The Lincoln was the last piston-engined bomber to see active service in the RAF and, although it had a very long range, it was slow (290 mph) and had a low operational ceiling (22,000 ft). The Avro Lincoln, a development of the Lancaster bomber, entered service just after the war and was originally designed for operations in the Far East against Japan.
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These surveys were normally conducted with the full knowledge of the country involved and enabled the country concerned to be accurately mapped by the Ordnance Survey. Lancaster PR1 aircraft of 683 Sqn also conducted photographic surveys over various Arabian and African states. Between Oct 1946 and Dec 1953, 82 Sqn carried out surveys over Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, the Gambia and Kenya. The camera could be operated electrically or manually and the magazine held 200 exposures of 9 inch by 9 inch film.Īlongside Mosquito PR34 and Anson C19 aircraft, Lancaster PR1’s were utilised to carry out photographic surveys of various African and Middle Eastern countries, parts of which had not been accurately mapped. The large F49 camera had a 20-inch lens and when loaded with film weighed almost 87 pounds. The converted aircraft were fitted with the F49 camera, designed for air survey work of fine definition. Six Lancaster bombers were converted into Lancaster PR1 photo-reconnaissance aircraft by having their gun turrets removed and fared over. It has also been reported that China is developing another AWACS varient of the Y-8 using an electronically scanned phased array radar mounted in a fairing above the fuselage, similar to the SAAB 340 AEW&C Argus - given China's past record on 'cloning' stolen western technology, perhaps SAAB might like to check if any of their files have gone missing!Įven before the war ended some of the RAF’s strategic photo-reconnaissance aircraft began survey operations on behalf of the Colonial Office. On the other hand some speculate that one Y-8J is equipped with a GEC-Marconi Argus 2000 radar, originally intended for an undelivered Il-76, and is being evaluated as a potential replacement for the Israeli Phalcon AEW system after its sale to China was blocked by the USA. Some believe that they carry a modified RACAL Searchwater/Skymaster surveillance radar, eight sets of which were sold to China in 1996 on the understanding they would equip the SH-5 ASW flying boat. Exactly what equipment the aircraft carry is still open to debate.
It is understood that China has also adapted two Y-8J aircraft into an interim AEW fit. However, the aircraft also carry optical and IR camera and are used to monitor activity around China's land and sea borders. Around eight Y-8X aircraft, equipped with western navigational avionics, are used by the PLN Naval Aviation for essentially maritime patrol duties. However, China has license-built a large number of these aircraft as the Shaanxi Y-8. The Russian Air Force no longer operates the An-12 in the SIGINT role. Cub-B aircraft were usually dedicated for SIGINT/COMINT operations.Įquipped with various aerials and radomes under fuselage, versions of these aircraft were flown in civil and military markings by the Soviet Union, various Warsaw Pact countries and certain Arab states, notably Syria. Cub-A aircraft were sometimes equipped with large SLAR to the port side of the front fuselage. Like the Lockheed C-130, this four-engined military transport aircraft has been the basis for a wide range of special variants, mainly devoted to SIGINT, COMINT and ECM activity. It is planned to replace the G-222VS with 2 converted C-130J aircraft sometime between 2005-6. However, it was also used extensively during the Kosovo crisis. It is understood that in the past the aircraft has usually been targeted against the former republic of Yugoslavia and Libya. Very little is known about the operation of this aircraft other than it usually only participates in operations which are in the interests of Italian national security. Up to 8 mission operator workstations are provided in the fuselage the operators work for the Gruppo Analisi Elaborazioin Speciali (GRAES), the Analysis and Special Processing Squadron, which is also collocated on the base. The completed aircraft was designated G-222VS (Versione Speciale) and entered service with 71 Gruppo of 14 Stormo based at Pratica di Mare, near Rome.
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Alenia G-222VS In 1981 the Italian electronics firm Elettronica completed the conversion of a single Alenia G-222 light turboprop transport (c/n 4012 serial MM62107) into a specialised Comint and Elint platform for Sigint missions.
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