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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 0074.PDF
DEFENCE Nato pact gathers momentum WASHINGTON D.C. A memorandum of under standing between the USA and six Nato countries for the development of the little- known modular standoff weapon (Msow) is likely to be signed in May, reports Julian Moxon. As currently envisioned, Msow would be a highly flex ible air-to-ground missile with three missions: to hit long- range fixed targets, short- range mobile targets, and short-range fixed targets. The long-range fixed-target Msow would have a range of around 270 n.m. (500km), and would be turbofan-powered and dispense dumb submunitions. The rocket-powered medium - range variant for use against fixed or moving targets would have a 27 n.m. (50km) range and use smart submunitions, while the short-range, fixed- target Msow would be rocket powered and able to dispense its dumb submunitions at 8-10 n.m. (15-20km). The missile would be compatible with a variety of Nato aircraft, and could be fitted with a number of differ ent types of warhead. For instance, the UK would use JP.233 submunitions, West Germany its MW-1, and France a development of the Thomson-Brandt BAP 100 runway penetrator. The smart submunition could be a devel opment of the terminally- guided submunition slated for the Multiple Launch Rocket System Phase III. The MoU will be signed between the USA, Britain, West Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, and France, and could lead to the early launch of a $275 million prototype phase. The Request for Proposals is scheduled to be finalised by September. Trouble may arise, however, oVer Pentagon insis tence that the programme follows US procurement policy guidelines. This would mean that the US Air Force awards the Msow contracts, and that the USA retains technology rights to data yielded under the US funding portion. Another sticking point is that different countries have particular requirements for the weapon, according to their geography and current inven tory. Most of these problems are being overcome, however, in what appears to be an unusual display of unity among Nato partners. The US acquisition plan calls for a three-phase pro gramme. First would be the $275 million prototype defini tion phase in which two con sortia would design a com plete system, and then compete for full-scale engin eering development. Msow production would probably begin in the early 1990s. One consortium has already been formed, between General Dynamics, Hunting Engineer ing (UK), Garrett (Canada), Agusta (Italy), Casa (Spain), Dornier and Diehl (West Germany), Aerospatiale (France), and Thomson- Brandt (France). The com peting consortium is expected to be announced soon. The Msow project is signifi cant in that it is one of the first joint programmes to come from the Nunn Amend ment, a 1986 Congressional initiative which attempts to improve co-operation between the USA and its Nato allies on weapons development. In the past, an ally who joined with the USA in a weapons development pro gramme was treated like any other foreign military sales "buyer" in the follow-on pro duction and logistics phases. The Nunn Amendment provides that partnership arrangements established with the allies early on in a project will be maintained throughout the life of the programme. The legislation also pro vides specific funds to initiate new co-operation efforts among the Nato allies. As a result, formal agreements have been signed to study seven projects, besides Msow. These are: • Advanced short take off/vertical landing sys tems: a US/UK effort to improve Stol engine tech nology. • Enhanced Fighter Man oeuvrability: now called the X-31, this EFA look-alike is a bilateral programme between MBB and Rock well to build a highly manoeuvrable fighter tech nology demonstrator air craft. • 155mm autonomous pre cision guided munition: Eight-country project to develop an artillery-deliv ered "smart" munition. • Ada project support envi ronments: a joint effort to develop a Nato-wide pro gramming support system for development and re-use of military systems soft ware. • Standoff airborne radar demonstrator system: interoperability effort with the UK and France to link the US Joint Stars ground station with UK and French Awacs. • Advanced sea mine. Hornets' nest over FSX WASHINGTON D.C. ~ Japanese defence officials in Washington strongly deny that Japan has dropped its plans to build an indigenous fighter to replace the Mitsubishi Fl. Development of the FSX will go ahead, they say, and a decision on whether to pursue development of the FSX or buy a US fighter will be made in the summer, reports Julian Moxon. The, issue takes place against the background of a deteriorating trade relation ship between the USA and Japan. Last week, President Reagan ordered stiff penalties against Japan for not honour ing trade agreements on elec tronics. Congressional pressure on Japan to buy off-the-shelf US equipment is increasing. Senator John Danforth, who is a member of the Senate commerce, science, and tech nology committee, says "It constitutes a very serious new problem with our trade relationship with Japan for them to pursue development of an indigenous fighter that has neither the price nor the quality advantages of a US aircraft". Danforth, in whose Mis souri state one of the US contenders for FSX, the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet, is built, said the idea w of Japan going ahead with an indigenous fighter was an "outrage". "Development of the FSX would cost Japan $4-$6 billion more than for them to buy an off-the-shelf aircraft," he said. "The USA has a $60 billion trade deficit with Japan. It makes no sense for them to build their own aircraft." McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics are offer ing variants of the F-18 and F-16 as alternatives to the FSX. A team of US Department of Defence and GD officials was visiting Japan last week. McDonnell Douglas is sending a dele gation in mid-April. GD was reportedly offering a twin-engined version of the F-16, which Flight under stands would have been based on a pair of 20,0001b-thrust General Electric F404s or Pratt & Whitney PWH20s. According to the Japanese assistant defence attache in Washington, Lt Col Iwasaki, this "Twin 16" is not consid ered a viable modification by the Japanese Defence Agency. GD was also said to be unenthusiastic about the offer, given the cost of the update and its limited market potential. The aim was to comply with Japan's require ment for twin engines in the Fl replacement, which effec tively ruled out the standard F-16. McDonnell Douglas' F-18 Super Hornet is seen as the real competition for the indig enous FSX. The company would not comment on its offer of a Super Hornet with increased wing sweep and improved range and air-to-air capability. "We have pro posed an economic variant of the F-18 to meet the FSX requirement," was all a spokesman would say. But Flight understands that Super Hornet would have uprated 20,0001b-thrust GE F404 engines with enlarged air intakes, no wing folding and therefore increased wing fuel tankage, and lighter landing gear. Japan does not, in fact, have a totally indigenous fighter aircraft manufacturing capability, since it would have had to come to the USA or Europe for the engines (GE is offering a 20,0001b-thrust F404) and radar. This would raise the spectre of technology transfer, another delicate subject in Washington. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 11 April 1987
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