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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 0080.PDF
TECHNICAL: DEFENCE UK puts Bloodhound options under review BY SIMON ELLIOTT The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has indicated that a replacement for its ageing force of Bloodhound Mk 2 surface-to- air missiles might not be procured. Announcing the possible pur chase of a medium surface-to- air missile (MSAM) system late last month, the MoD said that tendering will be undertaken in the "...context of UK air defence requirements as a whole and, as a consequence, no assurance can be given that an MSAM procurement contract will result from the competition". If procured, MSAM would replace Bloodhound, which en tered operational service in its Mk 1 form in 1958. The Ministry is understood to be examining three options for the UK's air defence from the mid-1990s: • an aircraft update and the non-replacement of Blood hound; • updates to aircraft and Blood hound missiles; • the replacement of Blood hound with the MSAM. The MoD says that the MSAM systems will defend a number of sites within the UK. If awarded, the contract would be let to a single prime contractor with responsibility for the supply of MSAM systems and associated matters such as integration with the improved UK air defence ground environment. Likely competitors for the contract, which could be worth up to £1 billion, are Raytheon with Patriot, Eurosam with SAMP/T, and Hughes with a variant of its Norwegian Ad vanced surface-to-air missile system. The Ministry will issue an invitation to tender against a cardinal points specification, in early 1991. D M-113 success for Hellfire For the first time, the US Army/Rockwell Hellfire modular missile system has been operated successfully against targets from an M-113 armoured personnel carrier at the Yuma Proving Grounds, Ari zona. . . Hellfire missiles scored two direct hits, but in a third launch failed to'-reach the target. This Saab builds up its hank of Gripen test aircraft with the addition of JAS39-4 Second Saab Gripen joins flight tests Saab's number four JAS39 Gripen test aircraft (JAS39- 4) flew for the first time on 20 December last year from the Saab airfield in Linkoping. Two JAS39s are now involved in the flight test programme, and early this year test aircraft number three will begin flying, to be followed by test aircraft number five. This aircraft has been carrying out tests with the Gripen's 27mm cannon.The first aircraft crashed during an early test flight. In addition, flight testing of radar and display systems will continue in the modified Viggen fighter which has made nearly 170 flights so far. In 1992, the first series JAS39 Gripen production aircraft will join the flight test programme. JAS39-4 will be used initially for powerplant tests — it is also the first test aircraft with series production display systems. D failure is being evaluated. Rick Stephens, vice-president of battlefield weapons for Rock well International's Tactical Sys tems division, says: "These tests represent the first time Hellfire has been launched from an ar moured vehicle and the fifth different surface launch plat form for the missile". The missile does not need modification to be used on dif ferent platforms, says Stephens. The series of tests follows four ballistic firings from the M-113 conducted at Huntsville, Alabama, in late October. The objective of the 16- month ground-launched Hell fire heavy technical feasibility programme is to demonstrate the successful Hellfire operation from an armoured vehicle. Max imum use of non-developmental items has been made to reduce costs. The system consists of eight Hellfire rounds, under armour, mounted on an M-113 APC. The system is adaptable for other platforms, including the M-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the LAV family of vehicles. In previous surface-to-surface application demonstrations, Hellfire has been launched from a commercial utility cargo vehi cle, the Hummer high-mobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicle, a single-rail tripod, portable launcher and from a surface- effects ship. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 9 - 15 January, 1991
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