Socialist Republic of Australia Air Force
From Themarshallwiki
| Socialist Republic of Australia Air Force | |
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| Founded | 13 March 1921 |
| Country | Socialist Republic of Australia |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Part of | Socialist Republic of Australia Armed Forces |
| Air Force Headquarters | Canberra |
| Size | Over 850 aircraft, and 18000 personnel (2007) |
| Motto | Per Ardua ad Astra ('Through Struggle to the Stars') |
| Mascot | Kangaroo |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of the Air Staff | Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd |
| Deputy Chief of the Air Staff | Air Vice-Marshal John Blackburn |
| Air Commander Australia | Air Vice-Marshal Mark Binskin |
| Insignia | |
| SRAAF Roundel | 
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| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Tu-22M, Tu-22, Su-34, Su-24 |
| Fighter | MiG-31, MiG-25, Su-27, MiG-29 |
| Ground Attack | Su-25 |
| Electronic Warfare | A-50, Tu-16 |
| Reconnaissance | Su-24, MiG-25RB/RBK |
| Transport | Il-76, An-12, An-26, Tu-16N, Il-78, An-2 |
| Training | MiG-21, L-39, PZL-130, Yak-52 |
| Surface to Air Missiles | SA-2, SA-3, SA-5, SA-10, SA-15, SA-20 |
| Ballistic Missiles | SS-1, SS-20, SS-23 |
Contents |
History
The SRAAF was proclaimed in 1938 along with the new Constitution as the replacement for the Royal Australian Air Force. Given its small size, and its inability to unseat the Communists by military coup it did not get the same attention as the Army in political reform, as such it retained many of its traditions. Three years later, the pace of transformation increased massively with the SRAAF's first trial by fire. Accompanying the Army's Australian Popular Force was several Air Force squadrons. Personnel for 4 squadrons went to the USSR to join another two squadrons training for the SRAAF's new Polikarpov I-15 fighters. Australian Airmen also fought the Japanese closer to home. During the war, ironically, the SRAAF was equipped mainly with American made aircraft including P-40s, B-25s, and P-39s. Australian factories also turned out license-made Russian designed aircraft such as the Petlyakov Pe-2, Yakovlev Yak-3, and the Ilyushin Il-2, all of which were also flown in smaller numbers by Australians serving in the USSR.
After World War II, the SRAAF had become as Sovietised as the Army. The SRAAF entered the jet-age with the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 and the Yakovlev Yak-17. The latter was somewhat successful, the MiG-9 was a flop and actually stopped the Australian Government purchasing and building more MiG aircraft until 1950. Australia also received its first strategic bombers at this time, the Tupolev Tu-4 Bull.
The SRAAF took to missiles early, forming air defence forces of SA-2 Guideline missiles, and attack forces of SS-1 Scuds. During 1963, Australian scientists exploded Australia's first atomic bomb in Maralinga, South Australia. The SRAAF was on the frontline of the Australian Missile Crisis of 1969 in which Australia was provided a force of SS-5 Skean ballistic missiles. The Soviets had provided conventional warheads only, however Australian technicians had fitted nuclear warheads. The crisis ended with the Soviets agreeing to terminate the provision of technical support for the missiles. In the absence of this support, the missile force quickly became useless. Soviet leader Brezhnev later provided Australia with a force of SS-20 missiles, and the Carter Administration did nothing. Brezhnev also ensured that Australia could use them independently.
Australian airmen served in the Korean War flying MiG-15 Fagots along side North Korean and Chinese pilots. Australian airmen also served in Vietnam with distinction. 4 Australian fighter squadrons flew MiG-21s and MiG-17s against the USAF, and scored many kills, including the only two aerial B-52 kills of the conflict (both by MiG-21s)
Since Vietnam, the SRAAF has been less active, not participating in the war in Angola with the Army. It has acquired many new capabilities. Politically the SRAAF has had a mixed-history on the one hand, it is the only service trusted with nuclear weapons, but on the other hand, it has lost almost the entire maritime mission to the Navy, which now has a large force of land-based aircraft in addition to embarked aviation. It does however have one element of prestige, it operates the fastest aircraft in the South Pacific, the MiG-25 Foxbat.
