Zamastanian Air Force
Zamastanian Defensive Air Force Z.D.A.F. | |
|---|---|
| Type | Military, Air Force |
| Membership | Total - 60,000 |
| Leaders | |
| Foley Sakzi | |
| Curtis Fondaden | |
| Establishment | September 21st, 1924 |
The Zamastanian Air Force, officially named the Zamastanian Defensive Air Force (Z.D.A.F.) so as not to be confused with the Zamastanian Armed Forces (Z.A.F.) is Zamastan's aerial warfare force. The Air Force heavily assists other branches of the Zamastanian Armed Forces, including the Zamastanian Naval Forces and Zamastanian Army. The force maintains an operational fleet of various types of aircraft, described by the ZDAF as being "leading-edge" in terms of technology. This largely consists of fixed-wing aircraft, including: fighter and strike aircraft, airborne early warning and control aircraft, ISTAR and SIGINT aircraft, aerial refueling aircraft and strategic and tactical transport aircraft. The majority of the ZDAF's rotary-wing aircraft form part of the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command in support of ground forces. Most of the ZDAF's aircraft and personnel are based in Zamastan, with many others serving on operations on leased bases in Vulkaria and Cadair.
Aircraft
The Zamastanian Air Force has over 1,638 aircraft in service as of December 2018. The various aircraft of the Air Force include:
A – Attack
The attack aircraft of the ZDAF are designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as close air support for, and in proximity to, Zamastanian ground forces. The proximity to friendly forces require precision strikes from these aircraft that are not always possible with bomber aircraft. Their role is tactical rather than strategic, operating at the front of the battle rather than against targets deeper in the enemy's rear. The Air Force is currently running the OA-X experiment, with the intent to procure an off the shelf light attack aircraft.
- AC-130J Ghostrider
- AC-130U Spooky II
- AC-130W Stinger II
B – Bombers
Zamastanian Air Force bombers are strategic weapons, primarily used for long range strike missions with conventional ordinance. Traditionally used for attacking strategic targets, many bombers are also used in the tactical mission, such as providing close air support for ground forces and tactical interdiction missions.
The service's B-2A aircraft entered service in the 1990s, its B-1B aircraft in the 1980s and its current B-52H aircraft in the early 1960s. The B-52 Stratofortress airframe design is over 60 years old and the B-52H aircraft currently in the active inventory were all built between 1960 and 1962. The B-52H is scheduled to remain in service for another 30 years, which would keep the airframe in service for nearly 90 years, an unprecedented length of service for any aircraft. The B-21 is projected to replace the B-52 and parts of the B-1B force by the mid-2020s.
- B-1B Lancer
- B-2A Spirit
- B-52H Stratofortress
C – Transport
Transport aircraft are typically used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in uncontrolled airspace. The workhorses of the ZDAF airlift forces are the C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-5 Galaxy. The CV-22 is used by the Zamastanian Air Force for special operations. It conducts long-range, special operations missions, and is equipped with extra fuel tanks and terrain-following radar. Some aircraft serve specialized transportation roles such as executive/embassy support (C-12), Exploratory Support (LC-130H), and AFSOC support (C-27J, C-145A, and C-146A). Although most of the Air Force's cargo aircraft were specially designed with the Air Force in mind, some aircraft such as the C-12 Huron (Beechcraft Super King Air) and C-146 (Dornier 328) are militarized conversions of existing civilian aircraft. Transport aircraft are operated by Air Mobility Command and Air Force Special Operations Command.
- C-5B, C-5C and C-5M Galaxy
- C-12C, C-12D, C-12F and C-12J Huron
- C-17A Globemaster III
- C-27J Spartan
- C-130H, LC-130H, and WC-130H Hercules
- C-130J and C-130J-30 Super Hercules
- C-144
- C-145A Skytruck
- C-146A Wolfhound
- CV-22B Osprey
E – Special Electronic
The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent an advantage in the EMS and ensure friendly, unimpeded access to the EM spectrum portion of the information environment. Electronic warfare aircraft are used to keep airspaces friendly, and send critical information to anyone who needs it. They are often called "The Eye in the Sky". The roles of the aircraft vary greatly among the different variants to include Electronic Warfare/Jamming (EC-130H), Psychological Operations/Communications (EC-130J), Airborne Early Warning and Control (E-3), Airborne Command Post (E-4B), ground targeting radar (E-8C), range control (E-9A), and communications relay (E-11A, EQ-4B).
- E-3B, E-3C and E-3G Sentry
- E-4B "Nightwatch"
- E-8C JSTARS
- E-9A Widget
- E-11A
- EC-130H Compass Call
- EC-130J Commando Solo
- EQ-4B Global Hawk
F – Fighter
The fighter aircraft of the ZDAF are small, fast, and maneuverable military aircraft primarily used for air-to-air combat. Many of these fighters have secondary ground-attack capabilities, and some are dual-roled as fighter-bombers (e.g., the F-16 Fighting Falcon); the term "fighter" is also sometimes used colloquially for dedicated ground-attack aircraft, such as the F-117 Nighthawk. Other missions include interception of bombers and other fighters, reconnaissance, and patrol. The F-16 is currently used by the USAF Air Demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, while a small number of both man-rated and non-man-rated F-4 Phantom II are retained as QF-4 aircraft for use as Full Scale Aerial Targets (FSAT) or as part of the USAF Heritage Flight program. These extant QF-4 aircraft are being replaced in the FSAT role by early model F-16 aircraft converted to QF-16 configuration. The ZDAF has 925 fighters in service as of September 2018.
