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The Veil of Secrecy: Peruvian �Fencers�

It�s a standard rule that governments under the umbrella of national security opt to hide or misinform the public opinion about military acquisitions; consequently, the Peruvian Air Force it�s not the exception of the rule. The recent political and also military tensions between Peru and its southern neighbor Chile (late July and early days of August 2004), have put in evidence a couple of issues that deserve to be discussed: the infrastructure improvements of �La Joya� Air force Base (GRU-4) and the possible acquisition of Russian tactical bombers Sukhoi SU-24MK.

Recently, a couple of Chilean Congressmen have shown to the public opinion of their country pictures of this Peruvian military installation, which were taken from an Israeli commercial satellite. Of course the official response coming from the Peruvian government was strategically ambiguous and diplomatic efforts of both countries were able to dissipate the hostilities.

The satellite pictures clearly show the construction of additional hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) -16 new ones can be appreciated - and the extension of the runaway about 1000 feet extras [La Joya / BA Coronel FAP V�ctor Maldonado Begazo / Rwy: 17/35 / Pos: 16� 47' 29.50" S - 071� 53' 11.70" W / Elev: 3890 feet ]. These improvements definitively prove that the Peruvian Air force is ready to incorporate new aircrafts into its arsenal and the facts that its French Mirage VP3/4 and English Canberra have already been decommissioned make the case stronger; therefore, it is logic to assert that the Peruvian Mirage 2000P/DP urgently needs a companion aircraft in order to accomplish its tactical role.

Persistent rumors heard in military circles, comments delivered by defense analysts and solid evidences such as the agreement between Peru and the Russian Federation, in which the parties involved have officially signed a military assistance agreement under which Russia is to overhaul a significant number of malfunctioning Soviet/Russian-made aircraft and helicopters of the Peruvian Air Force (11/07/2003); suggest us that the ideal candidate that complements the mission of the Mirage 2000P/DP is the Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D"(export variant).

The Su-24MK tactical bomber is an aircraft whose qualities respond to the requirements of the new century. This front line tactical bomber with variable geometric wings is considered one of the best in its class and has been delivered by the Soviet Union/Russia Federation to dozens of countries. Approximately 900 such aircraft have been produced in various modifications for their respective roles or missions (variants of the Su-24 have also been produced, designed for reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures), and many of them are currently in the inventory of several Middle Eastern and African air forces.

The viability of this bomber and its combat capabilities have already been proven in combat operations while its operational costs are financially manageable in comparison to other aircrafts with similar characteristics. A satellite navigation system is installed on the Su-24MK, which is compatible with the Russian GLONASS and the American GPS. The Su-24MK bomber's integrated navigation and aiming system is the PNS-24. PNS-24, in conjunction with radio navigation equipment, can perform the following functions: terrain warning; detection of targets and their destruction by level and toss bombing; target designation for missiles; detection of operating radars and launch of missiles on these radars; and automatic and semi-automatic aircraft control during landing approach to a height of 40m to 50m.The Su-24MK aircraft is equipped with the PNS-M modified integrated navigation and aiming system, which includes a laser/TV-sighting system for the air-to-surface laser/TV-guided missiles.

The Su-24MK is armed with the following types of air-to-surface missiles: Kh-23 or Kh-23M (NATO codename AS-7 Kerry) radio-command guided missiles (range 5km; up to four missiles carried); Kh-28 (AS-9 Kyle) and Kh-58 passive radar-homing missiles (range 90km; up to two missiles carried). Up to two Vympel R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) IR-homing air-to-air missiles with a range of 3km are also carried.

The SU-24MK can use several range of missiles such as Kh-25L (AS-10 Karen) laser-guided missiles (range 20km; up to four missiles carried); Kh-29LT (AS-14 Kedge) laser/TV-guided missiles (range 10km; up to three missiles carried); Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton) passive radar-homing missiles (range 180km; up to two missiles carried); and Kh-59 (AS-13 Kingbolt) TV-command-guided missiles (range 90km; up to two missiles carried). It is also armed with KAB-50OKR TV-guided and KAB-1500L laser-guided air bombs.This front line bomber can carry up to six rocket pods and the weight of conventional bomb armament amounts to between 7.5t and 8t.The aircraft can carry up to three gun pods with 23mm Gsh-6-23 guns, which have a rate of fire of 9,000 rounds per minute and fire unit of 500 rounds.

