[스크랩] 스페인해군 EAV-8B Matador II 항모 공격기

스페인 해군의 항공모함용 함재기로 운영되고 있는 EAV-8B Matador II 는 Rota에 있는 스페인해군기지 9ª Esc에서 17대를 운용하고 있으며 경항공모함 Principe de Asturias (R11)에 12대가 탑재되어 있습니다.


스페인이 도입한 Harrier II 기종은 기존의 EAV-8B 9대외에 8기의 신제작기체와 5대의 재생기체로 도입된 EAV-8B+와 TAV-8B 복좌형 Matador 1대등입니다. 현재 보유하고 있는 수량은 EAV-8B 9대, R/D를 장착한 EAV-8B Plus 11대, 복좌형 TAV-8B 1대 등 총 21대를 보유하고 있으며 무장은 GAU-12U 기관포와 AIM-9L 사이더와인더 공대공 미사일과 AGM-65E 메버릭 공대지 미사일이며, 스페인 해군에서는 EAV-8B에 레이더를 탑재하여 AIM-120 AMRAAM을 운용할 수 있도록 업그레이드하였습니다.


The Armada Espanola is now celebrating thirty years of Harrier operations, divided over three generations of this famous vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The first batch of six AV-8S single seat and two TAV-8S two seat aircraft were delivered to the Armada Espanola throughout 1976. A second batch of four AV-8S aircraft was delivered in 1980. The distinctive large air intakes gave the aircraft the nickname “Cobra”, although the official name is “Matador”. All of the AV-8S Matadors were operated by 8 Escuadrilla (8 Squadron), based at Naval Air Station Rota like all other Spanish Naval Aviation Squadrons.


These early model AV-8S Matadors, with their distinctive large air intakes and low placed canopies, received company when the Armada Espanola took delivery of the EAV-8B Harrier II in 1987. Between 1987 and autumn 1988, 12 EAV-8B Harrier II aircraft were delivered to the newly formed 9 Escuadrilla at NAS Rota.


The new EAV-8B Harrier II offered better performance and handling. It had a newly designed wing, which offered better performance at high speeds, better fuel consumption and increased fuel capacity. The Rolls Royce F402-RR-406 engine offered better trust and reliability than the old AV-8S. The EA-8B also has smaller air intakes and a higher placed canopy, offering better pilot visibility .

The remaining seven AV-8S and two TAV-8S Matadors were sold to Thailand in 1996, where they entered service with the Royal Thai Navy. After phasing out the AV-8S and TAV-8S Matadors, 8 Escuadrilla was disbanded.


During that same year, the Armada Espanola took delivery of its first EAV-8B+ aircraft. The Harrier II Plus program was a joint effort by the United States Marine Corps, the Spanish and Italian Navy to increase the effectiveness of the AV-8B Harrier II while sharing the costs of the program.

The largest and most noticeable improvement of the Harrier II Plus program was the installation of the Hughes AN/APG-65 multimode radar, the original radar system of the F/A-18A and F/A-18C Hornet. Although fitted with a slightly smaller antenna than the Hornet, the AN/APG-65 gives the EAV-8B+ a true Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capability. Armed with the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the EAV-8B+ can detect and destroy enemy aircraft well before they enter visual range. The radar-less EAV-8B can onl　　　y rely on short-range heat seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for self-defence. EAV-8B+ Harriers can easily be identified by their larger noses, which house the AN/APG-65 radar.


But also the strike capabilities of the EAV-8B+ were improved. The Litening II Targeting Pod enables the EAV-8B+ to undertake strike missions at night or in adverse weather. New avionics and weapon systems allow the EAV-8B+ to use precision-guided munitions including JDAM and laser guided weapon systems. The EAV-8B+ also received a new Rolls Royce engine, the F402-RR-408, delivering 10% more thrust than the older 406 engines. The Armada Espanola received eight “factory fresh” EAV-8B+ aircraft in 1996, which also entered service with 9 Escuadrilla. Of the remaining nine EAV-8B Harriers, three aircraft were lost in accidents, five were upgraded to Harrier II Plus standard by CASA in Spain.


Four EAV-8B “Day Attack” Harriers continue to operate next to the EAV-8B+ variants with 9 Escuadrilla, although the Armada Espanola is looking into a small upgrade of these aircraft. This upgrade would not give them the AN/APG-65 radar of the EAV-8B+, but would include the F402-RR-408 engine and some of the targeting systems.


Besides the EAV-8B and EAV-8B+ Harriers, 9 Escuadrilla also operates a single two seat TAV-8B. After the sale of the two TAV-8S aircraft in 1996, US Marine Corps instructors at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, trained the Spanish Harrier pilots. After delivery of the sole TAV-8B of the Spanish Navy in June 2001, Spanish Harrier pilots can receive their training at NAS Rota. But Spanish Harrier pilots in the making still have to travel to the United States as all initial flight training is conducted with the T-34 Mentor and T-45 Goshawk training squadrons of the US Navy.

출처 : 해군 병기사 모임

글쓴이 : 송상교(하128기) 원글보기

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