Inventory
Strategic Command
Strategic Bomber Group
- 1 Squadron of Tupolev Tu-2M Backfire
- 1 Squadron of Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder
- 1 Squadron of Tupolev Tu-16 Badger (EW, ELINT, Reconnaissance)
Strategic Rocket Group
- 7 Batteries of R-17 Elbrus (SS-1 Scud)
- 2 Batteries of OTR-23 Oka (SS-23 Spider)
- 4 Batteries of RSD-10 Pioneer (SS-20 Saber)
Air Defence Command
Air Defence Fighter Group
- 1 Squadron of Beriev A-50 Mainstay
- 1 Squadron of Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound
- 2 Squadrons of Mikoyan MiG-25P Foxbat
- 3 Squadrons of Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
Zenith Rocket Group
- 12 Batteries of S-75 Dvina (SA-2 Guideline)
- 16 Batteries of S-125 Neva (SA-3 Goa)
- 7 Batteries of S-200 Dubna (SA-5 Gammon)
- 6 Batteries of S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)
- 4 Batteries of 9K330 Tor (SA-15 Gauntlet)
- 3 Batteries of S-300PMU-2 Favorite (SA-20 Gargoyle)
Frontal Command
Strike/Reconnaissance Group
- 1 Squadron of Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback
- 1 Squadron of Sukhoi Su-24M Fencer
- 1 Squadron of Mikoyan MiG-25RB/MiG-25RBK Foxbat
Strike Fighter Group
- 4 Squadrons of Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum
- 2 Squadrons of Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot
Air Lift Group
- 1 VIP Squadron
- 3 Ilyushin Il-62
- 10 Yakovlev Yak-40
- 1 Squadron of Ilyushin Il-76 Candid
- 3 Squadrons of Antonov An-12 Cub
- 2 Squadrons of Antonov An-26 Curl
- 1 Squadron of Tupolev Tu-16N Badger
- 1 Squadron of Ilyushin Il-78 Midas
- 2 Squadrons of Antonov An-2 Colt
Training Command
Tactical Fighter Weapons School
- 1 Squadron of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
Fast Jet Training School
- 1 Squadron of Aero L-39 Albatross
Multi-Engine/Navigation Training School
- 2 Squadrons of Let L-410 Turbolet
Central Flying School
- 3 Squadrons of PZL-130 Orlik
Basic Flying School
- 3 Squadrons of Yakovlev Yak-52
Aerial Weapons
Guns
- GSh-30-2 30mm Cannon
- GSh-30-1 30mm Cannon
- GSh-23 23mm Cannon
- AM-23 23mm Cannon
Air to Air Missiles
- R-60 (AA-8 Aphid)
- R-73 (AA-11 Archer)
- R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)
- R-77 (AA-12 Adder)
- R-40 (AA-6 Acrid)
- R-33 (AA-9 Amos)
Air to Surface Missiles
- Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge)
- Kh-59 (AS-13 Kingbolt/AS-18 Kazoo)
- Kh-25 (AS-10 Karen)
- Kh-25MP (AS-12 Kegler)
- Kh-58 (AS-11 Kilter)
- Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton)
- Kh-35 (AS-20 Kayak)
- 9K121 Vikhr (AT-16 Scallion)
- Kh-22 (AS-4 'Kitchen)
- KSR-5 (AS-6 Kingfish)
General Purpose Bombs
- FAB-100 100kg General Purpose Bomb
- FAB-250 250kg General Purpose Bomb
- FAB-500 500kg General Purpose Bomb
- FAB-750 750kg General Purpose Bomb
- FAB-1000 1000kg General Purpose Bomb
Guided Bombs
- KAB-1500L 1500kg Laser Guided Bomb
- KAB-1500Kr 1500kg EO Guided Bomb
- KAB-1500TK 1500kg EO Guided Glide Bomb
- KAB-1500S-E 1000kg GLONASS/INS Guided Bomb
- KAB-500L 500kg Laser Guided Bomb
- KAB-500Kr 1500kg EO Guided Bomb
- KAB-500S-E 500kg GLONASS/INS Guided Bomb
- KAB-250L 250kg Laser Guided Bomb
- KAB-250S-E 250kg GLONASS/INS Guided Bomb
Aerial Rockets
- S-5 57mm rocket
- UB-32-57 32 round rocket pod
- UB-16-57 16 round rocket pod
Rank Insignia
Air Marshals
Officers
Airmen
