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Aviation History
1990
1990 - 0664.PDF
OPERATIONS: DEFENCE Five-Power forces gathering BY SIMON ELLIOTT AT RMAF BUTTERWORTH Aircraft of member nations of Z\.the Far East Five Powers Defence Agreement (FPDA) came together in Malaysia and Singapore last week. Combat and support aircraft from the air forces of Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zea land and the UK deployed to participate in a major air defence exercise, Adex 90-2, from 13 to 16 March, one of a series to test the area's integrated air defence system (IADS). The Royal Air Force deployed four 5Sqn Tornado F.3s and two Tornado GR.ls of 27Sqn. A pair of VC10 and TriStar tankers and Hercules transports are also in volved. A mobile air-defence radar unit, using a Westinghouse radar captured in the Falklands conflict, was deployed. The Royal Malaysian Air Force, besides hosting the ex ercise, is deploying F-5E Tigers, A-4PTM Skyhawks, MB.339s, BAe 125s, PC-7s and maritime reconnaissance C-130H-MP Hercules. The RMAF Skyhawks will be refuelled by RAF VClOs during the exercise. The Royal Australian Air Force sent F-18 Malaysia is still negotiating the purchase of 12 Tornados Hornets, F-llls and P-3C Orions with C-130 support. Singapore's contribution is a battery of Bloodhound surface- to-air missiles, F-5Es, A-4S Skyhawks, Hunters, S.211s, SF.260s and helicopters. New Zealand is not sending any fight ers as its A-4 Skyhawks have "heavy commitments at home", but it has contributed a P-3K Orion. The RNZAF Skyhawks will participate in the last of the four IADS Adex later this year. Naval forces include the Royal Navy's HMS Charybdis, Austra lia's HMAS Derwent and HMAS Parramatta, Malaysia's KD Lekir and, from Singapore, RSS Sea Lion and RSS Sea Dragon. The exercise will take place within the airspace of Malaysia and Singapore and comes at a time when many of the nations in the region are either buying or considering the purchase of new aircraft. Malaysia is still negotiat ing the purchase of 12 Tornados and neighbouring Thailand has also shown interest in the type. The two Tornado GR. 1 recon naissance aircraft will make a side trip to demonstrate the air craft in Indonesia. Singapore has a maritime patrol aircraft requirement and is shortly to make a decision. • Cheney orders wraps off stealth fighter The United States Air Force is expected to pull back the cloak of secrecy from the Lock heed F-117A stealth fighter before the end of this month. US defence secretary Dick Cheney last week authorised publication of a package of details on the aircraft which includes its design details, dimensions, capabilities and cost. Although the Air Force kept the exact shape of the aircraft secret for five years from its entry into service, the F-117's opera tional debut in Panama late last year has been detailed. Six F-117s of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing were launched from Tonopah AB, Nevada, for the 18h operation, refuelling four or five times. Two aircraft attacked Rio Hato barracks each with a 2,0001b laser-guided bomb. Two aircraft were held in reserve and the other two were recalled when their targets proved "worthless". The USAF says that the F-117 pinpoints its own targets using a fin-mounted laser device. Lockheed's advanced develop ment vice-president Ben Rich says that 57 of the planned 59 F-117s have been delivered since the type entered service in Octo ber 1983. Mission reliability has improved 48% and maintainabil ity is up by 69%, Rich says. About 175 pilots [including UK exchange officers] have checked out on the aircraft, says Rich, and "they have uniformly praised its excellent take-off, landing and all-round flying characteristics. It's not a 'Wobblin Goblin' [a reference to the F-117's purported nickname]." As most of the 37 TFW's flying is at night, pilots' body clocks have to change twice a week. "We found that the daylight/ darkness cycle exacerbated this shift. If a pilot was up all night and saw the Sun come up, his mind would interpret daylight as time for the body to be active. It was nearly impossible after that to enter deep, restful sleep. You would have thought you were at a vampire's convention as day break approached, watching all the pilots scurrying for their blacked-out rooms before they were caught by the Sun." D Peruvian B0.105s search tor oil The Peruvian Air Force has ordered six MBB BO.105LS helicopters to assist in up-coun try oil exploration. The Air Force has for several years supported civil oil explora tion, assisting both Petroperu and foreign oil companies. As a result of the Government's new emphasis on oil exploration and production, plus the signing of new contracts with overseas oil companies, there has been an increased demand for support helicopters. The BO.105LS was selected primarily for its hot-and-high performance. # The Peruvian Ministry of the Interior has also ordered five BO.105LSs and two BK.117B-ls for use by the Federal Police in anti-drug production and smug gling patrols. • NEWS IN BRIEF BLACKBIRD BANGS OUT A United States Air Force Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird blasted into retirement on 6 March by breaking the US coast-to-coast speed record. After take-off from Edwards AFB, the aircraft was refuelled and then flew from Los AnT geles to Washington DC in 64min 5s. The aircraft is to be displayed in the Smithsonian museum. The record was pre viously held by a Learjet with a 4h 12min flight, set in 1983. GREECE ORDERS MARCONI MARTELLO Greece has ordered two Mar coni Martello 3D air-defence radars. Greece is the third NATO country, after the UK and Denmark, to order the system, which is also being supplied to Malaysia, Oman andJordan. SEA HARRIER ORDER The UK Ministry of Defence has contracted British Aero space to produce ten new- build Sea Harrier FRS.2s for the Royal Navy. The order is worth £100 million. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 14-20 March 1990
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