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Air Force

Austria's air force (Fliegerdivision) is headquartered at Tulln-Langenlebarn Air Base twenty-five kilometers northwest of Vienna. The air force has as its missions the defense of Austrian airspace, tactical support of Austrian ground forces, reconnaissance and military transport, and search-and-rescue support when requested by civil authorities.

Until 1985, when the first of twenty-four Saab J-350e Drakens were delivered, the country had remained essentially without the capacity to contest violations of its airspace. The Drakens, reconditioned after having served the Swedish air force since the early 1960s, are armed only with a cannon, in accordance with the restrictions on missiles in the State Treaty of 1955. However, following Austria's revised interpretation of its obligations under the treaty, a decision was made in 1993 to procure Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The first of these missiles will be purchased used from the Swedish air force. A higher performance model of the Sidewinder will be purchased directly from the United States; deliveries may begin in 1995. French Mistral surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) were purchased to add ground-based protection against air attack. The first of the French missiles arrived in Austria in 1993; final deliveries are to be concluded in 1996.

Phaseout of the Drakens is scheduled to begin about 1995, and studies were under way to select a replacement, probably one that can be configured for both air defense and ground support missions. Possible replacements for the Draken are the United States F-16 and F-18. In addition to the two squadrons of Drakens, the air force has thirty-one Saab 105Oe fighters available for reconnaissance and close air support of ground troops; however, eight Saabs, borrowed from the combat squadrons, are regularly employed as jet conversion trainers. Acquired in 1970-72 after service in the Swedish air force, the subsonic Saabs are of limited value in a combat role. The helicopter fleet includes Agusta-Bell (AB) 204s (mainly medical evacuation), AB206s (training and liaison), and AB-212s (used by air-mobile troops and for light transport). French Alouettes are available for search-and-rescue tasks, including high mountain operations. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa, a scout helicopter, is mounted with a rapid-firing machine gun, but the air force lacks a true attack helicopter. Most of the helicopters, except the AB-212s, are becoming obsolete.

The air transport fleet is seriously deficient, a fact underscored by its inability to support the armed forces in their UN peacekeeping and humanitarian activities. The air force has at its disposal two Short Skyvans and twelve Pilatus PC-6s that can handle only light cargoes. Among air force priorities-- unfulfilled because of budgetary constraints--is the procurement of three to six medium-transport aircraft.

The air force is organized into a division of three flying regiments and one radar (air defense) regiment. Air Regiment I at Tulln-Langenlebarn consists of the light transport squadron plus one helicopter wing of AB-206s and OH-58s. Air Regiment II at Graz-Thalerhof, Aigen in Ennstal, and Zeltweg consists of the air interceptor wing of Drakens and a wing of two Alouette helicopter squadrons. Air Regiment III at Linz-Hörsching consists of the fighter-bomber wing of Saab 105Oes and a helicopter wing of AB204s and AB-212s. An air defense battalion equipped with 20mm and 35mm antiaircraft guns and a variety of radar systems is attached to each air regiment.

The Central Flying School at Zeltweg is equipped with Saab 91D Safirs and Saab 105Oes, while transport pilots train on PC7s . Austrian pilots are sent to northern Sweden for training in operation of the Drakens.

Major Military Equipment, 1993

Type and Description Country of Origin In Inventory
Army
Main battle tanks
M-60A3 United States 169
Armored personnel carriers
Saurer 4K-4E/F Austria 465
Tank destroyers
Kürassier SK-105 -do- 285
Self-propelled artillery
M-109A2 155mm howitzers United States 54
Towed artillery
IFH (M-2A1), 105mm -do- 108
M-114, 155mm -do- 24
Fortress artillery
SFK M-2, 155mm Sweden 24
Mortars
M-2, 107mm United States 102
M-43, 120mm Austria 274
Multiple rocket launchers
M-51, 130mm Czechoslovakia 18
Antitank guided missiles
RBS-56 BILL Sweden 118
Antitank guns
M-52/-55, 85mm Czechoslovakia 240
M-47 tank turrets, 90mm United States 60
Centurion tank turrets, 105mm Britain 200
Air defense guns
M-58 Oerlikon, 20mm Switzerland 560
Oerlikon twin, towed, 35mm -do- 74
M-42 twin, self-propelled, 40mm United States 38
Air force
Fighter/ground attack aircraft
Saab 1050 Sweden 30
Fighter aircraft
Draken J-350e -do- 24
Helicopters
Agusta-Bell AB-212, medium, transport Italy 23
Agusta-Bell AB-204, light, transport -do- 8
Bell OH-58B Kiowa, reconnaissance United States 12
A-316B Alouette III, search and air rescue France 24
Light transport/liaison
Short Skyvan 3M Britain 2
Pilatus PC-6B Turbo Porter Switzerland 11
Air defense weapons
M-65 twin Oerlikon, 35mm guns -do- 18
Source: Based on information from The Military Balance, 1993- 1994, London, 1993, 72.



Last Update: 2010-12-06