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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 0212.PDF
DEFENCE Apache evaluates AAMs WHITE SANDS Tests continue to evaluate the McDonnell Douglas AH-64A Apache in the air-to-air role using a variety of missiles. Late last year a specially modified Apache, leased from the US Army by MDH, conducted the first air-to-air missile firing trials at White Sands range, using two AIM-9 Sidewinders. Company test pilots conducted the trials, firing one AIM-9 from the hover and the other in forward flight at 80kt. The test objec tives were to evaluate missile separation, and how well the Sidewinder's infrared seeker head interfaced with the AH-64's weapon control system. The company-funded air- to-air missile (AAM) trials are part of an MDH programme to explore a multi-missile capability and evaluate other air-to-air Apache enhance ments, says programme manager George Philips. The trials are scheduled to continue until August. While at White Sands the Apache also conducted laser ranging and tracking tests using Army UH-1 Iroquois and Air Force A-7D Corsairs as targets, with the Apache's target acquisition/ designation system (Tads) providing data for AAM launch. The programme will also include launches of the General Dynamics Stinger and captive-carrying tests of the Matra Mistral AAMs. Stinger is being integrated into the Apache weapon system under a separate US Army contract. Plans call for four Stingers to be carried on each Apache, plus its Rockwell Hellfire anti-tank missiles. MDH and Rockwell have also been investigating the use of Hellfire in the air- to-air role. MDC and Hughes team for missile ST LOUIS McDonnell Douglas and Hughes Aircraft have teamed up to compete for a US Navy contract to produce an Advanced Interdiction Wea pon System (AIWS), an air- launched short-to-medium- range stand-off missile for use from the mid-1990s onwards. MDC is prime AIWS contractor, and Hughes' Missile System Group is major subcontractor. The teaming arrangement calls for an even split of tasks and responsibilities. MDC will provide mission planning, aircraft integration, weapon design, and logistics, while Hughes will provide avionics seeker heads and data-link technologies. Sikorsky gains Black Hawk funding STRATFORD The United States Army has awarded Sikorsky a $983 • 2 million contract, the third multi-year procurement agreement, to produce 252 US-60A Black Hawks. The contract, covering fiscal years 1988 through 1991, brings the number of Black Hawks delivered and on order for the US Army to 1,200 since they first entered service in 1978. The US Army estimates that multi-year funding saves about $140 million, because it eliminates the many details and costs associated with annual procurement contracts. Apache fires an AIM-9 Sidewinder at White Sands; further trials will include the air-launched Stinger and Matra's Mistral • *HMIVp**'s y^y-.,^::.-- ••>• • ....,; - . -^ -• • • -•--^•••:- - -- •:• V - • "• '• • U^-.. " '• ". TRACER Peru has received the last of 20 Embraer EMB.312 Tucanos a month ahead of schedule. Embraer has deliv ered 318 Tucanos to date, and has orders and options for 274 more. Matra's Mistral man- portable Sam scored a direct hit on a CT.20 drone on its 34th test launch. The target was crossing broadside at low level and 3km range. Matra has three more Mistral test launches to complete before production starts. Variants of the Mistral will include a six- round armoured vehicle turret launcher (Santal), a similar Sadral turreted shipboard system, and a helicopter- launched version for air-to-air combat. New Zealand's new Chief of Defence Staff is Gen John Mace. He succeeds Air Marshal David Crooks, who is retiring. Beech has received a sub contract from McDonnell Douglas to design and build composite landing gear doors for the C-17 transport. Each shipset has 12 doors. Pakistan is to set up a new air defence ground radar chain with stations at Kara chi, Lahore, Pasni, Islamabad, Rahimyarkham, and Jiwani. The radars will be supplied by Thomson-CSF of France. Egypt has deployed Sams and anti-aircraft artillery to Kuwait to protect civil and military targets from Iranian air raids. The Kuwaitis have only ZSU-23-4 AAA and Sam-7s, and requested help from Egyptian defence Minis ter Muhammed Abu Ghazala when he visited Kuwait. CASUALTIES • A Philippine Air Force Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter of the 5th Fighter Wing at Basa AB crashed at the USAF's Clark AB on January 12. The pilot was killed. • A Somali Air Force heli copter believed to be a Mil Mi-8 Hip or Mi-4 Hound, crashed on January 13 in the north of the country. The 12 passengers and crew were killed. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 30 January 1988
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