, and some creative recycling, I've managed to jam another 100 plus aircraft into the HCDB since the last version.

Looking for solid information on Morocco's F-5E/F Tiger III.

The last week I penetrate in Moroccan fora looking for data about the Mirage F1EM VI/MF2000, but I don't saw nothing about the Tiger III data. I will see again ...

 

http://far-maroc.forumpro.fr/t396-f-5a-b-e-et-f-des-fra

Probably with FIAR Grifo M radar (as in the Pakistani Mirage III/5, but sometimes is mentioned the more probable Grifo F (I keep with it), as in the Brazilian and Singaporean F-5E, and the Grifo F/X Plus), as is mentioned with insistency in the Moroccan fora (see below, but sometimes is mentioned the EL/M-3032), as the Chilean and Thailandese upgraded aircraft.

Flight Global states the radar is EL/M-3032: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/...-upgrade-64402/

Perhaps Israeli missiles also, ever was good relation between Moroccan and Israeli security forces, not now, after the Islamist government in Morocco ...

Elettronica ELT/555 ECM pod confirmed in the upgrade.

Litening II mentioned sometimes in the upgrade.

AGM-65B/G/L Maverick-equipped from origin.

AIM-9B/D/J as original AAM, and after the conversion in Tiger III AIM-9M and probably Python 3.

IFR from origin.

RWR ALR-66(VE) replaced by RWR/ESM ALR-606(V).

In the Marrakesh 2012 Air Show, the pannel in the F-5E TIII says she is compatible with Israeli missiles and recce pods (Literally: "" POUR LES RENDRE COMPATIBLE AVEC LES MISSILES ET LES NACELLES RECO PRODUITES DANS L'ETAT HEBREU ..."). And later, a poster in the Moroccan forum says the Israeli missile and pods are in Morocco: Python 3/4 and Lizard LGB.

24 planes upgraded in some sources, first one delivered probably from 2001, the last one probably in 2003, probably all the planes remaining, comprising perhaps 23xF-5E and 4xF-5F. Sometimes designated F-5TIII.

The Wiki in Français is more extended than the Spanish version and both than the English language edition, with missile types named (no Israeli missiles present here). The Wiki in Arab is ridiculously short (The French and Spanish are the cult languages in Morocco, the Spanish language is now of more limited usage than French, the Arab language variants are mainly for family and friends use).

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_a%C3%A...royales_(Maroc)

 

From the very detailed http://home.eblcom.ch/f5enthusiast/index.html site:

Modification of the remaining Northrop F-5E/F was also foreseen; negotiations were held with IAI of Israel around 1996 without follow up. Ugrading with RWR, improved radar (probably an FIAR Grifo F/X Plus), navigation, heads-up display and several other equipment was anyhow carried out, though there is no official information, possibly prototype conversion by SOGERMA and other conversions at Casablanca; both original Moroccan and some former USAF obtained these modifications. Elettronica ELT/555 active Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) pods were purchased in Italy; additionally Northrop Grumman Litenining designator pods have been purchased. All this gave an enormous improvement over the original Northrop F-5E/F-5Fs; new local designation seems to be F-5E III.

More on the Mirage F1EM VI/MF2000, after reading the Moroccan forum:

4xAASM 250 possible in inner twin pylons. First lot of 50xAASM, GPS/Inertially guided (Precis configuration: 2xMagic 2+2/4xAASM+ventral DT+1xJammer PAJ-FA+1xDecoy pod).

Intercept configuration: 2xMagic 2+2xMICA IR/EM+ventral DT+1xJammer PAJ-FA+1xDecoy pod.

RDY-3 (Ex- EC 400) radar: 108 nm range, LDSD/SS, PH=60. 8 targets capable.

PAJ-FA is a underwing slim jammer Barem derivated.

Damocles laser designator pod, INS with GPS/Laser gyroscope.

Corail Chaff/Flare dispenser underwing x 252 EM/112 IR cartridges.

Phimat Chaff/Flare dispenser in outer pylon x 152? EM/112 IR cartridges.

Wide and square new RWR (Cats-150?) in the tail, probably ESM capable.

About the delivery of upgraded planes rate (i.e. 12 in 2010, the rest to February 2011, IOC 2011?):

Normalement les 27 Mirage sont modernisé, car avec 2/mois depuis janvier 2010 la modernisation du parc des F1 est a terme ou presque.

Also are mentioned ARMAT (old, improbable) and Exocet as options, but as cited by the upgrade manufacturer (I see the Moroccan F-1EM VI are not wired for Exocet).

 

 

 

 

The ultimate designation is Mirage F1EM VI, the pedestrian explanation is:

Originally the Moroccan Mirage F-1 were:

Mirage F-1CH (H stands for the late King Hassan II).

Mirage F-1EH/-200 (H stands for the late King Hassan II).

Mirage F-1EM VI (M VI stands for the current King Mohammed VI)

 

Some sources:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showt...-Videos)/page54

http://archivomirage.blogspot.com.es/2009/...resenta-el.html

http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/mirage-up...hter-force.html

http://forum.keypublishing.com/archive/ind...hp?t-71685.html

http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=gCBPs5Kya5Y&page=1 (mention of the verosimil 200 Km radar range).

Looking for solid information on Morocco's F-5E/F Tiger III.

The last week I penetrate in Moroccan fora looking for data about the Mirage F1EM VI/MF2000, but I don't saw nothing about the Tiger III data. I will see again ...

 

http://far-maroc.forumpro.fr/t396-f-5a-b-e-et-f-des-fra

Probably with FIAR Grifo M radar (as in the Pakistani Mirage III/5, but sometimes is mentioned the more probable Grifo F (I keep with it), as in the Brazilian and Singaporean F-5E, and the Grifo F/X Plus), as is mentioned with insistency in the Moroccan fora (see below, but sometimes is mentioned the EL/M-3032), as the Chilean and Thailandese upgraded aircraft.

Flight Global states the radar is EL/M-3032: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/...-upgrade-64402/

 

 

If it is the EL/M-3032 it is one with a smaller than normal Antenna. The Nose of the F-5E/F Tiger is too small for the full size (F-16 sized) antenna without removing the guns and completely re-profiling the nose shape.

 

Although that is not too much of a problem as the EL/M-3032 is a modular radar system and has a scanner large enough for the F-15 Nose and smaller to the F-16 sized nose. No reason it couldn't have a scanner small enough for the F-5E Tiger.

 

Craig P

Sorry, I didn't get the stuff out on the Skrunda over the weekend. Its get's busy when you have two young children. Here are the stats, based on information for the class from Wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrunda_class_patrol_boat

 

Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen

Length: 25.7m (84.3ft)

Beam: 13.5m (44.2)

Draft: 2.7m (8.85ft)

Displacement: 125-tons

Size: Small

Speed: 20-knots

Sensors: Raytheon X-Band surface search radar and E/O )electro-optical sensor)

Number in class: 5

 

Names:

(P-05) Skrunda

(P-06) Cesis

(P-07) Viesite

(P-08) Jelgava

(P-09) Rezekne

 

Weapons:

MCM: 2 x 12.7mm machine guns and MANPAD surface-to-air missiles

Patrol: 2 x 12mm mg and capable of mounting a remote-control, stabilized 20mm auto-cannon on the bow.

 

This being my first time, let me know if you need anymore technical infor and I can dig it up.