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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 2616.PDF
DEFENCE Soviet AF aims for direct contracting BY ALEXANDER VELOV1CH IN MOSCOW The Soviet air aorce and avia tion/defence industries have agreed that future relations will be based on direct contracting and economic dependance of manufacturers, cutting out the middlemen — the various ministries such as the Ministry of Aviation Industry which will be dissolved before December. Lt Gen Abrek Ayupov, deputy Air Force commander-in-chief, who is responsible for acquisi tion of weapon systems, says that it is inevitable that military funding will be reduced, but that a substantial rise in efficiency of the development and acquisition process could be gained by di rect Air Force/manufacturer dealing, now being introduced. Under the old system, a de fence-orientated industrial min istry received funds from the state budget. The ministry then distributed the funds to design bureaux and manufacturers to finance research and develop ment and equipment acquisition for the services. Ayupov says that aircraft and weapons companies are now fac ing new problems resulting from the disintegration of economies in different republics and re gions since the failed coup. As an example, the Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber is produced by 830 or- Blackjack is produced by 830 organisations ganisations organised by nine ministries. All are spread throughout what was the USSR. Any lime that ethnic or political conflict breaks out in any of these areas, the whole Blackjack manufacturing process is put in jeopardy. Companies are also facing cut backs in military programmes as a result of defence cuts. Mikoyan's MiG-29 plant, on the edge of Khodynka airfield in downtown Moscow; will be turned over to llyushin, which also has a factory at the airfield, for production of the 11-114 airliner. Mikoyan has another factory at Nizhny-Novgorod, currently making MiG-31s, where MiG-29 production might resume for the Soviet Navy and export. Tupolev will build only 10P Tu-160 Blackjacks. Sukhoi has been told that Su-24 Fencer production will be halved. Su-24 Frogfopt produc tion has been stopped, although the two-seat Su-28 trainer ver sion, without weapons pylons, is being offered to the air force as a replacement for the Czech Aero T-39 Albatros. This situa tion has arisen because, al though the air force is satisfied with the L-39, the Czechs are demanding hard-currency pay ments for the aircraft and the military can no longer afford it. Other problems identified by Ayupov are the "brain drain" of the most qualified and skilled Jordan eyes USA as Mirage deal falters Jordan may again turn to the USA for assistance in rebuild ing its air force following cancel lation of an order to buy 12 Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters. Jordan signed the Mirage 2000 contract with Dassault in 1988 but financial difficulties caused delays in payments for the fight ers. Negotiations between the French and Jordanian authori ties did not result in any solu tion and Jordan has asked to back out of the contract. Current negotiations centre on the amount of penalties Jor dan will have to pay for breaking the contract, which included an option to buy eight more Mirage 2000s. Deliveries of the aircraft were originally scheduled to begin in mid-1990, but were then delayed to mid-1991. Jordan signed the Mirage 2000 deal after the US Congress turned down a Jordanian request to buy General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons. At some stage, the Jordanians began negotiations with the USSR for the purchase of Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrums but these contacts did not result in anything. Middle ' Eastern sources have claimed that the Soviet negotiations were meant to put pressure on the USA to revise its F-16 decision. After cancellation of the Mi rage 2000 deal the sources say that Jordan may again try the US option. Jordan's backing of Iraq during the Gulf War harmed its relations with Washington, but Jordan has since showed a posi tive approach towards the US- initiated peace process in the Middle East. • designers and engineers. Many, especially those exposed to the West through airs hows they have attended, are leaving the various companies to set up their own private businesses in diverse areas, and their success is attracting their former col leagues. Also, the Conversiya programme for manufacturers, which has not been well- planned, is affecting morale. • F-16 and F-18 vie for Israel General Dynamics, with an advanced F-16 Fighting Falcon variant developed from the current D Model, and McDonnell Douglas with the F-18C/D Hornet are engaged in a fierce competition to supply the Israeli air force with around 60 new fighter aircraft for the mid-1990s. Conditions of the proposed deal are being negotiated by the two competitors, and selection of the winning aircraft is ex pected by late 1992. In particular, both US compa nies are stressing Israeli indus trial participation in the proposed fighter purchase. Gen eral Dynamics officials say that the company is now ready to operate a final assembly line in Israel at no extra cost and has agreed to the integration of more Israeli-developed systems in the F-16s. "We are very close to agreement on all the details of such a proposal," a senior General Dynamics official said. In the past, General Dynamics has refused to allow assembly of F-16s in Israel. The air force has tested the F-18, with its commander-in- chief Avihu Bin-nun having been flown on an F-18 night- attack mission. McDonnell Douglas has also promised to allow the Israeli defence indus tries to participate in the Hor net's production. The service already operates 147 F-16 A/B/C/Ds. The delivery of an additional 60 F-16C/Ds under the Peace Marble 3 con tract started on 22 August. • 10 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 9 - 15 October, 1991
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