beaconoutbound

Was ~320k on IG. Stopped posting. Fed up with forever chasing the IG algo. Waste of time and energy. New start, new content here on X. Lets see how it goes.

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 MiG-23 Defection to Israel:
🇮🇱 #Israel
🇸🇾 #Syria
🛩️ #mig23

Defection Event:

On 11 October 1989, Major Bassam, flying a nearly new MiG-23ML 'Flogger-G', defected from Syria to Israel, landing at a remote agricultural airstrip at Megiddo. This event marked a notable incident of military defection, highlighting individual grievances and security lapses.

Reasons for Defection:

Major Bassam cited personal persecution by the Syrian secret police due to his Sunni Muslim faith, including physical assaults and imprisonment, alongside dissatisfaction with his living conditions at a primitive airbase. His successful defection followed a previously thwarted attempt, which he had dismissed as a navigational error.

Flight Details:

Departing from a training mission with another MiG-23, Bassam executed a low-level flight across the Golan Heights at high speed, effectively evading Israeli interception efforts despite being tracked by radar—a deviation from standard Israeli Air Force procedures to engage such intrusions.

Aftermath and Repercussions:

The incident prompted an internal investigation within the Israeli military, resulting in administrative reprimands for a Lieutenant Colonel and a Colonel due to judgment errors in not intercepting the aircraft as protocol demanded.

Significance of the Aircraft:

The MiG-23ML carried standard armaments, including an internal cannon and a Syrian-made chaff dispenser. It was notably equipped with 'High Lark' technology, contrasting with the 'Jay Bird'-equipped 'Flogger-E' models previously acquired by Western forces. Israel anticipated gaining valuable insights into Syrian Air Force tactics, training, and morale from debriefing Major Bassam. The aircraft is expected to eventually be displayed in the IDF/AF Museum alongside other captured military assets.

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the archives

 Ukraine's Nuclear Disarmament Agreement
🇺🇸 #UnitedStates
🇺🇦 #Ukraine
🇷🇺 #Russia

🗞️Historic Agreement:

Ukraine reached a landmark deal with the USA and Russia on 14 January 1994, committing to the elimination of 1,804 Soviet-era nuclear weapons on its soil. This arsenal included 780 warheads for RS-18 (SS-19 'Stiletto') ICBMs, 460 for RS-22 (SS-24 'Scalpel') ICBMs, and 564 air-launched cruise missiles tied to strategic bombers.

🗞️Strategic Assets:

The decommissioned weapons were part of the broader post-Soviet military inheritance, positioning Ukraine as the third-largest nuclear power temporarily. The cache encompassed cruise missiles for Tu-95MS 'Bear-H' and Tu-160 'Blackjack' bombers, alongside substantial ICBM warhead stocks.

🗞️Bomber Force:
Ukraine's air arm boasted a considerable long-range bomber fleet, including Tu-16 'Badgers', Tu-22 'Blinders', and Tu-22M 'Backfires', spread across various regiments. Despite the strategic significance, tactical nuclear weapons for these forces were reportedly relocated to Russia for destruction.

🗞️Economic Motivations and Concerns:

The disarmament process, initiated in earnest with the March 5 1994 transfer of 60 warheads to Russia, was influenced by Ukraine's economic negotiations with the West and concerns over 'Russian nationalism'. The agreement followed intense diplomacy, underscored by Ukraine's leverage over strategic systems and threats to retain control amidst rising regional tensions, especially regarding Crimea's independence and disputes over the Black Sea Fleet.

🗞️International Dynamics:

The disarmament underscored Ukraine's transition from a nuclear-armed state to a non-nuclear status as part of broader post-Cold War reconfigurations, balancing national security interests with international diplomacy and economic considerations.

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the archives
Ukraine's Military Surplus Sale
🇺🇦🇷🇺 #Ukraine #Russia

🗞️Massive Arms Offer:

On 26 January 1993, Ukraine made headlines by putting up for sale a vast array of surplus military equipment, drawing attention from African nations among others. This move was part of Ukraine's efforts to manage the enormous stockpile of military assets inherited post-Soviet dissolution.

🗞️Diverse Inventory:

The sale, orchestrated through the Universal Ukrainian-Siberian Commodities Exchange in Kharkov, featured a wide range of aircraft and helicopters with varying price tags. The list included 27 MiG-27Ks at $16 million each, 30 Su-17Ms at $7 million each, and 14 Yak-28s at $13 million each, alongside more affordable options like 10 Mi-2 helicopters at $0.7 million each and three Mi-8Ts at $2 million each.

