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Aviation History
1990
1990 - 2658.PDF
•MM BH^R&£§JH9BE^ •.1- •nHHsllSHtiiJK ^^* ill . ,. ' if:' ?'"''•' V" - " j If ' r* •* • •• '^IRHHBB.'li The General Dynamics F-16 continues to spawn new variants, including air-defence fighter and close air-support versions Grumman as "very cost-effective". It would be built on the investment already made in the F-14D. A multi-mode radar would be fitted as would new electro-optical sensors. Grumman says production of the Super Tomcat 21 could begin in the mid-1990s, following on from F-14D production. The ASF-14 would mate an F-14 airframe with avionics from the NATF. The aircraft would be more . costly than the Super Tomcat 21 but with an increase in capabil ity. ASF-14 would be specifically aimed at the NATF role. The US Navy would have fewer options if its A-12 Avenger II programme suffered set-backs or cancellation. Its main fall-back would revolve around the A-6 Intruder. More than 350 A-6s serve with the US Navy and Marine Corps. The subsonic twin- engined carrier-based bomber entered serv ice in the 1960s. LAST A-6 UPGRADE The current model is the A-6E, and the last upgrade of the type should be the A-6E Support Weapon Improvement Programme Block 1 update which, introducing a num ber of improvements including an active, towed missile decoy, is to begin in 1993. About 110 aircraft are to be upgraded. A-6s are also being re-winged, and 20 new-build aircraft are being fitted with a Boeing composite wing. About 158 A-6Es will receive the wing as a retrofit. Two new variants of the A-6, the A-6F and A-6G, fell victim to budget cuts. Congress withdrew funding for the all- digital A-6F, powered by F404 turbofans, in the FY1989 defence budget cuts. The A-6G programme, terminated in 1989, was less ambitious and envisaged the upgrading of 167 A-6Es to G standard. The Navy is reportedly studying the A-6G as an alternative to the A-12 Avenger II. The A-6G, although powered by J52-408/409 turbojets, would have incorporated A-6F digital avionics. Other Navy alternatives to A-12 would include the night-attack F-18C/D, the Hor net 2000 or variants of the F-14 with ground-attack capability. Strike capability is a crucial factor in the new F-14 models under study. Two pre-deployment upgrades to mount ground-attack munitions on the F-14D, including the carriage of AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missiles and iron bombs up to 2,0001b (907.2kg), are almost ready. For the Air Force, cancellation of ATA procurement or additional delays could leave the service's primary tactical strike force under strength in the next century. The tactical strike force is currently composed of F-15Es, eventually to number 200, and 325 General Dynamics F-111A/D/ E/F/Gs. The F-lllGs are former FB-lllAs of Strategic Air Command and are being transferred to US Air Force Tactical Air Command this year. GD says that the F-lll could remain in Air Force service until at least 2010 - most of the aircraft have over half of their airframe life remaining. Average airframe life is 10,000h, and most have about 4,000- 4,500h, the company says. If the Air Force does face an aircraft shortfall, the options would be to extend the F-llls' life, or procure more F-15Es. The F-15E, equipped with the Martin Mari etta LANTIRN night nav/attack pod system, attained operational capability in October last year. A diminishing threat from Eastern Eu rope and a growing public demand to benefit from the fruits of a "peace dividend" has increased Congressional pressure on the US defence budget. It is this factor, if no other, that will ensure that the current generation of US combat aircraft wHll con tinue in front-line operation for many years to come. • General Dynamics Falcon 21 O Reed Business Publishing Group 148 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 5-1] September 1990
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