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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 2876.PDF
DEFENCE Germany seeks lead in NATO 'air force7 BY DOUGLAS BARR1E IN BONN NATO is examining the air requirement of its proposed rapid reaction force (RRF), with an emphasis, in part, on out-of- area operations. Germany wants to take a leading role in the creation of the force. Gen Dieter Clauss, deputy Su preme Allied Commander, Eu rope, says: "Details are still being discussed, but a decision could be made at the next NATO defence planning com mittee in December". As part of the air element of an RRF, Bonn is offering a mo bile command-and-control sys tem. Clauss says: "Germany is offering NATO a combined air operations centre". In exchange, Germany would like to take the lead in setting up the air element of an RRF, much as the UK has done with the multinational airmobile division — a role the Germans had hoped to obtain. The offer was confirmed by Lt Gen Bernhard Mende, deputy chief of the Luftwaffe. Mende says: "We are offering a certain leadership role within the reac tion force's air element". The exact structure of the air element of a RRF has yet to be determined. The combined air operations centre could form the hub of a dedicated ground com mand and control element of the RRF's air resources, while air craft could be allocated as needed for exercise or operation on a multinational basis. • Pakistan revives its out- of-life RAAF Mirage Ills The Pakistan air force has put into service seven of the 50 Dassault Mirage Ills purchased from Australia. The Mirages, which the Royal Australian Air Force considered to have reached the end of their service lives, were overhauled and made operational at the Pakistan aero nautical complex at Kamra, west of Islamabad. Pakistan says few of the air craft had remaining airframe hours and those restored to op erations have only about 100 flying hours each. The air force says that, because of their lim ited remaining life, they would be held in reserve for defensive roles only. The remainder of the aircraft are being dismantled for spares. • Tl teams with Thorn EMI on ADAD Texas Instruments' Defence Systems and Electronics Group in Dallas, Texas, and Thorn EMI have teamed to mar ket jointly the UK company's Air Defence Alerting Device (ADAD) system. ADAD is a ground-based pas sive infra-red search-and-track system, which is able to locate and track helicopters and air craft at ranges of several kilome tres over a wide sector. Designed for use with short-range surface- to-air missiles, ADAD can be either free-standing or vehicle- mounted. The free-standing vari ant weighs 60kg in three man- portable modules. Operating in the far infra-red, ADAD detects and tracks aircraft by their skin heating, caused by air friction. ADAD was awarded a British Army production contract in 1987. The Texas/Thorn agree ment calls for a joint marketing strategy to identify and pursue potential ADAD customers. D Lockheed's C-130 with the Grumman E-2C's radar system USA briefs Japan on AEW The US Department of De fense is preparing to brief the Japan Defence Agency and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) on proposed alternative airframes for its airborne early warning (AEW) requirement. Japan wanted to buy the Boe ing E-3 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) but the production line for the 707 airframe had closed and the re start costs were prohibitive. Boeing says that putting the AWACS' Westinghouse APY-2 radar in refurbished 707s or KC-135 airframes is not consid ered to be viable. AEW variants using the Lock heed C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion, both of which the JASDF operates, are other options, as is a further purchase of Grumman E-2 Hawkeyes; but Japan wants a long range/endurance type to monitor sealanes. Another possibility is the use of a C-130 mated to the mission- avionics suite of the Hawkeye. A Grumman/Lockheed team was formed earlier this year to offer the combination for export markets. New AWACS, based on the Boeing 757/767, are also likely candidates. Boeing studies ap pear to be coming out in favour of the 767. D MDH studies military roles for MDX McDonnell Douglas Heli copter is conducting feasi bility studies on military applications for the MDX no- tail-rotor eight-seat civilian heli copter, which is scheduled to make its maiden flight in Sep tember 1992. James Stewart, MDX project manager, says: "There appears to be significant potential for mili tary MDX variants. The aircraft will be excellent for all light utility missions, and could even be adapted for light attack. We have already determined that military avionics can easily be adapted and that the cockpit will be compatible with night-vision goggles." McDonnell Douglas Heli copter believes that the MDX is best suited for the US Army Light Utility Helicopter require ment, part of the service's utility- aircraft requirements study. In military configuration, MDX would bave two crew and carry six combat-equipped troops at speeds compatible with the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk. In the casualty evacuation role, the MDX could carry two stretchers plus two medics and their equipment. • 22 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 6 - 12 November, 1991
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