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Aviation History
1983
1983 - 2048.PDF
DEFENCE Australia faces budget problems CANBERRA Australia's tight clamp on defence spending seems set to continue for at least another two years, says Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Mar shal Sir Neville McNamara. He says that this year's budget of A$5,280 million "will see us through our exist ing commitments, but there is not much left over for new initiatives or the commence ment of new projects; little or nothing in that regard". The Defence Department's policy has been to maintain capital spending on new programmes and equipment while cutting back in person nel and operating costs. Reduced flying and steaming hours for the Air Force and Navy will continue, with reductions in ammunition usage for the Army. The Army is probably the worst affected, suffering a lack of air and sea transport as a knock-on from the Air Force and Navy fuel cutbacks. Infrastructure for the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet and the rising cost of the procurement programme take a large bite from the RAAF's funds. The latest esti mate on F-18 costs is A$3,396 million, almost A$ 1,000 million up on the 1981 figures. Even this figure is eleven months old, as it was derived in December last year. Minis ter of Defence Gordon Scholes says that the net increase of A$996 million "is due entirely to the rate of inflation and exchange rate variations. This is offset by some real reduc tions in some items in the project". The totals given refer to purchase of the 75 Hornets plus spares and support. But building of new facilities for the Hornets is also taking its toll and other RAAF needs, airborne early warning aircraft and an improved ground radar system, are to be waitlisted. The Navy is in a similar position. Rear Admiral Michael Hudson, new Assis tant Chief of Defence Staff, says that there is no point in pushing for a new aircraft carrier in the present financial climate. The RAN's equipment budget is tied up in the FFG frigate programme; four of the US-built ships are in service and another six might be ordered. The Navy also needs 12 anti-submarine helicopters to equip the frig ate force and has narrowed the field down to the West- land Lynx 3 and Sikorsky Seahawk. Should the Seahawk be chosen, then the RAN faces an A$55 million bill to refit the first three FFGs, which were designed to operate smaller helicopters. Also on the agenda is a replacement for the ageing Oberon-class diesel/electric patrol submarines. Firebee successor sought POINT MUGU Flight tests have begun of competing subsonic, turbojet- powered target drones intended to replace the US Navy's BQM-34 Firebee. The new drone will simulate low- flying cruise missiles, acting as a target for Navy air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons. The Navy specification calls for a variable target speed of up to 550kt to an altitude of 40,000ft, and a 7g manoeuvre capability. Remotely controlled or preprogrammed, the drone is intended for ground or air launch. Competing drones have been developed as private- ventures. The Beech Model 997A is 18ft long with a 10ft wingspan and a 15in-diameter fuselage. Powered by either an Royal Navy Sea Harriers from HMS Invincible operate from USS Ranger in the Indian Ocean. Australia has considered Sea Harriers and an Invincible-class carrier as well as ex-US Navy conventional-aircraft carriers. Australia is now thinking of converted merchant ships as Sea Harrier bases, similar to the Arapaho project 8301b-thrust Microturbo TRI60-2 turbojet or a 9701b-thrust Teledyne CAE 373-8, the Model 997A can carry a 2001b payload inter nally, plus 1001b in wing pods. Northrop's NV-144 is 19-5ft long, with a 10-8ft ' wingspan and a 20in fuselage diameter. Again powered by a Microturbo or Teledyne CAE turbojet of around 1,0001b thrust, the NV-144 has an en durance of 165min and a maximum range of 1,200 n.m. With an altitude capability ranging from 30ft to 55,000ft, Northrop's 1,4001b drone has a maximum speed of 580kt and an 8g manoeuvre capability. The six-month flight demonstration effort began in October at the Pacific Missile Test Centre. The Navy is to select its Firebee replacement some time next year, award ing a multi-year production contract. The Service requires 200 drones annually for up to 20 years. RN orders new sub LONDON 1272 First order for a new type of diesel/electric-powered patrol submarine has been placed by the Royal Navy with Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineer ing. The £100 million contract is for a single Type 2400 to be armed with McDonnell Douglas Sub-Harpoon anti- ship missiles, Spearfish 21in torpedoes and Stonefish mines. The 2400 was designed to replace the 20-year-old Oberon-class patrol sub marines. As the designation suggests, the new boat displaces 2,400 tonnes when fully submerged; the Oberons displace 2,410 tonnes. But the 2400 has benefited from nuclear-attack submarine hydrodynamics and has the modern humped teardrop hull shape, while Oberon hulls differ little from Second World War designs. The 2400 is 70m long with a pressure hull diameter of 7-6m, while Oberon's length and diameter are 90m and 5-5m. The new boat's submerged speed is quoted as "about 20kt", while an Oberon could manage 17kt on trials. 2400's maximum-dive depth is 200m. FLIGHT International, 12 November 1983*
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