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Aviation History
1979
1979 - 1618.PDF
1548 FLIGHT International, 12 May 1979 Missile problems cloud future of AH-64 DIFFICULTIES with the Hellfire laser-seeking anti-tank missile have prompted a US Congressional agency to question whether the US Army should continue development of the Sikorsky AH-64 Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH). The General Accounting Office, watchdog arm of Congress, says that "combat effective ness may be less than anticipated due to limitations on the use of remote laser designation from air-to-ground sources," especially in the Nato en vironment for which AAH is specific ally designed. "Unless potential problems associ ated with remote designation are overcome, the AH-64 may have to operate predominantly in the autono mous mode with increased risk to survivability." The GAO questions whether, in such a case, the new heli copter/missile system would be a desirable replacement fcr the current Cobra/Tow weapon, noting that "an Army proposal to increase the Tow's range, flight time and kill probability may narrow the relative differences [between the two helicopters]." Pro duction of 536 AH-64 helicopters is due to begin in December 1980 at a programme cost of more than $4,000 million. Hellfire is estimated to cost a further $805 million. "Only about 30 per cent of govern ment operational testing of the entire weapon system with the integrated sub-systems will be completed before the production system," says the GAO. "There are already indications that weight will be added which will cut performance." Until now, one of the reasons for developing AH-64/Hellfire was, para doxically, the vulnerability of anti tank helicopters. US Army Secretary Clifford M. Alexander says that so long as targets for the Hellfire missile can be laser-illuminated by airborne or ground equipment, the AAH "can stay totally hidden behind treelines, hills, buildings or whatever, and lob its missiles into the general target vicinity." If the helicopter must do its own target designation it will be ex posed to hostile anti-aircraft fire. Helicopter survivability is such a concern that the US Army is consider ing development of a fire-and-forget Hellfire variant, but this is still in the early stages. Selection of an imaging infra-red seeker is not due until FY 1981, with operational weapons coming into service some three years later. A dual-mode passive-radar/infra-red version has also been proposed as an air-defence-suppression weapon for use against targets such as the ZSU-23. Recce F-111C completed GENERAL Dynamics has modified the first Royal Australian Air Force F-111C to reconnaissance configura tion at its Fort Worth, Texas, plant. An Australian team at the factory will now carry out a four-month flight-test programme. Once the tests are completed three reconnaissance kits will be shipped to Australia for installation by RAAF personnel. The GD-developed equipment in cludes cameras, infra-red line scan ners and television mounted in the weapons bay with viewing through glass portholes in the bay doors. Sen sor controls and displays have been installed for the navigator. The pro gramme began in 1977, when the RAAF set up an engineering office at Fort Worth. Late in 1978 the F-111C arrived from its main base at RAAF Amberley, Queensland. Australian companies involved in the programme are Leigh-Mardon, Melbourne (tech nical manuals) and Government Air craft Factories (engineers assigned to Fort Worth). • Two RAAF pilots have flown the Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000, which is a contender for the Australian Tac tical Fighter Force order. Five flights were completed, one lasting 2hr 15min, and the pilots declared themselves satisfied with the aircraft and engine. • A General Dynamics F-16 is scheduled to have completed a week- long demonstration tour of three Canadian Air Force bases. The two- seat F-16B was to visit Uplands (Ottawa), Winnipeg (Manitoba), and Cold Lake (Alberta), where Canadian pilots and officials were to be briefed on the aircraft. The F-16 and the McDonnell Douglas F-18A are com peting in the Canadian New Fighter Aircraft competition. A winner will be selected in the autumn, some time after the Canadian general election. mini DEFENCE Tracer. . . British Aerospace Sky Flash air-to-air missile fired from Saab JA37 Viggen has scored a direct hit on a jet target drone. The launching was the first fully guided Sky Flash trial to take place in Sweden. Eight nations will contribute to the combined land, sea and air exercise Dawn Patrol 79, to be held in the central and eastern Mediterranean from May 12 to 24. Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey and the United States will take part, as well as non Nato nations France and Greece. The crew of a Royal Air Force Wessex rescue helicopter has received gal lantry awards for the rescue of the crew of the MV Fendyke on December 25 last year. The pilot, Fit Lt Adrian Murray, receives the Air Force Cross as does winchman Master Air Load- master Iain Brunton. Navigator Fit Lt Brian Canfer and winchman Fit Sgt Larry Evans receive the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. The Royal Navy is considering in creasing its British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.l order by an unspecified number. The service has already in creased the number on order by ten to 34. Royal New Zealand Air Force Air- trainers have accumulated 10,000hr since their introduction in 1976 with only one incident, in which an aircraft was damaged in a hard landing. The US Senate has voted to prevent the US Navy from retiring its last ten Polaris submarines unless studies show that renovation is impractical. Vought's General Support Rocket System launcher looses off a round at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico
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