Sunrise Bay Air Force announced today plans to establish a third combat air squadron and acquire five new aircraft. Currently, the nation has two combat squadrons; a fighter unit and a ground attack unit. This addition will add aircraft to Sunrise Bay’s existing fighter squad and separate the old ground attack unit into a strike squadron and a close air support squadron. All of these changes come on the heels of a large expansion project the country recently completed at the Green Forest Air Base.
The five newly purchased aircraft will be Czech-made Aero L-39 Albatros jets, which were built from the 1970s through the late 1990s. While many air forces have retired the ageing platform, Sunrise Bay decided to buy five on them on the surplus market due to their low acquisition and maintenance costs.
“Granted, they are older aircraft,” said Major General Hunter, head of the Sunrise Bay Air Force, “but they are easy to maintain and I was able to pick them up very affordably on the surplus market. And, compared to larger aircraft, the L-39’s are extremely fuel efficient.” While hunter didn’t specify the purchase price, it was insinuated that the deal may have included the trade of locally-made weapons produced in the South Pacific nation. Fuel efficiency is of key concern for the country with a tourism-based economy, where all gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel has to be imported from abroad.
“What we like most about the L-39 is that it is a very versatile aircraft,” said Hunter, “they are great jet trainers – which is what we will mostly be using them for – and they’re capable ground attack planes as well. The kicker is that with the underwing hard-points, they can be outfitted with air-to-air heat seeking missiles and be used as defensive fighters in a pinch.”
The nation’s leadership states that while they don’t intend to use the relatively slow L-39’s as a primary air defense fighter, their long term goal is to eventually expand to five squadrons, including a strike squadron comprised of aircraft capable of serving a backup fighters to supplement the nation’s cadre of air-to-air combat jets. The short term plan is to assign one L-39 to the fighter squadron, three to the strike squadron, and one to serve primarily as a jet trainer. Long-term plans for a second strike squadron are built around the capability of the Albatros, in addition to newer, more capable strike aircraft. Eventually the country hopes to replace the L-39 from the fighter squadron with a brand-new, possibly Western-built jet, but currently fourth- and fifth-generation fighters are outside of the small country’s price range.
“We recognize that the L-39’s – which ended their production run in 1996 – aren’t the slickest piece of modern military technology out there,” stated Rear Admiral Stephens, head of the Sunrise Bay Military, “but they are reliable and capable little planes which should serve our country well into the future. While I see them as the mainstay of our Air Force once the five new jets are put in service over the next couple of months, eventually we are looking at newer, more lethal aircraft to add to our defensive arsenal.”
In addition to the jets, the nation has acquired a limited number of Soviet-built AA-8 Aphid infrared air-to-air missiles to equip the planes. While the Aphid has been outclassed by newer missiles, it is still in service with approximately 20 nations worldwide. The country has also expressed interest in purchasing underwing rocket launchers for the jets, and local munitions factories have already begun constructing bombs which will be compatible with the L-39’s underwing hard-points.
“I’ll be happy to see these five L-39 Albatros jets enter service,” said President Waggoner, “as a peaceful nation, we don’t want to build up a huge offensive arsenal, but we are always looking for cost effective ways to ensure the safety of our citizens.” The President went on to add that the nation was somewhat reliant on its allies for defense against an attack from a larger nation and therefore wanted to move toward self-sufficiency. Likewise, bolstering the nation’s supply of attack aircraft and trained aircrews, allows Sunrise Bay to send their units to assist its allies in multi-national peacekeeping missions and police actions. “We are firm believers that if we are able to dedicate troops, warships, and combat aircraft to aid our allies when needed, they will be able to return the favor in the unlikely event that we are attacked.”
The first of the five L-39’s entered service a few days ago. The second has been purchased and is being checked over by Air Force inspectors, mechanics, and technical specialists. It is scheduled to be placed in service within a week to ten days. The Air Force doesn’t have a definitive timeframe on when the remaining three jets will be delivered, painted in the Sunrise Bay livery, and put into service, but it was estimated that the country will place the third and fourth jets in service sometime over the next six weeks. The fate of the final L-39 is unknown as while the expansion at the Green Forest Air Base added hangar space, it may not be enough room to house all five planes. It is likely that at least one of the five planes will be assigned to the Air Force Squadron at Texia City International Airport, especially considering that is where Sunrise Bay’s military currently keeps its other fighter aircraft.
