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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 3148.PDF
HEADLINES Luftwaffe will rejoin Apache programme BY GILBERT SEDBON IN PARIS AND DOUGLAS BARR1E IN MUNICH The German air force (Luft waffe) has abandoned a planned development of a na tional modular stand-off weapon in favour of the French Apache, the programme from which it withdrew in 1988. The Luftwaffe was pursuing a national solution to its stand-off weapon counter-air requirement, with Dornier working on a stand-off weapon programme known as MAW. This is now being dropped in favour of the Apache on the grounds of cost, according to sources close to the project. Apache manufacturer Matra is discussing setting up a joint company with Deutsche Aero space and MBB to produce the missile in Germany. Two production sites are being considered: the Dornier site at Friedrichshafen and the MBB factory at Nabern. Work may eventually be shared be tween them. The Apache emerged origi nally from a joint French- German study launched in 1983. Germany pulled out of the pro gramme in 1988, however, leav ing the French to continue its development independently. The system will be used pri marily on the Luftwaffe's Panavia Tornado strike aircraft. One German source adds: "The Luftwaffe will not go out of its way to develop it for the Euro pean Fighter Aircraft." Dornier has undertaken con siderable development work on a nationally developed MAW wjth a completed design and testbed for examining the criti cal technologies in use, although it has not cut metal on an actual prototype. The testbed has been flown on a number of occasions, carried by a Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet. Insiders at Dornier say that it has yet to be decided whether any of the technology developed for the MAW will be carried over into the Apache to meet the Luftwaffe's requirement. Matra is also talking to CASMU of Italy and Spain's CASA about possible deals on the Apache system. The British Minstry of Defence has also been offered the weapon, to meet a Royal Air Force stand-off weapon requirement. The Apache, which will enter production in 1994, uses inertial guidance and either active radar or infra-red terminal guidance. The system has a range of 150km (80nm). • NEWS IN BRIEF CHINESE VENTURE Singapore Aerospace has taken a 40% stake in a distri bution company which will market aviation products from the People's Republic of China. Asia Pacific Aviation Supplies will be based in Sin gapore, and jointly owned by China Aviation Supplies (CASC) and Rocsound Aero space of Hong Kong. CASC, which will also hold a 40% stake, is the purchasing arm of the Civil Aviation Admini stration of China. PERUVIAN TUCANO Embraer has been awarded a contract to deliver ten EMB- 312 Tucano trainers to the Peruvian air force in Decem ber. The deal brings the total Peruvian fleet of Tucano air craft to 30. The EMB-312 was ordered originally in 1987 to replace the Cessna T-37 as the Peruvian air force's intermedi ate training aircraft. Total or ders for the Tucano stand at 641, of which 466 have been delivered to 12 air forces worldwide. If M Stretched Dornier 328 plan rolls into ATR conflict DASA warns of clash in regional launch plans Conflict is looming between Deutsche Aerospace (DASA), Aerospatiale and Alenia over their regional turboprop launch plans, despite the compa nies' fledgling alliance in the airliner market. The issue has been brought to a head by the French-Italian ATR consortium's decision to study the idea of launching a 50-seat ATR52 — a stretched version of its ATR42 — along with an 80-seat ATR82 (Flight International, 27 Novem- ber-3 December). The ATR52 proposal would clash headlong with DASA sub sidiary Dornier's plans for a 48- seat stretch of its recently rolled- out Dornier Do.328. Both air craft would reach the market by about 1995. DASA says: "We don't think there is room for both aircraft." Discussing the strategy behind the tie-up with Alenia and Aero spatiale, in which the three com panies will pool marketing and support across their regional air craft ranges, the German com pany says: "We don't think there will be any room for competi tion as far as new aircraft are concerned." The move comes at a particu larly sensitive time, as the three companies are agreeing the final details of an alliance to launch a programme for building 92- and 122-seat regional jets — the flagship development of the re gional alliance. The aim is to launch the DAA programme company this month, although the DASA board has yet to give its final approval. Although DASA admits that no final decision has been taken on the launch of a 48-seat deriv ative of the Dornier Do.328, tentatively called the Do.328S, it said that "...the 328S arguments are strong". A stretched 328 is also receiv ing vociferous support from Dornier. Modifications needed for the 48-seater would include fuselage and wing plugs. • Bendix King fits TCAS to Tu-154 Bendix King is to certificate its TCAS collision-avoidance system on a Tupolev Tu-154. Aeroflot's Byelorussian divi sion is purchasing a single sys tem for one aircraft, which it intends to operate to the USA. The aircraft has been in the USA, where it is acting as trans port for the touring Bolshoi Ballet. During the visit it will be fitted with TCAS in Orlando, and then be certificated in the two weeks before it returns with the ballet. D 5 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 4 - 10 December, 1991
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