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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0081.PDF
DEFENCE Soviet missile strays into West •,OSLO j The Soviet cruise missile that violated Norwegian airspace and disappeared near Lake , Inari in northern Finland on December 28 was an unarmed -* version of either the SS-N-3 Shaddock or the SS-N-12 Sandbox. f- The missile, tracked by both Norwegian and Finnish radars after launch from a /'submarine exercising off the Kola peninsula, approached Norway from the east at ^supersonic speed. If flew for 15-20sec down the Pasvik 'Valley, through which the Norwegian/Soviet frontier runs. Locals reported hearing a sonic boom as it passed. -, The missile penetrated some 25km into Norwegian 'airspace at Ml • 1. It then flew ,into Finland and disappeared from radar as it neared Lake Inari. Finnish helicopters and droops are searching for the missile's wreckage. / One report says that the missile flew in at about 13,000ft, but a Norwegian >bearhunter, the only known eyewitness, says he saw \ "reddish-yellow streak ^through the air" and heard a deafening noise as the missile Crossed very low over the Pasvik region. Nato leaders have played down the incident, regarding it as an accident rather than a deliberate attempt by the ' Soviet Union to test the effec tiveness of Western defences. ^Finland, whose relationship xwith the USSR is more complex than its Scan- ' dinavian neighbours', reported k an "unidentified object" entering its airspace but refused to confirm that it was a Soviet missile. The missile might have been fired as a target drone, according to one theory. It is likely that it went out of con trol shortly after launch and then flew towards Norway. 1 Until the missile is found it 4s impossible to be certain exactly which type it is. The older Shaddock missile is *hip-launched from Echo I ^IJGHT International, 12 January 1985 • •9 j : ; ^^B| i '^^^rW^m^^^i wiT uw^^ • ;^pF Tornado flies DATS-3 German Air Force Tornadoes are now compatible with the Dornier DATS-3 aerial target, following qualification by MBB. MBB carried out engineering and flight-testing of the DATS-3. and II- and Juliet-class submarines, and has a range of about 500km. The Sandbox is a Shaddock replacement, with similar range, which can be fired from the older missile's launch tubes. It is carried on the Kiev-class aircraft carriers as well as on Echo Il-class submarines. The Soviet Union has apologised to Norway for the incident. SF-X waits for Japanese fighter TOKYO Japan has postponed its advanced strike fighter (SF-X) programmes until after 1987, giving local indus try time to develop an indige nous aircraft and casting doubt over the chances of a foreign aircraft being selected. Originally, Japan planned to put 24 SF-Xs into service as a Mitsubishi F-l replace ment before the end of 1987. This left little time for Japanese industry to develop an indigenous fighter and left the way clear for foreign competitors. But a study into life exten sion of the F-ls, conducted by Japan's Air Self-Defence Force, proved that the aircraft could be kept in service until the early 1990s. The Defence Agency decided to postpone the SF-X programme last month in the light of the study. Mitsubishi Heavy Indus tries is tipped to become prime contractor for the SF-X, leading a team drawn from Japanese industry. The aircraft is expected to be a twin-engined, twin-fin, control configured vehicle, incorporating composite construction and stealth technology. The aircraft will join the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, the McDon nell Douglas F-18 Hornet, and the Panavia Tornado in bidding for the contract. It will undoubtedly have a political advantage over the foreign competitors. Less than 100 F-l replace ment aircraft were originally required. But postponement means that the SF-X programme could be extended to include replacement of the JASDF's fleet of 130 F-4EJ Phantoms as well. If so, up to 200 aircraft would be needed. Meanwhile, the Japanese cabinet has approved a 6-9 per cent increase in defence spending in the coming financial year beginning on April 1. The increase will, with annual military pay rises included, take defence spend ing over the politically sensi tive ratio of 1 per cent of the GNP. Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone has persistently argued for bigger defence budgets in response to increased Soviet activity in the Pacific and under pressure from the US Government. A priority purchase in the coming Financial Year will be Raytheon MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missiles. The JASDF has requested $110 million for two Patriot fire units for training during the coming year. Japan even tually requires 24 Patriots to replace the current Nike-J system. Mitsubishi Heavy Indus tries will again take a leading role in licensed production of Patriots. Mitsubishi Electric and the Nissan Motor Company have, interestingly, been included in the Patriot team in an attempt by the Government to broaden the base of Japan's missile industry.
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