FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1980
1980 - 0010.PDF
FLIGHT International, 5 January 1980 Soviet super carrier confirmed HEAD of the Soviet Navy Admiral Sergei Gorshkov has confirmed that the Soviet Union is building a nuclear- powered aircraft carrier. The ship is thought to be similar in size to USS Forrestal, which displaces 78,000 tons fully loaded and carries about 85 air craft. The Soviet Navy already has two 43,000-ton carriers, Kiev and Minsk, at sea and is building two more. It seems unlikely that the Yakovlev Forger VTOL aircraft which equip the smaller carriers will be sufficient for the new vessel. The Soviet Union has admitted that the Forger is a first generation aircraft and is far from ideal. But there is no sign of any new VTOL developments. A large carrier would require a mix of attack and fighter aircraft as well as supply and anti-submarine air craft. The latter role, is now carried out by Kamov Hormone helicopters. But helicopters would not have suffi cient range to supply a large carrier operating at sea. The Soviet Union may be develop ing conventional carrier-based aircraft, relying on steam catapults and arres- tor wires. One of the three new proto types spotted by US satellite last year may be destined for the carrier or may have a dual carrier- and land- based capability. The aircraft sighted on test resemble the F-14, F-18 and A-10. The last type, designated Bam-J, is unlikely to have a sea-borne appli cation. The first aircraft, Bam-K, is a vari able geometry fighter believed to be in the 60,0001b class and thought to be a follow-on to the MiG-25. The second aircraft, Bam-L, is a 25,0001b- class aircraft thought to be from the Sukhoi bureau and strikingly similar in appearance to the F-18. Neither of these types could be developed for carrier use. The variable geometry Bam-K Boeing ALCM completes planned impact A BOEING air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) completed its eighth flight and first planned impact on December 18. The missile was launched from a B-52G over the Utah test and training range and hit the ground as if attack ing a target. The AGM-68B missile has only two flights left to complete the fly-off with the General Dynamics AGM-108 Tomahawk. The rival missile has three flights remaining. Each ALCM has failed three times. Government collapse stalls Canadian fighter choice SELECTION of a new fighter for the Canadian Armed Forces 'is unlikely to take place before the country's general election on February 18. A vote of no confidence in the present Conservative Government has been lodged in the Canadian Parliament. Outgoing Prime Minister Joe Clark has indicated that he will make no major decisions bejtween now and the February general election. Both the Conservative and the previous Liberal governments short listed the same two aircraft—-the General Dynamics F-16 and the McDonnell Douglas F-18A. The C$2,340 million fighter choice should not, therefore; be an election issue. IIIIIII DEFENCE would be ideally suited to carrier con ditions, as a slow approach speed can be achieved with wings swept for ward. As the Soviet Union has no experience with steam catapults, Bam-K may be too heavy. In this case the lighter Bam-L could be a multi- role fighter in the style of the F/A-18. The requirements of carrier opera tion—mainly the high descent rates experienced on pitching seas—dictates a hefty undercarriage. A land-based aircraft could not operate from a car rier. But, as the F-4 and A-7 prove, a carrier-capable aircraft can perform effectively from land. Lack of funds hits USAFE INFLATION, shortages and additional duties have forced the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to cut back opera tions. Gen John Pauly, Commander of USAFE, has told a Congressional sub committee that, unless the projected operation and maintenance (O&M) funding is increased, "USAFE will be forced to take drastic steps to reduce costs" in 1980. Last year's O&M funding, $446 mil lion, was only $13 million up on 1978 and was insufficient, Pauly says. USAFE was unable to operate three electronic security command stations —BAF Chicksands, San Vito (Italy) an Iraklion (Crete). Participation in nearly all Nato exercises was dropped. Squadron exchanges were cancelled and weapons training for F-lll and F-15 crews eliminated. Activation of the A-10 forward- operating locations in Germany has been delayed. Training of F-4G Wild Weasel defence suppression crews has been curtailed. Munitions have not been moved close enough to the air craft for rearming in a conflict. For 1980, USAFE would like to cure "a critical shortage of rapid runway- repair capability in the UK," Pauly says, although this will be eased by moving a Bed Horse engineering squadron to BAF Wethersfield. Pauly is asking for the 1980 opera tion and maintenance budget to be raised from $510 million to $635 mil lion. Part of the problem is inflation —amounting to 21 per cent overall— "due primarily to the exceptionally high inflation in Turkey and other southern region bases," according to Pauly. Without extra funds, Gen Pauly says USAFE's readiness momentum will dissipate and the Nato allies will sense decreasing support from the US.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