- F-15C and F-15D Eagle
- F-15E Strike Eagle
- F-16C and F-16D Fighting Falcon
- F-22A Raptor
- F-35A Lightning II
H – Search and rescue
These aircraft are used for search and rescue and combat search and rescue on land or sea. The HC-130N/P aircraft are being replaced by newer HC-130J models. HH-60U are replacement aircraft for "G" models that have been lost in combat operations or accidents. New HH-60W helicopters are under development to replace both the "G" and "U" model Pave Hawks.
- HC-130N and HC-130P Combat King
- HC-130J Combat King II
- HH-60G and HH-60U Pave Hawk
K – Tanker
The ZDAF's KC-135 and KC-10 aerial refueling aircraft are based on civilian jets. The ZDAF aircraft are equipped primarily for providing the fuel via a tail-mounted refueling boom, and can be equipped with "probe and drogue" refueling systems. Air-to-air refueling is extensively used in large-scale operations and also used in normal operations; fighters, bombers, and cargo aircraft rely heavily on the lesser-known "tanker" aircraft. This makes these aircraft an essential part of the Air Force's global mobility and the U.S. force projection. The KC-46A Pegasus is undergoing testing and is projected to be delivered to ZDAF units starting in 2019.
- KC-10A Extender
- KC-135R and KC-135T Stratotanker
M – Multi-mission
Specialized multi-mission aircraft provide support for global special operations missions. These aircraft conduct infiltration, exfiltration, resupply, and refueling for SOF teams from improvised or otherwise short runways. The MC-130J is currently being fielded to replace "H" and "P" models used by Special Operations Command. The MC-12W is used in the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) role.
Initial generations of RPAs were primarily surveillance aircraft, but some were fitted with weaponry (such as the MQ-1 Predator, which used AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles). An armed RPA is known as an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
- MC-12W Liberty
- MC-130H Combat Talon II
- MC-130J Commando II
- MC-130P Combat Shadow
- MQ-1B Predator
- MQ-9B Reaper
O – Observation
These aircraft are modified to observe (through visual or other means) and report tactical information concerning composition and disposition of forces. The OC-135 is specifically designed to support the Treaty on Open Skies by observing bases and operations of party members under the 2002 signed treaty.
- OC-135B Open Skies
R – Reconnaissance
The reconnaissance aircraft of the ZDAF are used for monitoring enemy activity, originally carrying no armament. Although the U-2 is designated as a 'utility' aircraft, it is a reconnaissance platform. The roles of the aircraft vary greatly among the different variants to include general monitoring (RC-26B), Ballistic missile monitoring (RC-135S), Electronic Intelligence gathering (RC-135U), Signal Intelligence gathering (RC-135V/W), and high altitude surveillance (U-2)
Several unmanned remotely controlled reconnaissance aircraft (RPAs), have been developed and deployed. Recently, the RPAs have been seen to offer the possibility of cheaper, more capable fighting machines that can be used without risk to aircrews.
- RC-26B
- RC-135S Cobra Ball
- RC-135U Combat Sent
- RC-135V and RC-135W Rivet Joint
- RQ-4B Global Hawk
- RQ-11 Raven
- RQ-170 Sentinel
- U-2S "Dragon Lady"
T – Trainer
The Zamastanian Air Force's trainer aircraft are used to train pilots, combat systems officers, and other aircrew in their duties.
- T-1A Jayhawk
- T-6A Texan II
- T-38A, T-38B, T-38C, and AT-38B Talon
- TG – Trainer gliders
Several gliders are used by the USAF, primarily used for cadet flying training at the Zamastanian Air Force Academy in Tofino.
- TG-15A
- TG-15B
U – Utility
Utility aircraft are used basically for what they are needed for at the time. For example, a Huey may be used to transport personnel around a large base or launch site, while it can also be used for evacuation. These aircraft are all around use aircraft.
- U-28A
- UH-1N Iroquois
- UV-18B Twin Otter
V – VIP staff transport
These aircraft are used for the transportation of Very Important Persons (VIPs). Notable people include the President of Zamastan, Cabinet secretaries, government officials (e.g., senators and representatives), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other key personnel.
- VC-25A (two used as Zian Prime 0)
- C-20A, C20B, C20C, C-20G and C20H
- C-21A Learjet
- C-32A and C-32B
- C-37A and C-37B
- C-38A Courier
- C-40B and C-40C
W – Weather reconnaissance
These aircraft are used to study meteorological events such as hurricanes and typhoons.
- WC-130J Hurricane Hunter
- WC-135C and WC-135W Constant Phoenix