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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 2001.PDF
DEFENCE BGT may propose new Sidewinder for ASRAAM German missile specialist Bo-denseewerk Geratetechnik (BGT) has confirmed that it is considering re-entering the ad vanced short-range air-to-air missile (ASRAAM) fray with an upgraded Sidewinder variant. The company is almost certain to respond to the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's)invitation to tender for Staff Requirement (Air) 1234, for ASRAAM. BGT says that "...a Sidewinder up grade would be an option" to meet the requirement. A BGT bid would propose upgrading the current guidance and control unit to provide an ASRAAM-like performance. According to BGT, the current seeker restricts the firing enve lope of the missile. Giving it an improved seeker would extend its firing boundaries. The company says that the UK MoD "seems interested" in the possible Sidewinder develop ment, particularly if, as BGT claims, it is substantially cheaper than the British Aerospace/ Hughes ASRAAM development. Ironically, BGT was originally prime contractor on this pro gramme until a series of setbacks caused it to be replaced by British Aerospace Dynamics. BGT is already upgrading the AIM-9L Sidewinder now in serv ice with a number of European air forces. It also envisages the emer gence of a Luftwaffe requirement for a missile with considerably improved performance over that of the Sidewinder within the next two years. Any bid for the UK require ment would be made by BGT alone, although it says it would look at subcontracting work on a competitive basis in the UK. A number of other companies besides the British Aerospace/ Hughes consortium and BGT are looking to bid for the RAF ASRAAM programme, including the team of GEC and Matra, offering a development of Matra's Mica. Raytheon and Loral are also considering offer ing Sidewinder updates. • US Navy plans to upgrade VQ-2 squadron with Aries II by 1995 BY MARTIN STREETLY The US Navy Spanish-based VQ-2 electronic-reconnais sance squadron is to retire its five remaining operational Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior air craft by the end of 1991. It will also replace its six Lockheed EP-3E Aries Is with the EP-3E Aries lis. Conversion to the Aries II is scheduled for completion dur ing 1995.? To date, VQ-2 has received one aircraft. Aries II production is a con version in lieu of procurement programme, which aims to stan dardise the three existing EP-3 configurations (thought to com prise the EP-3B Batrack and two electronics standards in the EP-3E Aries I) and introduce "modest" levels of equipment update into 12 low-time P-3C airframes. Primary mission equipment — the ALR-52 multi-band in stantaneous frequency-measur ing electronic-reconnaissance receiver suite and/or the ALR-60 Deepwell communications inter cept/analysis system — is being transferred from the Aries I to the Aries II aircraft. Enhance ment of the Aries II mission capability is envisaged in the form of a "major" sensor system upgrade programme. Despite the fact that the conversion pro gramme is not providing a com pletely new system, VQ-2 commanding officer, Cdr Dave Durfee, notes his satisfaction with the Aries II platform. Major external differences be tween the Aries I and II aircraft are an extensive antenna "farm" beneath the wings and rear fuse lage, and the introduction of the IBM ALR-76 combined elec tronic support measures radar- warning equipment. Seven examples of ALR-76 are believed to have been procured for the Aries II programme. The wing and fuselage antenna farm is likely to be associated with an improved communications intel ligence capability. EP-3E Aries uses low-time airframe and existing and new mission equipment The Aries II rear fuselage carries extensive blade antennae and new radome Fore and aft antennae for the ALR-76 ESM mark out the Aries II With VQ-2's land-based;capa bility, the USN is establishing a new carrier-capable electronic reconnaissance unit (VQ^6) to support its operations in the Atlantic/Mediterranean region. Based in Florida, VQ-6 will op erate the specialised ES-3A vari ant of the S-3 Viking ASW aircraft. The envisaged comple mentary capabilities of VQ-2 and VQ-6 are to be matched in the Pacific by the Guam-based Aries lis of VQ-1 and the car rier-capable ES-3As of a second new squadron, VQ-5. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 31 July - 6 August,. 1991 15
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