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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 0350.PDF
France overtakes USA in Third World arms list AMERICA has dropped to third in the league of arms suppliers to the Third World, probably as a result of ex- President Carter's restrictive policies. In 1980, the Soviet Union supplied arms worth $14,800 million, France sold $8,300 million-worth, and the USA trailed with $6,600 million in Third World arms sales. Britain and West Germany lost ground. According to figures released by the US Senate Foreign Relations Commit tee, the Soviet Union overtook the USA as the Third World's main sup plier in 1979, when its sales increased dramatically from $2,900 million to $8,800 million. Meanwhile, France's arms sales have doubled in value each year since 1978, overtaking the USA in 1980. The Committee expects 1981 to show a further decline in US arms sales, but with a significant increase to follow in 1982, with the conclusion of various F-16 sales and the $8,500 million deal to supply Saudi Arabia with five E-3 Awacs aircraft and asso ciated ground facilities, tanker sup port, ana Sidewinders for F-15s. The decline in US arms sales can be traced to decisions taken by the Carter Administration, which included imposing an annual ceiling on the value of arms supplies. Significantly, Carter's decision to approve develop ment of the FX intermediate export fighter may have delayed or diverted orders for existing aircraft. With the accession of President Reagan, the need for FX has faded. In quick succession South Korea, Pakistan, and Venezuela have been allowed to buy the undiluted F-16A, while Taiwan, expected to be the FX launch customer, has been refused any fighter more advanced than the F-5E. The future of the F-5G and F-16/79 remains uncertain. The rapid increase in Soviet arms sales probably reflects the increasing complexity, and therefore cost, of equipment supplied to Third World customers. Modern weapons, direct from the assembly lines, are now sup plied in preference to obsolete or sur plus arms drawn from Soviet stocks. Equipment now sold to the Third World includes MiG-23 Floggers, T-72 tanks, and SA-6 Gainful surface-to- air missiles—weapons more sophisti cated and expensive than the MiG-21, T-55 and SA-2 that previously made up the bulk of arms sales. While the Soviet Union often supplies equip ment at artificially low prices, spares and attrition replacements ask real istic, or even inflated, prices. France's new Socialist President looks unlikely to halt a burgeoning arms trade which supports ambitious national military and economic pro grammes, including the nuclear de terrent. The Middle East continues to be France's major sales area, with Saudi Arabia placing massive Navy and Army weapons contracts and financing the development of saleable weapons such as the Dauphin 2 ship- borne helicopter and the Sica surface- to-air missile. French sales show no signs of drop ping. After a lull in Mirage orders, Egypt has signed a $1,000 million con tract for 20 Mirage 2000s, while India continues to .legotiate a $3,000 million deal for up to 150 aircraft. These initial orders may pave the way to a sales success approaching that of the Mirage III and F.l. Britain's share of the Third World market continues to decline, aggra vating budget problems at home as the under-employed workforce pro gresses orders for the UK military, delivering ahead of schedule. Britain lacks the range of weapons produced by France, although the Anglo-French Jaguar International continues to sell —with Nigeria considering a $400 million order. Development of the Aerospatiale SA.365F naval Dauphin 2, Aerospatiale AS.I5TT anti-ship missile, and Thomson-CSF Agrion radar is being paid for by Saudi Arabia **»**.••> SIB Defence Turkey's fighter plans doubted TURKEY'S reported request for 291 F-16s or F-18s generates scepticism in the US Defence Department. The country's economy is so weak that it could not underwrite the massive, $8,000 million programme. The pros pects of enough US aid to support the purchase are unlikely, although the country does have some leverage, as the USA must bargain for base rights in Turkey. Turkey's request comes at a time when F-16 production for the US Air Force is in full swing, and F-18 pro duction for the US Navy is building up. While both production lines have capacity for additional export orders, Turkey's desperate need for advanced fighters could divert deliveries from the US Services, which neither the Air Force nor the Navy would wel come. The most likely option is for the Defence Department to recommend the sale of Northrop F-5Gs. While the Tigershark docs not meet all of Tur key's requirements, it is cheaper and more readily available. Basic F-5Gs could be delivered from July 1983, with the all-weather version following a year later. Northrop's considerable experience with licence-production programmes could help Turkey set up the pro posed Tusas aircraft factory. Rumours surrounding this facility have in the past included Northrop F-I8L produc tion, and West German-financed manufacture of the Dassault-Breguet/ Dornier Alpha Jet. 336 Further MLRS contract for Vought THE US Army has awarded Vought a $75 million production contract for the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) battlefield artillery weapon. The contract is for 68 self-propelled launcher/loader vehicles (SPLLs) and t 2,496 rockets packed in 416 launch pod containers. An original fixed-price-plus-incen- » tive contract for low-rate production was awarded in 1980. MLRS funding ^ now totals $150 million for a total of 112 SPLLs, 6,210 rockets, and 1,035 * launch pod containers. Each MLRS # can ripple fire its 12 rockets in one » minute against targets 18 n.m. away, i FLIGHT International, 13 February 1982 *
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