The SU-24MK is capable of carrying out low-level altitude and deep penetration strikes in poor weather conditions, day or night. Its primary mission is aimed to the destruction of ground targets (military hardware),valuable strategic targets (refineries, oil platforms, bridges, power plants, etc), formation of enemy troops and military installations (greater than 300 kilometers from the front line).

The power plant comprises two A-F turbojets, with a thrust of 11,200kif each. Fuel is accommodated in fuselage integral tanks. Two external fuel tanks with a capacity of 3,000 liters each can be suspended from the center-wing section, with one external fuel tank, with a capacity of 2,000 liters, suspended from the fuselage. An inert gas system is installed for fire safety. The Su-24M aircraft is equipped with a flight refueling system.The Su-24M has a maximum speed of 1,550km per hour and a range of over 3,000km. Service ceiling is 11,000m. Maximum rate of climb is 9,000m per minute.

Summarizing, this formidable aircraft adequately satisfies the requirements of the Peruvian Air force, but at the same time there are some questions that we must formulate before ending this article: Why have the Peruvian government  kept a sealed-silence in regard these issues? What about the improvements done at "La Joya" AFB? Doesn't the Ministry of Defense have a clear national-defense policy? Is the Peruvian national security in jeopardy? and many more...

Unfortunately, the experiences learned from gross mistakes of previous governments have given us the crystal clue to visualize that the abusive and systematic practice of secrecy in military affairs only means something: briberies as a result of price-gauging during the acquisition of military hardware, which in long term is a real detriment to the national security and the historical facts prove it right.

The Truth shall make you a free man
Andreas Gegenwarst

Note: The editor wants to express its deepest gratitude to Dr. Ronaldo Kulinho De Freitas, PHD Political Science, for his invaluable contribution to the edition of this article on issues of defense-policy making.

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The Peruvian Air Force (F.A.P.)

The Peruvian Air Force's goal is to defend the integrity of the national territory, ensure its superiority at all times, whether there is a war or not. Nowadays the FAP is considered to be the most powerful one in South America, not only because of the quantity and quality of aircrafts it possesses but because of the high degree of professionalism of its men.

The FAP is considered by experts in defense matters as the one with more participation in combat operations -above its competitors Argentina and Colombia- showed in 1981, 1995's conflicts, and the military tensions that occurred during July and August of 1998; all of these involving our north-of-the-border neighbor Ecuador. Likewise, the FAP's presence is seen in operations against terrorism and narcotraffic eversince 1980.

It is a proven fact that the FAP pilots' combat experience is unique in the whole continent. Even the United States Air Force (USAF) lacks major experience in anti-guerrilla and anti-narcotraffic situations. It can be affirmed that, for more than 20 years, the FAP has acquired a level compared to that of the IAF (Israelian Air force), considered by the experts as the most effective in the whole world. The experience gained by Peruvian pilots through all this time is invaluable, and they are ready to be assigned for any type of mission.

Currently the FAP operates with combat aircrafts coming from Russia, France, Italy, Brazil, England, and the U.S.A. It does not depend on one supplier in particular. The beginning of this new millenium introduces the FAP as the major force in the air in South America, and this is no surprise when you realize that Peru is surrounded by 5 nations -Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile)- from whom it has to protect its borders in a potential war situation. The power of the FAP is to transcend the national territory to be a continental force.

Rumor has it that Peru is planning on acquiring MIG-25RBN/T/V aircrafts that have exceptional climb abilities. This will mean that Peru is going to have a big advantage as far as photographic-analytical information of the enemy's military positions, like Air Bases or naval movements for example.

Through its powerful Air Force, Peru does not look for conflicts but looks to prevent them. Its geographical position in the South American continent forces it to have such a military power as to operate any time for any given situation. That is why it is considered as "the decisive arm for victory", and the facts prove it right.

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