🗞️High-Value Assets:

Additionally, Ukraine marketed advanced fighter jets and transport aircraft, including unspecified numbers of Su-25Ks ($11 million), Su-27SK/UBs ($31 million), Il-76TDs ($32 million), and Mi-24 helicopters ($7 million), indicating a significant diversification in the types of military hardware available.

🗞️Yak-28 Anomaly:

A surprising detail emerged regarding the Yak-28 bombers, listed as produced between 1985-88, years after their production was believed to have ceased. This revelation added an intriguing element to the arms sale, suggesting either a revival of the Yak-28 production line or previously undisclosed stock.

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the archives - 1989

Lebanon Air Strikes by Israel
🇱🇧🇮🇱🇸🇾

#lebanon and #IsraelAttack are trending so here’s a related article from 1989

🗞️ November and December 1989 Operations:

Israeli forces conducted targeted air strikes against guerrilla bases and political headquarters in Lebanon, demonstrating military precision and strategic warning signals to regional adversaries, particularly Syria.

🗞️ 23 November 1989 Raid:

Israeli jets targeted guerrilla training facilities in Sultan Yakub and Dier Zanoun, engaging in the operation without reported losses despite encountering anti-aircraft fire. This action was interpreted as a cautionary move towards Syria in the wake of President René Muawad’s assassination, suggesting a message against escalating Syrian involvement in Lebanon.

🗞️ 26 December 1989 Mission:

A group of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms executed a strike on the Lebanese Communist Party headquarters in Rmaileh, employing air-to-surface missiles that resulted in casualties and injuries among the guerrillas. The operation highlighted the IDF/AF’s capacity to perform precise attacks against specific targets to disrupt enemy activities.

🗞️ Supporting Ground Operations:

In conjunction with the air strikes, IDF/AF helicopter gunships, potentially Bell AH-1 Cobras, supported ground troop raids on guerrilla strongholds in Libaya and Marj al-Zohour. Additionally, a transport helicopter operation dropped troops at Nabi Safi to assault the Lebanese Communist HQ, marking a coordinated air-ground offensive strategy rarely seen in Israeli punitive raids.

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the archives - 1990
🇮🇱🇫🇷🇺🇸

Israel's Aerospace Developments in 1990:

🗞️ Mirage Facelift
A pivotal moment in Franco-Israeli military relations occurred in October 1989 when France approved SNEMA to supply Atar 9K-50 turbojet engines to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Kfir jets, aimed for export markets. This move marks a full circle since the Kfir's development was initially spurred by a French embargo following the 1967 Six-Day War, leading Israel to create the Nesher (a Mirage 5 copy) and subsequently the Kfir with a GE J79 engine. With the new engine supply, Kfirs could be upgraded to a configuration akin to the Mirage 50, incorporating Israeli avionics, despite potential U.S. reservations about J79 engine distributions.

🗞️ Combat Scouts Acquisition:
Israel has enhanced its reconnaissance capabilities with the addition of the first four Bell OH-58D Combat Scout helicopters. Distinguished by its mast-mounted sight system, the Combat Scout features advanced technology including a high-magnification TV camera, an IR thermal imager for automatic focusing, and a laser rangefinder/designator, significantly boosting the IDF's target acquisition and surveillance capabilities.

#israel #france #UnitedStates

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the news archives -1990

🇩🇰 Haerans Flyvetjaeneste

Assigned entirely to the passive duties of artillery spotting, observation and liaison, the Danish Army Flying Service is shortly to adopt an offensive role with delivery of 12 Aérospatiale AS 350L Ecureuils, each armed with four Hughes BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. In present form, the Service has 14 Hughes 500M light helicopters and eight SAAB T-17s, and spends 20 per cent of its flying time supporting the civilian police. Wartime mobilisation would result in vacation of the main base at Vandel and absorption of air force T-17s. One Company of T-17s and 500Ms is assigned to each of the two army corps (Eastern and Western), whilst an Anti-Tank Company has all 12 Ecureuils, plus four 500Ms for scouting. #NATO

