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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0007.PDF
DEFENCE MBB bids to Belgium BRUSSELS With Belgium set to announce its airmobility heli copter choice in the first months of this year, competition is intense. The Belgian Army requires 46 helicopters, of which 28 must be equipped for anti tank missions. The remainder will fulfil reconnaissance, liaison, and light transport roles. MBB has entered the competition with three options based on its two heli copter types, the BO105 and the larger BK117. The first option comprises 28 BKll7HAs in the anti tank role, each carrying eight missile launchers, and 18 BKll7HOs in the reconnais sance/observation role. Alter natively, the 28 BK117HAs can be combined with 18 BOl05HOs. The third option, based on the German Army's formula, comprises 28 BOl05HAs, each with six missile launchers, and 18 BOl05HOs for reconnais sance and liaison. The choice between HOT and TOW as the anti-tank weapon with which to equip these helicopters is left to the Belgian Army, integration of TOW with the BO105 and BK117 forming part of MBB's offset package. Cost varies, with the option chosen, from BFr6,000 million (£75 million) for an all-BKH7 force to BFr4,500 million (£56 million) for an all-BOl05 force. MBB is offering 100 per cent offset to meet Belgium's requirement. This represents 2-5 million manhours for Belgian indus try. Of the offset, 41 per cent is direct, i.e. involves work on the helicopters chosen, and 59 per cent is indirect, includ ing work on Tornado, Airbus, and various space pro grammes. Among the offset proposals is development of a joint Belgian-German helicopter hunter, a version of the BO 105 armed with twin FLIGHT International, 7 January 1984 The container ship Astronomer has been renamed RFA Reliant. The 27,867-ton vessel has been converted to a helicopter carrier capable of operating five Royal Navy Sea Kings using Arapaho equipment leased from the US Navy. Reliant will relieve HMS Fearless off Lebanon 20mm cannon. Belgian indus try would become single- source suppliers for future MBB helicopter sales to Canada, Denmark, the Neth erlands, and Switzerland. Aerospatiale is also offering several options, and offsets worth BFr8,000 million (£100 million). The options involve SA.365M Dauphin 2s, equip ped for night or day anti-tank, AS.355M Ecure'uils, and SA.342L Gazelles. Agusta's offer, said to be worth BFrl2,000 million (£150 million), of which £125 million would be returned as offsets, revolves around vari ous combinations of its anti tank A129, multirole A109, and AB412 utility transport. Bell and Sikorsky have not detailed their bids. Westland, however, is offering 100 per cent offset on 28 Lynx 3s to meet the anti-tank require ment, leaving Belgium to make up the balance with a lighter type. Sweden selects TOW STOCKHOLM A derivative of Saab-Scania's Helios roof-mounted sight has been selected for Sweden's future anti-tank helicopters. The sight forms part of Helitow, a weapon system using TOW anti-tank missiles. The type of helicop ter to be equipped with the system has yet to be decided. A SKr90 million (£7-8 million) Helitow contract has been awarded to Saab Instru ments. The company will be prime contractor in a team that comprises Pilkington PE (sight optics), Emerson Elec tric (TOW missile launchers, launch and guidance electron ics), and Saab Training Systems (laser missile simu lator). Thailand wants F-16s BANGKOK Thailand has asked the Pentagon for permission to buy 16 General Dynamics F- 16s. The USA has responded positively, says Thailand's Foreign Minister Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila. The F-16s are required to counter the threat posed by Soviet-supplied MiG-23 Flog- gers in Vietnam. Delivery would begin in 1987. Westland proposes Australian industry CANBERRA Competition between West- land and Sikorsky to win a Royal Australian Navy contract for a new frigate- based helicopter has intensified. In an attempt to clinch the deal Westland has offered Australia's Govern ment the chance of setting up a local helicopter industry. The company's vice- chairman, Sir John Treacher, made the new proposal in a recent visit to Canberra, hoping to give Westland's Navy Lynx 3 the edge over the Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk. Westland's latest offer is reported to be in response to fears that the RAN was show ing a slight preference for the Seahawk. If taken up, Aus tralia could become involved in the production of Lynx and Westland 30 helicopters. The right to sell Westland prod ucts in Asia and the Pacific region might also be offered to Australia. Westland says that the competition for the RAN contract is now at its most intense. Response to the new proposal has been fairly favourable, the company says, but no conclusions have been reached. Westland believes that Australia could support a helicopter industry if local suppliers and sufficient customers in the region could be found.
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