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Aviation History
1989
1989 - 0077.PDF
remain an effective force until at least 2010, so some updates are essential to keep the weapon system able to cope with future perceived threats. The Australian Defence Ministry has already allocated A$160 million to the two- year F-lll Pave Tack incorporation programme. Upgrading the avionics will, it is estimated, cost another A$240 million. A bone of contention between the politicians and senior RAAF officers is that funds have not been made available to equip the F-l 1 Is with the data pod needed to enable use of the GBU-15 advanced laser-guided bomb. This system, which is a natural follow-on to the current weapons used, has been evaluated by the RAAF, and its purchase has been planned but still awaits ratification by the Defence Ministry. Analogue The RAAF's biggest F-lll problem is that the aircraft have 1960s-vintage analogue electronics systems. These are quite accu rate, but by present standards are slow to use, and user unfriendly. Worse, they are bulky and heavy and require lots of cooling air. Their serviceability is not as good as that of digital equipment, and they are difficult to work on. Any new systems retrofitted to the aircraft, such as the Pave Tack laser bombing system, are themselves digital and therefore need a tailormade analogue/digital converter interface which needs even more space and cooling. The main thrust of the F-lll update will be to change the analogue navigation and weapons aiming system for a digital system, and at the same time replace the analogue flight control system computers with a digital system, tying in the whole with a 1553B digital databus. This would then consider ably ease the introduction of digital-based weapons systems such as the GBU-15 and its data transfer pod. The roles and weaponry of 82 Wing reflect the total role flexibility required of the F-l lis. The primary job is long-range unrefuelled conventional strike against high-value land targets such as enemy communications, headquarters, airfields, • and econo-strategic targets such as refineries. The F-lllCs'are equipped with the Pave Tack infrared search and track/laser desig nator pod. A secondary role is maritime strike and third is battlefield interdiction. Weaponry The F-l 11 's current weapons suite includes the Mk.82 5001b HE iron bomb, which can be dropped either slick or in high-drag configuration, and the Mk.84 2,0001b HE bomb. With a flying tail and laser-seeking head fitted the Mk.84 becomes a GBU-10 and the Mk.82 is transformed into GBU-12. Both LGBs are part of the Paveway II family. The Rockwell GBU-15(V) uses the dumb body and 2,0001b HE'warhead of the Mk.84, but allied to a larger cruciform wing which increases manoeuvrability at low level and increases the bomb's range. The GBU-15 uses electro-optical guidance. A camera in the weapon's nose transmits a TV (daylight only) or imaging infrared (IIR) picture to the launch aircraft, and the navigator flies the weapon on to the target. With GBU-15's extended range the aircraft must carry a datalink pod to receive the bomb's view and transmit flight commands to the weapon. GBU-15 is a logical and simple extension to the F-l 11 's capability, but financing has not yet been found to fit it to the F-lll fleet. The F-l 11C could carry up to four GBU-15s plus the datalink pod. For the GBU-10/12, target identification and designation is with the Pave Tack module which is stowed semi- internally, replacing the General Electric M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Gatling-type cannon. The latest weapon to join the F-lll inven tory is the McDonnell Douglas AGM-84A Harpoon anti-ship missile; the F-lll can carry four of these. The Harpoons, purchased for the maritime strike role, are Block lC-model missiles. This variant has extended range, and can be programmed with.a number of waypoints, pop-ups, and pop-downs en route to its target. These features are employed to mask the direction from which the attack originated and to confuse the target ship's defensive systems. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 14 January 1989 19
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