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the Archives -1990

🇩🇰 Søvaernets Flyvetjaeneste

The Danish Naval Aviation Service became autonomous in 1977, but continues to rely on the air force's Esk 722 for support. Ten Westland Lynx in current service are unarmed, having
been bought for fishery protection duties in the waters around Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, operating from five ships of the
'Hvidbjørnen' and 'Beskytteren' classes. Lynx are now being upgraded from Mk 80 to Mk 90 standard with a radar warning receiver and a data link, allowing them to provide over-the-horizon data on surface targets for missile-armed ships. #NATO

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

📦 From the Archives -1990

🇩🇰 Kongelige Danske Flyvevaaben

Denmark's importance to NATO is that it commands the three narrow passages between the North Sea and the Baltic, effectively controlling the free passage of a significant part of the Soviet navy. The principal danger to Denmark during a European conflict is seen as an amphibious assault to remove the threat of maritime constriction and to free its air bases for use against NATO. Accordingly, RAF and USAF reinforcement aircraft are assigned to Denmark, and would operate from the reserve bases of Vandel and Tirstrup, while KDF aircraft dispersed to a dozen specially-prepared civilian aerodromes. The KDF, plus units of the West German Luftwaffe and Marineflieger in Schles-wig-Holstein, are the permanent forces of NATO's Air Commander Baltic Approaches (COMAIRBALTAP).

The 140 aircraft and 6,900 personnel of the KDF are backed by sizeable Reservist and Home Guard forces.
However, Parliament has severely curtailed defence spending, making cuts in strength inevitable over the next few years. Combat aircraft, in six squadrons, are operated by the Flyvertaktist Kommando (Tactical Air Command) and its associated SAM force, the Luftvårsgruppen. Two transport and SAR squadrons come under Flyvemeteriel Kommando (Air Material Command).
Between 1980 and 1983, 58 GD F-16A/B Fighting Falcons were received for air defence and ground attack missions, augmented from 1988 onwards by a further dozen. A third batch, also of 12, has just been ordered. AIM-9L Sidewinder is the principal air intercept weapon (backed by stocks of older -9B, -9H and -9] types), whilst Martin Bullpup ASMs and Mk 82 bombs are for surface attacks. Denmark plans to obtain Hughes AIM-120 AMRAAM for all-weather, medium-range interception and Hughes AGM-65G Mavericks for precision ground strikes.

Four squadrons are currently equipped with F-16s, a further pair having Saab Drakens in two versions for ground attack and reconnaissance.
Sixteen F 35s and 18 RF 35s remain, augmented by nine TF 35 trainers. Upgraded with new navigation and targeting avionics in the early- 1980s, the F 35s are as effective in daylight attacks as the F-16. During 1993-5, one of the squadrons will disband, the other due to fly six F35s, eight RF 35s and five trainers until 2000.

The small transport force of three Lockheed C-130H Hercules and three Gulfstream Ills is fully stretched by the need to communicate to, and within, the Danish possession of Greenland.
GIlls perform fishery protection and SAR duties as well as transport. Eight Sikorsky S-61 Sea Kings provide SAR coverage of the North Sea and Baltic, operating from detachments at Aalborg, Ronne (Bornholm island) and Skrydstrup, in addition to the HQ at Vaerlose. S-61s are receiving FLIR and improved avionics for continued service. Pilot training is undertaken at USAF schools, but Saab T-17 lightplanes are used for screening prospective candidates, and also as communications aircraft by base flights.
#KongeligeDanskeFlyvevaaben #NATO #draken


[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

The transport wing comprises six C-130H Hercules, four DHC Twin Otters, and three Dassault Falcon 20s, the latter also serving in electronic countermeasures training and calibration roles.
Eighteen Bell 412SP Arapaho helicopters were recently acquired to replace the aging Bell UH-1B/Cs. Candidate pilots undergo preliminary screening before heading to the USA, using 19 SAAB-MF 15 light aircraft from the Primary Flying School. Another duty of the Air Force includes overseeing the Luftverartilleriet (Artillery Observation Service), which operates 19 Cessna O-1A Bird Dogs flown by army aviators, with plans to replace these with armed helicopters being long overdue. #NATO

