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Aviation History
1983
1983 - 0995.PDF
Dassault's full-size ACX model is notable for large single fin and jowl-type inlets with traditional "souris" (mouse) shock bodies Dassault unveils ACX Dassault's Avion de Combat Experimental (ACX) 1990s fighter-technology demon strator is unveiled at the Paris Show. The black and gold full- scale mockup is shown prac tically alongside the British ACA, first seen at Farnborough. Dassault President Benno- Claude Vallieres says that ACX will fly in 1986, powered by two General Electric F404s. The Turbo-Union RB.199 is "not an air-to-air engine". After ACX has proved the high-agility concept it will be developed into two variants, both powered by the 7-5-tonne thrust Snecma M88. The version for the French Air Force will be Avion de Combat Tactique (ACT). A second version, the Avion de Combat Marine (ACM), will be developed as a successor to the Super Etendard, ACX R&D funding will total Fr 1,800 million (£160 million). ACX is a canard delta with compound-sweep leading edges. The large anhedral canards are shoulder- mounted behind the cockpit, and the single fin bears a marked resemblance in size and shape to that of the Mirage 4000. The intakes are different from those of the Mirage 2000 and 4000, and have been moved down and are almost under the fuselage. "The intakes will allow for greater speed and better payload," says Vallieres. The ACX, which, like ACA, is a technology demonstrator and not a prototype will have a digital fly-by-wire system developed from that of the Mirage 2000, but with "improved techniques". Dass ault will not give any performance figures, except to comment that "ACX will be more advanced than anything now planned". Vallieres says that Dassault favours co-operation with the United Kingdom and West Germany, "but Dassault must have the leadership, as we have the most delta experience". BAe gets ACA go-ahead On the show's opening day British Aerospace announced a firm UK Government contract to build and fly a prototype of the Agile Combat Aircraft (ACA), present at the show in full-scale mockup form only a stone's throw from Dassault's ACX model. This first step in the UK Experimental Aircraft Pro gramme (EAP) is being taken without German and Italian cash support, for the time being, but with the full industrial participation of MBB and Aeritalia, BA's partners in the Panavia Tornado. The first of what could be up to five ACA prototypes will fly at Warton in 1986, using two Turbo-Union RB.199s for power. This first aircraft will be dedicated to handling, fly- by-wire assessment, and performance. Avionics and weapons testing will follow, in a development programme akin to the Dassault approach—"working towards, rather than starting with, a total weapon system" to quote one BAe engineer. Despite the British general election impending, the EAP contract was signed by the Government on the eve of the show to demonstrate to potential partners—including Dassault—Britain's deter mination to base co-operation negotiations on something more than feasibility studies. But BAe acknowledges that the French are unlikely to surrender ACX or the issue of programme leadership in a European fighter programme. The French Government is pressing Bonn to join the ACX programme, and MBB has had talks with Dassault. But an MBB executive says that there is no sign of any pressure on the company to withdraw or play down its full commitment to the EAP/ ACA, into which MBB, like the other partners and vendors, is putting its own money. British Government support for the EAP is unoffi cially stated to be about £70 million. British Aerospace has brought the ACA mockup it unveiled at Farnborough, but now wearing a warlike paint scheme and all-British weapon fit v • iiii«Mfiiw«'«wfaa FLIGHT International, 4 June 1983 1621
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