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

From the archives -1990📦

Royal Norwegian Air Force 🇳🇴
The deployment strategies of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, with its fleet of 200 aircraft and workforce of 9,400 individuals, are significantly influenced by a set of unique conditions. Positioned as a slender country extending into the Arctic Circle, Norway prioritizes its defence needs seriously. It heavily depends on substantial aerial support from NATO partners in wartime scenarios. Its defence strategy is centered around countering the potential threat of maritime invasions through its numerous fjords along the west coast, followed by an enemy push towards the south, a maneuver where the local geography and climate would advantage the defending forces.
Given the geographical extent, the Royal Norwegian Air Force is structured along a north-to-south axis—Luft-kommando Nord Norge and L/kdo Ser Norge—eschewing the common functional segmentation found in air forces. Norway's strategic location is pivotal for monitoring naval and submarine activities from Russia's principal naval base in Murmansk, enabling it to promptly inform NATO's air defence units of any maritime reconnaissance aircraft en route to the Atlantic. While Norway is a supportive NATO ally, it practices restraint to avoid being seen as aggressive; hence, it doesn't station foreign military forces near its border with Russia (apart from training missions in remote areas) and avoids military installations on the key Arctic Ocean islands.
The Air Force's main contribution to the Allied Forces Northern Europe (ANORTH) includes four squadrons of GD F-16A/B Fighting Falcons, part of an initial purchase of 72 aircraft, plus eight additional units to compensate for losses, currently in delivery. These squadrons are equipped for air defence missions with AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and are set to be upgraded with the AIM-120 AMRAAM for medium-range engagements and the AIM-132 as a new option. Interception training occupies upwards of 80 percent of their training schedules.
For ground assault, bombs and rockets are utilized, and Skvadron 334 has been equipped with the domestically developed NDT Penguin anti-ship missile. The Norwegian F-16s feature a unique braking parachute housed in an elongated fin-base fairing, designed for snowy runway operations.
From its previous frontline assets, only a single squadron of 31 Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighters remains active, providing close air support. These jets underwent upgrades in the 1980s with corrosion protection and radar warning systems and are expected to remain operational until at least 1993. The squadron includes a notable count of 13 two-seater F-5Bs, offering 'Europeanisation' training for pilots freshly graduated from the ENJJPT program in the U.S., with wartime tasks focusing on air defence and electronic warfare.
Excess F-5s, including reconnaissance RF-5As, have been transferred to allies such as Greece and Turkey.
In 1989, the maritime patrol fleet was updated with four Lockheed P-3C Orions for surveillance of Russian activities near the North Cape. Spain received five older P-3Bs, while two others were retained for Coast Guard operations, designated as P-3Ns with downgraded avionics. Additionally, the Coast Guard operates six Westland Lynx helicopters, typically deployed from 'Nordkapp'-class patrol ships, and these Lynx helicopters are unarmed. The fleet also includes nine (plus one pending delivery) Westland Sea Kings for search and rescue, currently being upgraded with new avionics, including FLIR and nose-mounted radar, elevating them to the Mk 43B standard. #NATO

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

Random Aviation Archive from 1991 📦

Details were announced in May 1991 of a multi-role conversion of the Saab Viggen due for operational deployment late in 1993.
Known as AJS 37, it will combine the qualities of the attack-optimised AJ 37 (110 delivered) with the reconnaissance features of both SF 37 (26) and SH 37 (26). Modifications to a total of 115 aircraft surviving from first-generation Viggen production will also include systems from the JAS 39 Gripen (Saab RBS 15F anti-ship missile, BK/DWS 39 submunitions dispenser, reconnaissance pod and various air-to-air missile options). Secondary duties include air defence, for which up to six missiles can be carried, including Rb 24J (AIM-9J) and Rb 74 (AIM-9L) Sidewinders.
#viggen #saabviggen

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

Solid investment for the winter I reckon 🌨️🔥

[Aviation @xAviation]

Crazy Boeing 757 flyby

📹: Jorge

[Flight Emergency by AirNav Radar @FlightEmergency]

A Canadair CL-415 plane has crashed in Italy fighting a forest fire…

[John Wiseman @lemonodor]

Last week a somewhat clueless Cessna busted the restricted airspace around President Biden in Los Angeles. The comms from the combat air patrol during the interception are wild. "TOI-1 is now renegade."

It took 3 "headbutt maneuvers" and 10 flares to get the pilot's attention.

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

Update: now squawking 1305

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

Emergency in progress.. https://t.co/R8OHV0cZGM

[beaconoutbound @beaconoutbound]

#7700 #emergency